Today I learned how to throw (I haven't used the verb in the following context my entire life, but I figure I can give it a try now that I'm learning learning all about pottery). My friend Lindsay is an aspiring artist in the clay world of Helena, MT and she has inspired me through her great works to learn the basics of pottery. As I watched her teach my friend Nicole and I how to throw, she made it look simple, but after I got in front of that wheel and took a stab at it myself, I experienced a bit of misfortune (can you guess which mug above is mine?)... after the clay spun off the wheel two times too many, she began to make excuses for me "well, maybe it's that you're left handed & I'm teaching you backwards, or maybe your clay is too stiff..." she might as well have told me "well maybe it's because it's a full moon." Nicole got to the wheel before me and made a beautiful cylinder/mugesque form, while mine looked like a kindergartener's work. There are many things that inspire me, one being pottery (I have a huge mug fettish), but probably most of those things I am unable to excel at. Well, I guess that means I will just have an appreciation for them. After my defeat in the pottery world, I would have loved to sat down at my cello (which is currently in Connecticut) and expressed my artistic self through music, but alas, I was stuck, in Helena, Montana without my ownly creative outlet... I wonder how people are made with different talents, interests, and passions. What I have learned is that I often associate myself with people such as Nicole & Lindsay, because I am inspired by them in their masterpieces. I love to channel that creative energy from friends and be inspired in my own passions- working with and helping people cross culturally, and hearing their stories.
I know one thing for sure, and that is that I love a challenge. I challenge myself to learning how to make a mug before I leave Helena. I'll have to add that to my list of things to do while I'm in Montana. I hope I can conquer this small challenge :)
1 lemon wedges:
I loved throwing when I was in school. I found the making of the item was more fun than the having, though. Not too often when grown ups can play in the mud and not get disapproving looks.
Have you started the learning Russian item on your Bucket List? I have recently tried it with Rosetta Stone and I like it. I got Rosetta Stone through a college where it's only $48 for every three months (it's at http://www.cbcwebcollege.com) and that includes access to all the levels and all languages, including Russian.
I found Russian to be a challenge because of the cyrilic alphabet but it wouldn't be any fun if it weren't a challenge.
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