From throwing my first pot in 2023 to showing off my latest creations in 2025, this page shows my journey in ceramics. Bowls are what I tend to make the most. Soon I shall endeavour to other forms! You can scroll down to watch my journey chronologically.
Spring 2023: A few weeks before starting a new job, I embarked on a week of pottery lessons. I had never thrown on the wheel before but pottery had become of interest to me around that time. The rest is history!
It was fun filming myself to see how I navigated this new practise.
Autumn 2023: Centring clay is the first hurdle for a potter to overcome. I am still learning to perfect this! This was my second beginners course.
Trimming is a very therapeutic part of the process. I learnt how to speed the wheel appropriately to ensure the most effective trim.
This was my first time exploring a range of glazes. I was immediately drawn to the possibilities of various glaze combinations.
I was a bit underwhelmed by this haul but it was enlightening to see the range of colours and shapes I’d made!
Spring 2024: During this [third beginners] course I worked harder at my technique. My teacher gave us loads of tips for making the best pots.
January 2025: Almost a year later I returned to the wheel. It was nice getting back to it and by the end of this [fourth and final] beginners course I felt more confident to pursue intermediate sessions.
I began moving around the studio with more confidence. I was particularly excited to play with more glazes and my curiosity about ceramic theory began to grow.
I was really proud of these pots. They all had unique quirks, some of which I didn’t plan for. Seeing how clay behaves is eye-opening. I also began understanding the value of not being so attached to the outcome of my work.
Summer 2025: I found a cluster of practise sessions in a new studio. Here, for the first time, I threw on the wheel with no supervision. This process really boosted my confidence.
Since I was used to throwing basic shapes that were very similar to each other, I wanted to try and be intentional about creating different shapes.
Not every week was as successful as the last. Sometimes it is difficult to get my head in the game and throw pots I am happy with back to back. But practise makes perfect.
One of the most exciting things about this week of trimming was using letter stamps for the first time. I much prefer it to writing my initials. Having plenty of pots to practise with before trimming my chosen nine was also very helpful.
I was so excited to play around with the glazes we had available. Planning ahead for the first time also helped me use a variety of the selection. I’m excited to use these glazes again.
Showcasing my latest creations in my garden. I was so in love with them all. My confidence is growing and I am excited to get back to the wheel.