I’m still enjoying the direction I’ve been going in with my ceramics. While most of the pots I’ve been making have been symmetrical, one of my latest pieces took on different shape while remaining true to the concept. To date, this is my favorite piece.
Most ceramic instructors tell students to have a vision of the completed pot, right down to the color of glaze, before they start to work with the clay. This doesn’t work for me. For the mandala pots, I’ve been starting off with a general egg-like shape, I throw on the wheel. I make as many as I can (time and amount of clay permitting). When once they are dry enough to start trimming, I get to work cutting them up and seeing what happens. Some of the parts naturally fit together better.
For this piece, I did start with a loose sketch of a type of spiral, and I think the movement of the spiral comes through in the finished pot. I may have to give the ceramic instructor’s advice some more thought!