Back in September, I did something I’d never done before: I took a beginning clay class to make my own pottery.
Here’s the thing with me … When it comes to crafts or creating art, I typically have an idea in my head of what I want my project to look like. As a result, I tend to shy away from those type of projects because I get hyper focused on it looking like that “perfect” image. Yes, I realize that art is completely subjective and never “perfect.” But if it doesn’t look the way I wanted it to, I find myself disappointed.
So when I took this class, my goal was to let go of that idea and just be in the creative process. I knew I wanted to make a planter for my succulents. But other than that, I just surrendered myself to whatever came. I wanted to feel the clay in my hands and shape it into something; to not rush through that to be finished, and to concentrate on that experience rather than molding the perfect bowl.
I sat the wheel and got my own lesson from the awesome instructor. And it was one of the most meditative and relaxing experiences I’ve had. I ended up creating two small planter bowls and used cookie cutters to create a few ornaments. A month later, my pieces were ready for glazing/painting and firing (an excellent lesson in patience, also not my forte). And then I picked them up a few weeks after that.
And you know what? I’m pretty happy with how they turned out. I don’t think they’re perfect by any means. But they’re one-of-a-kind. I made those creations and as such, they feel like they belong in the home that I’m also making. And seeing my little potted succulent just makes me smile.
