Throwing Mud

For years, I'd been thinking about signing up for pottery classes at the Greater Lansing Potters Guild. Finally, I applied in August 2014, for the Fall 2014 term. When I received my acceptance letter, I was as thrilled as I'd been when I was accepted at Central Michigan University for my undergraduate degree and Michigan State for my master's.

Greater Lansing Potters' Guild fall 2014 acceptance letter.

I started my first class Sept. 15, 2014. Jim Reinert was my instructor, and Keith Bassar was the class assistant.

While it was intimidating and quite difficult to master, I knew I had to be patient and vowed that I'd be OK with not being immediately proficient at wedging, centering, pulling, trimming and glazing. Jim was encouraging and patient. He was enormously helpful, and I learned so much from him— primarily that if I kept practicing, I would soon become proficient.

I fell in love with the craft. Before my first term ended Nov. 17, I registered for the Winter 2015 term (Jan. 5 - March 9). But my second semester wouldn't start for 7 weeks. I was afraid that I'd lose what skills I'd gained during my first 10 weeks, so I purchased a wheel — a Skutt-Thomas Stuart Professional. It was a beauty with an emerald-green basin and a gleaming chrome wheel head.

Semester 2 was taught by Eldon Clark. Charlie Seeburg was the class assistant. Eldon is an outstanding potter. He's in his 80s and his thoughts come to him slowly; oftentimes in fragments. He trailed off in the middle of a sentence and confused words, but he gave me more insight into pot construction than you could hope for in a term. He helped me appreciate the pot-building process and to look at each of mine with a critical eye.

Here I am at the end of my third term, back with Jim Reinert and this time, Deb Cole — the Guild's newest member. Jim is a long-time studio potter and Deb, it turns out, is the wife of my graduate assistantship employer and former chair of Michigan State University's College of Communication Arts & Sciences' Advertising, Public Relations and Retailing program. Small world.

But back to my pursuit of happiness.

I am obsessed with this art form. Below are the few pots that survived my first term.

Short and Fat 2014. Vase in segar blue over Jackie's celadon.

Fluted 2014. Vase in segar blue, rimmed with No. 6 Opax.

Textured Rim 2014. Bowl with segar blue interior and rim/angel eyes exterior.

Perfect Imperfection 2014. Bowl.