Showing posts with label wheel. Show all posts

Throwing Thursday - The Potter's Wheel

For years I've always wanted to be able to make pots.  My maiden name is Potter.  As many people do, when I was younger I looked up the origin of my name.  A potter was someone who made earthen vessels.  I've always wanted to be a real potter. 

A potter’s wheel is a machine used to create round clay ware.  It works like a wood lathe works.  Original wheels were powered by kicking a circle at the base which rotated the wheel head located on the top.  

Photographer: Oliver Kurmis[Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

 Clay is placed on the wheel head.  Clay is shaped using water to lubricate the hands to pull the clay up to create bowls, cylinders or pots.  The wheel generally changed and power was added.  Currently fully motorized wheels can be purchased or ones that have both a kick wheel and a motor.

By Julo (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

This past November, I got my wish.  We ordered our Speedball Clay Boss Potter’s Wheel from Clay-King.

Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson


I did a lot of research on the wheel before we ordered.  I chose this one for two reasons.  First, the price.  Clay-King has an amazing deal for this wheel.  It’s got a great motor speed and comes with two bats, delivered free.  Secondly, it has an amazing warranty.  It came with a five year warranty. 

Potter’s wheels usually last for years.  So the only time a warranty should be a buying feature is if the wheel has plastic parts.  Older wheels are really heavy and generally have a pretty long lifespan.   I follow Dan on Facebook and subscribe to his YouTube Channel.  I really enjoy his videos and I like his technique.  I highly recommend checking out his channels to learn more about throwing simple pots.

In this video Dan shows his wheel and the tools he uses to create amazing pots.






You’ll see me refer to several of his videos throughout this series.  Interestingly enough in my research for this post I found the myth of the Egyptian god Khnum, who was said to have created the first humans on a potter’s wheel which is shown in the relief below.

Roland Unger via Wikimedia Commons


Looking forward to my next turn at the wheel.

Namaste & Blessed Be
Sosanna
)O(
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Birth of a Potter

When I was little I wanted to go live with my father.  I would ride by the housing area on the bus where I thought he lived and look at each of the houses trying to figure out which one might be his.  I checked every mailbox for the last name "Potter".  I looked and looked for my name, but I was never able to find it.

When I was nine or ten a new toy was released that I wanted so desperately.  The commercial was amazing.  These little kids were sitting at a table making pots!  I found this similar commercial online.  I wanted to be a potter...  HEY wait a minute, I was a POTTER!  I decided that very day I wanted to work with clay.

Gilbert Pottery Craft Potter's Wheel - Front of Box

I ended up getting my potter's wheel for Christmas and much like the other "as seen on TV" gifts it was crap. I failed miserably and it ended up in the trash.

The years rolled by and I often watched TV shows about making things with clay but never really thought about doing it again.  After all I had failed at age ten.

About 2 years ago I started doing some hand building with clay.  I worked up to making statues and masks. One day, I was chatting with hubby and said, I wish I could use a pottery wheel.  I told him my story of the motorized wheel I got for Christmas.  He reminded me how I didn't have any happy childhood stories.  We laughed and he said, so get one.  I thought for a second and then was like ... well  I suppose I could.

Last month we picked up two kilns for a steal and this month we purchased my ClayBoss Potter's Wheel. Today I went outside for my fourth attempt at working on the wheel.  My arms are a little sore as I'm getting used to centering and pulling the clay.  My back is sore as I'm using different muscles than I'm used to, hunching over to mold it.

I have to say, I love it.  I've not made anything to keep for firing yet.  In fact, I'm not entirely sure I'll be at a point to fire anything until next year.  But I am loving it.


I've had a few successes:

Photo Credit - Renee Olson

Photo Credit - Renee Olson

Photo Credit - Renee Olson



And a failure or two:

Photo Credit - Renee Olson



A lot has changed since I was riding that bus, searching for a mail box with "Potter" on it.  I'm no longer searching for a place where I will be accepted and loved.  I'm no longer trying to make and mold something out of nothing.  I now have the strength within myself to mold and shape the world into a place where I want to be and with that in my tool kit, I can claim the title of  Potter.

Looking forward to what new things I can make.

Blessings
Sosanna
)O(
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Wheel of the Year - Wreath

My prized piece, Wheel of the Year is finally complete.


I spent the time this weekend collecting the items that I needed and arranging them with care around a grapevine wreath. The artificial flowers are recycled. At some point I'd love to be able to dry my own flowers from my garden and use them in a wreath but for now. These will have to do.

This wreath is 24inches across all natural grapevine with an assembled star in the center painted with gold paint and covered in grapevine. This is the largest size wreath I make.







So there it is. Finally complete. This piece was created for Rachel Riggs of "Silver Stars" in Fayetteville NC.

I'll be working on a Samhain Wreath next. One this same size and one the traditional door size. If you're interested in getting a wreath, I do sometimes make extras. For example I have two door size Yule Wreaths currently available.





Generally all of my wreaths tend to be custom work and I make them for the individual requesting it. Please feel free to email me with any questions or requests.


Happy Monday!

Namaste & Blessed Be
Sosanna
)O(
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