Throwing pots

Almost everyone has seen Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze in Ghost working with clay while Unchained Melody plays in the background. If that scene doesn't make you want to become a potter, I can't imagine what might.

Perhaps the idea of creating something out of the earth and turning it into a piece of art, or a dish that you can tell people, "I made that myself" pulls you toward pottery classes.

I was drawn in by both of those and more. I've always wanted to try my hand at making something on a potter's wheel and so I signed up for six classes to do just that.

The first thing I learned is that it is really work! The next thing I realized was that there is a whole vocabulary that goes with this that I have never heard of. Wedging made me break out into a sweat! It's kind of like kneading bread, but in a very distinct way.

I learned to actually throw the clay onto the center of the bat using my arm from the elbow down. I learned that my hands are very diverse tools whose different bones and muscles shape and pull and hollow out that clay in amazingly intricate and difficult ways.

We made two pots and threw both back into the bucket at the end of class, but our teacher assured us that we will make and glaze something by the last couple of classes.

I had to wash my arms and face and clothes, but I really think I'm going to like this class.