My First Go at Pottery

Wheel pottery (aka wheel-throwing) is something i've always wanted to try. Since moving to Ottawa five years ago, I've noticed there's no shortage of studios and workshops for first-timers. I've always been intrigued with the idea of turning a ugly lump of clay into beautiful piece of art. This year, as part of a christmas present I finally got my wish! I enrolled in a six-week class with the Hintonburg Pottery Shop- a cozy little studio towards Westboro, complete with brick walls and boho-esque furniture. I knew immediately that I'd fit right in there.

What surprised me the most upon first starting, was just how difficult it was to make a piece on the wheel. It almost becomes hypnotizing watching it spin while you work. The instructor explained to us that wheel-throwing is a challenge for many because it engages both sides of the brain equally, something that often feels awkward for the body and takes time to master.

There was a lot of frustration involved in the learning-process, but this eventually enabled me to appreciate just how incredible of an art-form pottery really is. After a few classes I finally (sort-of) got the hang of it, and found it to be a really calming exercise. Because wheel-throwing requires such intense focus, it kind of frees your mind of thinking or worrying about anything else.

The class taught us not only how to wheel-throw, but also about various hand-building techniques and how to adequately apply glazes--the finishing touch to a piece.

Selecting glaze for my pieces was definitely one of my favourite parts of the class. There are an endless amount of options, and each turns out looking slightly different depending on the texture/kind of clay used, how long pieces are dipped in a glaze, and how long each piece is fired in a kiln (essentially a super hot oven).

If you hold an interest for pottery, particularly wheel-throwing, then I would 100 per cent recommend enrolling in a class. It was such a great experience and it left me with some really beautiful pieces I'm pretty proud of. If anything, it's a way to get your hands dirty and push yourself out of your comfort zone!