The Slow Learning of Pottery

Creating pottery and ceramic art is a process in which we can easily get started, but which also allows us practically unending growth as a craftsman and artist. One potter, Sarah Coffin, has written an exquisite blog post on the subject of her own growth as a potter.

One of the things Coffin says that I want to share with you is her statement, "Learning is a slow process and fruits aren't seen until a real devotion to study happens."

Growing as a potter is a multi-pronged process. We have the intellectual, and even scientific, opportunities for studies into how clays, glazes, and firing works. We have the honing of the manual skills involved in throwing and hand building. We can study the ergonomics of how functional pieces will work best in fulfilling their functions. We have the field of aesthetics in overall design. And we have the deeper layer of artistic aesthetics and artistic "voice".

I feel particularly blessed to have found clay and to have the opportunity to work in it. Thank goodness there is always still more to learn!