The air quality during these unprecedented fires has kept me from my garden for days and days. I finally could not take it anymore and left for the fresh air of the desert. During my visit to Yucca Valley, my daughter treated me to a tour of her ceramics studio. She has been making pottery for five years and watching her learn and grow during this time has been a joy.
Standing in her garage workroom, my eyes skipped around from object to object. Colors, textures, dangerous looking equipment, labeled test tiles, caution signs, hot kilns. I could not resist pulling out my cellphone and snapping a few pictures. I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed taking them.
Infinite variables and combinations
I was especially struck by the seemingly infinite number of variables and combinations that go into pottery making. There are different types of clay, different ways to shape them, different glazes that combine with each clay differently, different ways to fire them, and on and on.
Each mug and its handle is shaped individually; each piece is unique.
Equipment, tools and supplies
Then there’s the equipment, a wheel, two kilns, and lots of tools. The process is involved and tricky. Things get hot, very hot, tools are sharp, clay is dusty, and chemicals are hazardous.
Experiments sometimes work and sometimes don’t
But lots of times experimentation results in interesting textures, colors and patterns.
Glazing a blob vase
But you never know how things will go, as shown in this video and followup photo. But they sure do go well sometimes!! Guess knowing what you are doing helps.
Get your own one-of-a-kind
You can get your own one-of-a-kind pieces to caress with your eyes and your fingers, like the bowls below that I purchased from zzieeceramics. I was so taken with these bowls that I just had to clean off the counters (first time in quite a while!) to get this picture. Please, note, however, these are custom bowls, sized slightly larger than the small bowls on the website. The dimensions are specified for all pieces, so please check carefully to make sure you get what you want.
Thank you, Lizzie, for both the beautiful ceramics, and for letting me follow as you master your art.
Your daughter is very accomplished – I say that as a former potter who was intrepid enough to learn to fire a large gas fired kiln when i was in my 20s. Now in my 70s I admire the work of others — and garden passionately!
Just realized that I missed a few comments. Sorry! Thank you Melanie. My daughter works hard, which makes me very proud. I too admire both artistic and gardening accomplishments. Creating things from the earth is satisfying!