This is what Jessie's expression was when she looked up from the wheel and realized I was taking a picture of her. And then she smiled. That girl made some really nice bowls today. Meanwhile, I played with underglaze on the drop plate I'd made last session. I have NO CLUE as to how to do any of these things. I mostly just ask Jessie and sometimes our teacher and sometimes Larry, a guy who comes to the class who has taught pottery and is a well-oiled pottery machine. I like to watch him because he moves so gracefully around the studio, sitting at the wheel, glazing a piece, creating one beautiful bowl or something after another. You almost don't see him move. You just look up and there he is in another place, quietly doing something else. And he smiles so much. It is peaceful having him in the studio.
It was nice to see everyone today although two people were missing. It was a complete comedy of errors getting to class. I got up early and puttered around for awhile. Right as I was about to leave at 9:00 to go pick up Jessie she texted and asked if I was almost there. WHAT?! I thought class started at 9:30! No, she said, 9:00.
Oh well. We'd be late. Or last I would. She only lives a few blocks from the studio. I was not stressing out at all. This whole situation is pretty laid back. But then when I was on the road, she texted to say that I'd been right- class WAS at 9:30 and so there you go. It was pretty funny. So we were almost on time and it took me a few minutes to decide what to do but then I figured that instead of starting something new, I'd play around with that plate and the underglaze because as I said- I have no idea how any of this works. Glaze? Underglaze? What are the rules? The procedures? The techniques? The reasons?
So I just fooled around and decided that what I was creating was a plate-presentation/representation of the sea of the Yucatan when the giant meteor fell in it, killing all the dinosaurs.
What this means is- lots of blues, greens, teals, and lavender.
Next week I'll be trying a little regular glaze on top of that to see how it all works.
We were given a hand-out today with basic pottery information which I desperately need. It also contained a page of Acceptable Content Policy. Jessie read me some of it when I was driving her back to her house and we both laughed and laughed. For your entertainment and enjoyment, I will share it here.
"F*ck Andrew Jackson."
In my opinion.
Now I am wondering if I could slice some thin pieces of those things to use as prints in a pottery piece. I'd have to dry them out. I wonder if that would work.
So many things have changed since that day but the love? It's still there. And of course Maggie is still the center of the universe.
Mr. Moon says we're ready for a test run.
Oh Jesus! I saw that pic of the banana stem and about needed a pair of Depends! I have Trypophobia so bad! Yea, it's my issue and I own it. Also have a horrendous fear of heights. I don't do airplanes well. OK....I'm screwed up.
ReplyDeleteThe handout sheet for the pottery class was a hoot. Those come around for a reason. I bet they've seen some doozies! I can just imagine what I'd make (you probably have a pretty good idea! LOL). They'd probably call the police on me!
Wow. Mr. Moon is such a talented man. I can't fathom assembling a dishwasher. I can barely plug a toaster in. Let us know how it works. What brand is it?
Freezing our arses off up here in NE Ohio. Thankfully, the roads are generally clear at this point. It was 13 degrees on the patio this morning. and got up to about 19. A virtual heat wave!
Paranormal John
Oh, no, John! I generally try to give trigger warnings when I talk about certain common triggers for others but I have never even heard of Trypophobia.
DeleteI thought those rules were very well thought-out and quite fair.
Glen is good at so many things. I'm not just saying that- he is. His daddy taught him a lot and he has learned a lot over the years.
The dishwasher is a Bosch.
How do you stand that cold? Just...how?
The rules at the Lafayette Arts Centre are pretty cool though personally I would ban all religious imagery. Even though you are not religious , you still seem to like a lot of religious images including Virgin Marys etc.. I am glad that you are sticking with the pottery work. Praise is due to Jessie for keeping you on board. Happy 9th Birthday to Magnolia!
ReplyDeleteWell, my love of my madonnas is not as intense as it used to be but she's still a great gal in my opinion, no matter what form she takes. And you know- how do we define religious imagery? Would an image of the Venus of Dusseldorf be religious in nature? I think so. Or portrayals of characters from Native American beliefs? Thor? Persephone? Isis? There are so many religions, some still practiced, some not that it would be hard to ban them all.
DeleteYou're right about Jessie keeping me on board. Do you think I'd get up and drive to town every week if I didn't know she was going too?
Can you believe Maggie is nine?
Those banana stems would be wonderful pressed into clay. The handout is inclusive, encompassing. Understandable.
ReplyDeleteBeing without a dishwasher is horrid. Happened to us once the day before a Thanksgiving. Our repair man was the best in the world and arrived with a new dishwasher that afternoon.
Believe John about the weather. It can't quit snowing.
I went so, so many years without a dishwasher. The years of having all of my children in the home! No dishwasher. And yet, we managed. I still wouldn't want to be without one now although if it was just me, I might. Dishwashers get things so sparkly!
DeleteStay inside, Joanne! Stay warm and safe.
Oposite of John I LOVE texture- holes- empty tight spaces- your babna stems are fabulous! I hope that you are able to day them ! The rules of your art center are just right- crosses with bleeding beat up jesus not allowed.
ReplyDeleteOh Happy day- Maggie the princess of everything- nine years old- WOW!!! I hope her day was well spent and she got to be the boss of everyone, you know, for a change! Love that beautiful child!
Mr. Moon makes your kitchen look like a doll house. Congrats to him for doing yet another GOOD JOB!!!
eff my vision, BANANA and DRY
DeleteGlen makes everything look strangely miniature. Well, he makes me look short but certainly not un-fat.
DeleteOh, Maggie! I bet she got to do a lot of fun things for her birthday. i saw on Facebook that her dad took her and the boys bowling so that was one thing. I know she wanted to go to Olive Garden. Fancy tastes, right?
It seems you and Jessie are enjoying pottery class and you both operate well within the rules of the Centre.
ReplyDeleteWill your banana tree survive the freeze?
Yay for the new dishwasher.
The Artic air seems to be settled in for us too. Today was 21 degrees F. The sunshine and blue sky was lovely, but the cold was frigid.
It's pretty easy to follow those rules although I'm sure that there are people in my life who would love a bong. Or pipe.
DeleteThe bananas will come back next spring. They will grow new shoots.
Damn, that's just so cold.
That banana tree is amazing. I am sure you could do something with it.
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday to the delightful Miss Magnolia.
I was concerned about your lack of presence yesterday but got myself confused with time differences.
Those banana stems are definitely a good example of why we should slow down and really look at things.
DeleteI was just out of sorts and forgot to post day before yesterday.
Happy Birthday Magnolia June! Beautiful girl!
ReplyDeleteShe's a sweet pea! When she's not being a tyrant.
DeleteYou could absolutely press that banana stem into clay and make wonderful things. Curved into -- another cracker tray, etc.
ReplyDeleteI love the ban on pottery made as a weapon! Well, a lot could! A bowl banged on your head would get a person's attention.
Perhaps another cracker tray! I could try that.
DeleteJessie and I had the same thought as you about a hefty pottery bowl being used for violent purposes. Larry had just made a HUGE bowl and you could probably do some real damage to someone with that thing.
The banana art is amazing. So is a new dishwasher, but the banana tops that.
ReplyDeleteThe banana is pretty darn cool, isn't it?
DeleteI had to laugh about the dishwasher installation! Sounds so like our house. Tools everywhere, water off, kitchen or whatever room hes working in a total disaster, many trips to town for parts....but it gets done in the end and then I clean up the wreckage.
ReplyDeleteGlen did clean up his tools so it wasn't so bad. We're lucky to have guys who can actually do things with the tools!
DeleteYes!
DeleteThese rules cover everything from all angles it seems. Asking for it as well.
ReplyDeleteEven after 30+ years with possibly four - or five - dishwashers we still disagree on how to stack it. We even argue about it, still. I don't know how we ever lived without it.
Yep. That's a pretty broad spectrum of studio rules, isn't it? And yet, at the same time, they cover a lot of ground.
DeleteDishwashers get things so darn clean, don't they? I often go back and restack the dishes after Glen cleans up the kitchen. He just does not understand my methods!
The banana stem is a masterpiece! Seeing Mr. Moon on one knee by the kitchen counter reminds me of my grandmother. Her head was at that same level at the counter (when she was standing). Isn’t every day Magnolia June Day?
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness! How could you have such a tiny grandmother?
DeleteYes. You know for sure that every day is Magnolia June Day.
Happy birthday to the family goddess Magnolia June. Such a great name for a powerful little being. Oh Mary, I love how you saw the banana stem and thought about how it might work for your pottery creations, it told me that despite what you don’t yet know, pottery has caught your imagination and the artist in you is dialed in. I hope you stick with it. And what a wonderful way to spend time with Jessie. As for the handout, well, I rather love their values.
ReplyDeleteThat list had me at F*ck Andrew Jackson, for sure.
DeleteI was thinking yesterday as I was sitting there, painting a plate with ocean colors in now discernible patterns that it is not a bad thing at all to play with clay and color and to see things around me in different ways. I am greatful to sweet Jessie for dragging my ass into the class.
Oh, some day, I will have a dishwasher. I cannot wait. That banana stem is quite cool, and really, that's what learning is. You want to learn about glaze, you need to play with the glaze and observe what happens.
ReplyDeleteYou're right, Debby. But Lord, give me a little bit of instruction, please.
DeleteI would never imagine trying to make any of those things out of pottery. I would stick to bowls, plates, cups - stuff like that...
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the new dishwasher. Hurray for Mr. Moon!
I love to go look at the shelves where the finished projects are when they come out of the kiln. So many truly imaginative pieces.
DeleteThose are some good rules the pottery place has, and the inclusion of profanity just makes my heart sing.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad your new dishwasher is in and working but I don't know how you can do dishes without a window to look out of. I would be so sad.
Jessie and I loved a plate that was drying that had the word "fuck" etched in it over and over and over again.
DeleteI would love to have a window over the sink. I agree that is one thing I sorely need.
Can you dry out banana trunks? They are so full of water and mushy. I had to look up Trypophobia. People are so weird (no offense meant to John). You are really making me want to check out the pottery studio here. If it ever warms up enough for me to venture out again. High today only 43˚. My ancient dishwasher that came with this house that we have had for 17 (?) years still works. And Happy Birthday to Miss Maggie.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if you can dry out banana trunks or not. They are basically capillary systems for water, aren't they?
DeleteEllen, I really think you'd love pottery. Why not try it?
Supposed to get down to 28 here tonight.
Sigh.
Nine years?! That's amazing. Happy birthday to Maggie!
ReplyDeleteI love the banana trunks. You gotta admire the plant still trying to grow in the middle, having been frozen and cut back. Plants are survivors. I wonder if you could dry one and use it as a stamp to pattern your pottery?
I like your "memorial to the dinosaurs" plate idea!
That stem coming up in the center shot up when we had a few warm days. But, as Barney Fife would say, it was nipped in the bud.
DeleteI'm going to try and dry out some slices of one of those trunks. I really am. Maybe there's some info online about it.
Gorgeous photo of family. Happy Birthday Maggie!
ReplyDelete