Life Lessons from the Clay: The Creative Wonder of Workshops

Have you ever heard of Thermal Runaway?

"Thermal runaway is a self-accelerating process where an increase in temperature causes further heat generation, leading to uncontrollable temperature rise and potential destruction."

Minus the "destruction" aspect and keeping the potential aspect, attending workshops where you learn new techniques have a lot in common with the process of thermal runaway.

Let's translate that definition to suit our purpose here.

"Creative runaway is a self-accelerating process where an increase in knowledge causes further creativity, leading to an uncontrollable need to produce new work and make potential masterpieces."

There..., I like that definition much better!

I recently had the privilege of teaching a pottery workshop on using soft slab with texture at CIY Pottery in Ashburn, VA. What a wonderful time I had with the students who attended.

As an artist, I tend to lean toward solitude and enjoy many hours in my studio uninterrupted. I think a lot of artists tend to cherish the peace that a private studio provides. There is a flow that I get into that feeds my soul.

Yes, creating is a process that flushes the negative things of life from a soul, washes a person clean and somehow lightens a load.

You may be wondering what this has to do with workshops?

I am glad that you asked.

As that person who prefers "solitude" (full disclosure), I often find it difficult to be in crowds. Which really is not advantageous as a teacher! Especially for workshops where students are excited over an upcoming paid event that is taught by someone who's work they admire and want to emulate.

HOWEVER, there is a synergistic flow that only comes from community.

No scrolling of pottery on Pinterest can fill this space. No Google search can teach the incredible dynamic that is more caught than taught. A thing that happens when likeminded people congregate with a creative agenda.

When I teach, I can be found describing how to do things. The problem with this is, that unless our vision or imagination of what I am talking about are the same, the other person is subject to the vision in their own mind, and the mark is often missed. But when I demonstrate what I wish to convey, our experience syncs up.

Not only is the experience shared, but the students also get to interact with me by asking questions and in so doing, bring their own contribution to the table. It's that face-to-face transaction that brings greater understanding.

As an instructor I know that the lesson is NOT all about me opening my mouth and dictating the process. Or, doing the work for the student so it comes out my way. It is a give and take scenario as I too, observe the students in my class grasp something I am showing them and then turn it around and apply their own creative touch.

An excitement starts to spread around the classroom as people observe each other's work. I see students helping each other as well as encouraging each other. The "creative runaway" has begun, and a beautiful energy is dispersed throughout the room that can only occur in a group setting. (Hebrews 10:24-25)

This process is magnified during a workshop. It's a special event filled with the anticipation that, at the end, the student will emerge with a new skill, a refueled spirit and an ability to produce better art.

There is a common thread that binds people together.

Attendees also have an expectation that the piece they started during the workshop will be completed by the end of the workshop. There is satisfaction in finishing what was started, and to see a tangible result- whether good or not so good.

My satisfaction and joy come when I see someone accomplish something that they were doubtful they could do.

It takes courage to venture into something new. It can be a very vulnerable time of exposure, but when people stay the course, there are wonderful lessons about themselves and their skill to be gained.

It is also helpful for attendees to see that as an instructor, I do not always have all the answers and can struggle or that I need to adjust my "sails" as I work the clay.

All in all, my advice as a professional potter on workshops, is to invest in yourself. It takes at least 10,000 hours to be qualified as a "master", and even then, learning is a never-ending journey not a destination.

Find a person who's work you admire and see if they teach. If you can't travel to a workshop, a video can help, but it's not the same energy as a live class.

Keep up the good work, and happy potting!

Thanks for reading!

Blessings, Charlene

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This is the vessel I made during the workshop. I used my Daisy Flower Tile, and Carnations 2 texture mats.

My personal approach is to let the clay talk to me. I may have a vessel in mind, but that vessel speaks as I build it. Some details may need to be removed when they don't flow with the overall feel of the piece. For instance, does the handle style fit with the body style? Do the added feet enhance the look or do they feel awkward?

I started with the main body.

  After rolling out the slab, I roll in the texture. I get a better impression when the clay is flat (and lightly dusted with cornstarch).

Next, I pinched in the feet.

ThenI gently push out certain spots on the main body to add visual variety to the pattern and the shape.

I usually accentuate the seam by pressing in a new texture as seen in the vertical line between the left two thirds and the right third of the front of the piece.

I added pads to the feet, and then added the rim to the top to pull it together.

It still felt like something was missing and I played with several handle versions before settling on what you see here. It was feeling a little bit squatty, so I added height through attaching the handles.

It's important when making quality pots, to take your time constructing components. Periodically study your work. The more you practice this, the easier it becomes to "see" what the pot calls for. Sometimes it calls for less and other times I find I have not pushed far enough and need to add more details to bring it all together.

After I finish a piece, I again look it over. I often photograph it with my phone, so I have a different perspective of how it "feels". If I love it, I am inspired to create similar pieces. If I almost love it, I am learning what not to do next time.

It is a connective process that keeps going, like the Energizer Bunny. lol. This is called wisdom. Knowledge is necessary, but the wisdom (knowledge applied), is essential and functional. It takes time and patience.

If I make it look easy, that is because I have spent many many hours making mistakes and sucesses. I have stayed the course! lol.

Now to glaze it and not mess it up! But that's another blog for another day.

Char