South
Kamloops Sculpture & Ceramics students are learning that working on the
potter’s wheel is both challenging and fascinating! At the beginning of each course students are
guided through a demonstration on throwing as a means of creating a pot on the
wheel. Throughout the first term, art
students primarily focus on the process of developing skills through
repetition. Our goal by the end of the
semester is to have each student artist create his or her own thrown vessel.
In many
ways, learning to throw on the wheel is like leaning to play a musical
instrument. You must begin with the
basics – reading music, playing scales, playing measures of music – and then by
building these skills you will play songs.
In much the same way, potters begin by learning to center and raise
walls efficiently to make simple forms and progress to making forms that are
uniquely theirs. Potters, like musicians,
must refine the steps making specific forms though fluid and focused practice.
Perhaps
most importantly, building skills through practice often requires expert help
for students in the classroom. Emily
Dundas, a TRU Arts student and SKSS Grad (2011), is sharing her knowledge of
the potter’s wheel with current students in the studio. A self-taught potter, Emily first tried
throwing here at SKSS. She has been involved
with the Kamloops Arts and Crafts Club where she participates in a variety of
artisan shows and sales. We are thrilled
to have her join our class and provide encouragement, techniques, and most of
all her wonderful enthusiasm of all things clay!
