One of the things I have been up to lately is taking ceramic classes. I love it! I have found a true gem in a studio here in Austin, Clayway pottery. This place houses several private pottery studios, public gallery and holds hand buildng and wheel classes for all levels.

What I really appreciate about this place is that it feels safe and nurturing in a way. I feel that it is my private sanctuary, a place I am excepted and feel that I can heal both creatively and emotionally. The owner, Kit is very kind and always eager to support the artists in any way be it showing newbies around the studio or talking shop. I don't really know her that well but she seems very down to earth, very giving.

Down to earth, goofy, funny, light hearted, young hearted are some ways to describe my hand building teacher, Kris. Kris is just a delight. I really appreciate her positiveness. The classes are not strictly structured, instead she pretty much shows you the techniques and lets you lose. She is always there to support. I definately feel that I can learn and grow in this environment very freely and openly.

It's been years since I have been in the studio. I took ceramics, wheel class, back in college and remember that it was just an okay experience. My instructor back then was a tiny woman who amazed me because she would knead blocks of clay almost as big as she was. She had studied abroad in Japan and was a little bit of a perfectionist; I was intimidated by her. I remember it was end of semester critique time and we all sat around with our pieces going around the room student to student and she gets to me. I think my palms were sweating and I was not digging my pieces. I loved the feel of the wheel but my pieces were very small in scale, I had not mastered heightening the clay on the wheel, they would just continue to collapse after they reached a certain height. Interesting enough this worked to my advantage. She said it reminded her of some minimalist studies she had seen in Japan and slapped me a B. Yeah for minimalists!

Anyways being back in the studio is nice and relaxing, again I use the word healing because that really is what this experience is about for me right now. I have been in a really up and down swing this past year. This loving place has been very nurturing during this time. The collective energy of all the kind, sweet, gently souls that I get to "Play" with every Monday night has been a blessing.

I discovered that one of my coworkers also has been taking classes at Clayways for some time now. She walked in that first night in Hand building class; she and I did a double take. What a really nice surprise! Sharon is a lovely woman, one of those gently souls I spoke about. She is the one that makes everyone feel at home and comfortable; she is the "mom" of the group.

Well I want to post some of my lovely creations from my first class. I am now attending class numero dos. Kris did a wonderful job going through all the different techniques that first round. To be honest that initial class went by so quickly; I am now in this 2nd Handbulding course putting all those techniques I saw in the first course to use.

The pieces I am showcasing are all handbuilt using the pinch pot technique. These are all whistles by the way, so their actual scale is much smaller than what they appear. They all fit in the palm of my hand.

I love animals and really gravitate to that subject a lot for my work; animals bring me great joy. I also love mexican folk art and that is what inspires my use of colors. I LOVE colors. My tucan so far is my favorite piece it really does embodies everything I enjoy as far as colors and design.

I like it when my work brings big O smiles to people's faces or belly shaking laughs.
Enjoy!