This week I started working on a yurt at the studio. I spent so much energy making sure the entrance of the yurt would be wide about for an herb stick that I forgot to make sure it will be tall enough. It barely fit while the clay was still wet. We’ll see what happens as it fires, this may end up being a learning piece. 

I feel anxious still when I go to the studio. Imposter syndrome rearing its all too familiar head. I’ve always felt like I’m not “good enough” to be considered an artist, to be able to pursue more complex mediums. Thankfully I’ve learned to let my anxiety yap in the background while I take care of business. I’m so grateful for the steps I’ve taken to learn a new skill this year. 

My pieces aren’t great, they may never be. That’s okay. I like the process. The yurt took me 3 hours and that time flew by. I first started pottery by taking a wheel throwing class earlier this year in the spring. I lack talent in the throwing department. I struggled to guide the clay into any successful form for the majority of the 6 week course. I decided to keep with it and joined as a member of a local studio. 

I spent my first 5 or so hours at the studio practicing wheel throwing. Making some progress but still struggling to get a form. Then some stress in other areas of my life had me reassess and I took a break from such active learning and started to try to some hand building techniques. I’ve really enjoyed the tactile activity. I prefer the imperfections of my pieces, I’m not sure I’ll ever strive for a flawless form. 

Before I head back to the studio this week, I have to pick up my first underglaze to experiment with. I’m excited to learn.