Life Lessons from the Clay - When Things Go Wrong

Wheel thrown and hand-built teapot/ Artist: Charlene Randolph

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I used to wonder what I was doing wrong when I would open up the kiln and find a good 10+% of the kiln with some sort of firing flaw. I use the term firing flaw because most of these issues don't appear until they go through that final intense glaze fire that brings both the beauty and the heartache.

I spend hours, yes hours, in my mind before I ever approached the clay, excitedly contemplating how I would bring to life a concept in my spirit and mind. You can't just construct a vessel in pottery without mentally assessing how it will get through two different kiln firings. The first or bisque fire is almost a breeze compared to the glaze fire, that's where all the trouble can happen, because glaze can be messy and the pot needs to come out as unstuck as possible. Unstuck to itself and unstuck to the kiln shelves. In my experience, unless you have Advancer shelves (very expensive but worth the money if you produce pieces for sale), between your pot and the shelf... the shelf always wins.

Then there are the practical hours. The time spent wedging the clay, throwing or hand building the piece. Trimming, adding fun details, drying, bisque firing, figuring out what colors to glaze the piece, glaze firing and then sanding bottoms.

Still, I equate some parts of pottery with golfing. You get that "hole in one", or one spectacular piece, and YOU ARE HOOKED.

Like people, clay has so many nuances and possibilities for things to go wrong. I follow a European Ceramicist named Matt Horne (Matt Horne Pottery - Hand Thrown Crystalline Pottery) He creates stunning crystalline glazed pottery. It's hard sometimes not to have pottery envy even as someone who makes their own pottery professionally. I will tell you though, that one day I watched his kiln opening. It was an absolutely jaw dropping large red charger plate. But it wasn't his art that touched me that day, it was his comment. He said something to the effect of how relieved he was that it did not crack. I almost cried! Loss is common in pottery, though seldom quantified.

The world does not talk about their failure rates, especially on social media. Yet something so seemingly innocuous can bring such relief to others when we know we are not alone in the trials, tribulations, heartaches and mistakes we experience.

I have coined a phrase that goes with the hobby or profession of ceramics,

"Pottery, it will let you down hard every time!". Everyone who has spent any amount of time in a ceramic's studio is used to hearing, " Don't get attached to the piece until you take it home."

So, what do I do when things go wrong?

For the sake of complete transparency, I have cried. Especially in my early years as a potter. If it were not for the fact that I am absolutely driven to have my hands in the clay, this is an easy medium to get discouraged in and want to quit.

The most impactful reason that I have stayed the course, are the lessons that God has shown me in the processes of creating pottery. Each and every step has a life application if I have ears to hear, eyes to see and a heart to learn.

As is everyday life, the lyrics from the song by 38 Special, "Hold on Loosely", play out in my head as I embrace yet another pottery disappointment.

" Hold on loosely, BUT DON"T LET GO!" (emphasis mine).

So, after my initial heart thunk, I look over my piece and see what my contribution to any mishap was or was the error beyond my control. Some pieces are destined for the trash bin, but some are just too pretty, and I use them for other things! All of my paintbrushes sit in pieces not fit for sale. Many of my plants sit on dishes or in bowls as the mighty protector of my furniture. Some are used in my garden for ornamental enjoyment, and if you are really crafty, break the puppy up and mosaic something!

Then I turn around and make my next pot or glaze yet another hopeful masterpiece, because the clay calls to me. It is who God made me to be. I am fulfilling my purpose through making, encouraging, teaching and even helping people by fixing their kilns. And I remember God's word to me in

Galatians 6:9: "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

So, you may ask what is wrong with this stunning teapot?

1) The lid is stuck. Really stuck. I should have fired separately but we all know that has its own hazards of warping into not fitting properly!

2) there is a hair line crack at the base where the slab bottom was trimmed a little too much and it split in the glaze fire. Which could be fixed in a refire with added glaze, IF THE LID COMES OFF!

So: to try to fix this, just tapping did not work, so I put the teapot into the freezer about 3-4 times, pulled it out after freezing and poured boiling water on it. I am happy to report that on the 4th try I was able to free the lid! There is a little grinding and cleaning to do, but I can now repair the leak in a refire.

You can also add alumina hydrate to wax, 1.5 teaspoons per 2 ounces of wax resist.

This would have solved my problem!

I hope this helps you on your journey with the clay!

Blessings, Charlene