Welcome
Hi! I’m starting a blog?!?!? I guess so, I don’t see why not. My name is Jessica and I live in Minnesota, USA. My journey with clay so far has been brief but it started a little something like this.
I was probably about 10 years old and my parents got me a gift of a plastic wheel for kids! It came with a little clay. I remember making some really thick bowls. It basically looked like I centered it and just put my thumb in the middle of it. I do remember liking it and the feeling of the clay in my hands. In my art class in elementary school, we made coil vases with clay. It actually turned out better than I imagined. I don’t remember working again with clay in school. I suppose I may have in middle school but I don’t remember. In high school for my electives, I was more active in music than art.
Over the years I have thought to take a class at a studio but it never seemed like there was enough time. I worked all the time and did not have a set schedule. In 2010 I decided that I really wanted to take a class. I took a beginner wheel course by myself. I had a great time! I had the freedom to do really anything and my teacher was really nice. I was mostly too shy to ask for help but I figured it out. After the class was over, I decided to do pay for studio time for 3 months. It was amazing. You got a key to the building (it was an old spooky warehouse, it really was) and they had certain hours you could come in and work. Since I worked a crazy schedule, I was often there in the evenings or late at night. I would often have the whole place to myself. I think back and that was crazy but so fun. I also explored hand building and I really enjoyed that process as well. I moved away from the area shortly after and stopped doing pottery. I always said to my husband that eventually I really wanted to get back to it and take another class.
In late 2018 I was starting to seriously look into taking classes again. I found some in my area and I also found out the classes fill up very fast. Next thing I know Covid hit and I was staying at home. My husband really supported the idea of me doing pottery again. He decided to surprise me with a wheel and kiln for my birthday. It took a while for the kiln to arrive so I had about 4 months until I had a kiln to fire in. I was so excited and overwhelmed all at the same time. I totally felt like I’m in over my head. It is now 2022 and I am still learning so much. I want to share my experiences that I’ve had with clay. Who knows, maybe it can help or inspire someone else who is starting their journey with clay. Get ready to laugh, maybe cry and definitely wait on pins and needles for that kiln to cool.
