Scrolling down the explore page on IGTV, you might or might not come across time-lapse videos of pottery. I have watched a lot of them and it’s incredibly soothing to see the speed of progress, the clay as it takes shape and how the whole process is handled. If that’s how I felt just watching the videos, then what is the experience like in real life? Heading to Nada Al-Khalaf’s pottery studio just across the street from our office was an unforgetable meditative experience!
The set-up of the studio alone is inspiring and encouraging for beginners who are just starting to understand the craft itself. When dealing with clay, it’s essential to remember that patience is key, and that it’s okay if it gets messy, it is just part of the process! Pottery is in fact one of the oldest human inventions, it originated before the Neolithic period. It’s the process of forming various vessels with clay and other ceramic materials, which are then fired in very high temperature kilns to transform them into a durable form that can withstand daily use.
Once we were handed an apron, and a block of clay, the game was on. First, we had to extract the air bubbles from the clay, which is a must if you want to avoid cracks in the pots. Clay wedging as it is called, needs to be done manually. Basically, it’s throwing down the clay and rolling it into a tight spiral which is very similar to kneading dough. After that, you turn your block into a square and throw it to on the potter’s wheel.
This is the stage where the real fun begins, but remember not to get too attached to your piece. If it fails, which usually happens to first timers don’t get disappointed, the experience itself matters more than anything, and the craft of pottery is not as simple as at seems. More practice is required, but the pleasure and satisfaction of it all is absolutely therapeutic.
A bowl of water to keep our clay continuously moist sat next to us while we worked, as we started shaping our vessel with the help of the wheel. Then we made a deep hole in the middle to change the piece into the shape we would like. This required some crafty maneuvering with our hands, as we had to keep dipping them in water. Plus, handling the speed of the wheel. If you take it very slowly at first, and don’t speed up too much, you will end up with a wonderful, shaped vessel!
The entirety of the time we were carefully guided by our awesome instructor, so you’re not alone in this lovely experience. If you’re chasing perfection, then expect obstacles, nothing in life is perfect at first, and as we’ve mentioned before, practice and patience is the key of this beautiful craft. Overall, the visit was definitely worth it, and we ended up leaving with two of our handmade pieces. It’s unbelievably peaceful when you’re sitting across your wheel, utterly focused and completely absorbed in the making of your piece. This is a true art form that we recommend all our readers try.
For more information, follow @dewdrop79 on Instagram, as prior bookings are required.
