Pottery Minefield

Thanks for getting this far!

I am Dawn, a new potter based in Solihull, UK. I’ve been going to pottery classes for around the last year, giving handbuilding a go and basically just enjoying messing about with clay. I’ve always liked clay – many (many!) moons ago my GCSE art piece was a clay-based item, which basically got me through the GCSE with a healthy grade! From handbuilding I decided to give wheel throwing a go and I’ve fallen in love with it. Probably to the point of being slightly obsessed :oD. I’ve chosen the name Dathlufi as it incorporates all my family member’s names – and yes I know it’s a bit pretentious to say ceramics when I am basically still making wobbly little bowls!

I won’t bore on too much about me though, because I want to bore on about clay! As a complete and utter novice, I can’t lie, I have found the whole process of trying to ‘do’ pottery (a) quite scary and (b) bloody expensive! So I thought I would share my (uber-limited) experience in case it helps anyone out there and I will keep doing that as and when I progress. I know a lot of people will be way, way further ahead, but I found it difficult to find general info when you’re completely new.

I feel like this needed a little intro, in the next post I’ll talk a little bit about my wheel. For now, here are the little pots the kids and me made! Scuze the spill mark next to them…I obviously need to clean the worktops more!