Finally, The Spinning Wheel Is Dirty

I will have to be honest.  I have not felt like throwing any clay or really doing anything else for about 2 or three weeks. Between my back and nerves, I have wondered if I was turning into a foam drooling sofa slug.  But I managed to collect all of my drugs, supplements and all health items onto a shelf that is of a size bigger than I will confess. Anything that looked to even have a hint of the words, stress- nerve- pain relief, has been swallowed with some sort of consistency. I seem to feel better. Then again maybe I am just High !
So I have managed to pull out the new Shimpo wheel and spin some clay on it.  So yes it is now DIRTY.
 So what have I learned?  Not what you would think.  While I managed to make vessels that resemble small bowls for putting crap that you usually find in your pockets at the end of the day. I have come to a few conclusions about those who throw pottery.
The horse whisperer got that name from years of getting stomped on.  The dog whisperer got his name from years of getting bite by even the tiniest of dogs.  This goblet whisperer has about 15 pots under his belt.  I figure about 500 more should get me closer to being able to look like I know what I am doing.
I am going to take a moment here and tell my wife why my grammar seems to have improved.  I downloaded an app called Grammarly.  It seems to correct my spelling and grammar with amazing accuracy  It makes me look smarter than I am. I need all the help I can get!
Back to the pottery lessons.  Just because you can see how to do something properly on YouTube does not mean that you can just do the same as you are told.
Throwing Pottery is amazingly messy.  I watched a couple potters and am learning how to be a little less of a mud thrower. But I can see that it is going to be just part of throwing clay onto a spinning disk.  And why is it that every pottery video you watch other than in schools you see a wheel that looks to have months of clay all over it?  Because it is a pain in the butt to clean it up every time.
But I think the most important thing I have learned in my first two attempts is what the word (STUDIO) really means.
The word Studio means-  Get that crap out of my Kitchen, Get the messy slinging clay out of my house. Go plug up your own sink. Find a place where you can just leave it all out and be able to just walk out on a whim.  I love you Dear but you're in my space. Go find a corner in that 10,000 sq ft shop that anybody else would beat you over the head for.
So I will be spending a little time here in the future, creating a STUDIO, Because I love my wife and respect her space that she enjoys with organizational skills that make her the Organized Whisperer.

A little clay creating outside and my first few days of trying to turn dirt into something that will probably just wind up holding all my little junk.

The BIG Stall

No, I have not got that Aspire dirty yet.  I seem to be stalling.  Not sure if it is because I feel guilty (playing) rather than working on the 50 million other work or non-work related projects in the works.
I suspect if I sold a boat or two.  Finished the remodel on the Air bnb. Or just got rid of half of the stuff that seems to have collected in my 10,000 sq. ft shop.  Did I mention that I can not even get in the door?  I have a train track layout that is in my way and a big screen TV that shows my age. It may be time to just pretend that I am 18 again, unload it all, and all I own is what I can carry on my motorcycle. So yes I am stalling for a lot of reasons.  I have some chickens that need to (rest) in my freezer. And some vehicles and such from my youth that I should just let go and be glad I am able to just have good memories of them. They tend to remind me of how my body is wearing out just as they have.
So yes I may be stalling some on this new hobby that seems to intrigue me. Yet I don't feel any urgency to become the Great Goblet Whisperer. Maybe I will just be one of those potters that turn goblets then lets them dry out as greenware, and then let my( better half )break the crap out of them with her new self -defense weapon.  I pity the fool who would give her a reason to use it on him.
I did manage to research the next step toward throwing a Goblet.  Wedging-  the art of getting air bubbles out of the clay, so it throws better and doesn't blow up in the kiln.  Different ways to do it, like kneading a dough. Most will hurt your wrists over time.  I have decided I am going to go with the (stack and slam wire method). My better half may even volunteer on days when she needs to take out her frustrations on clay instead of customers that should be smacked. If you want to learn something or wonder what I am talking about, here is the link for all that brilliant knowledge that I only have to copy.  Think how smart you will be after you read about it and watch the video.
  https://ceramicartsnetwork.org/daily/ceramic-supplies/pottery-clay/stack-and-slam-wire-wedging-an-efficient-and-easy-on-the-wrists-way-to-wedge-clay/

Jealous yet ?

Today I looked at kilns. I suddenly realized that I did not want to drag greenware all over the county side rattling around in the back of my van. Not sure what I was or wasn't thinking. But the kiln part is half of what pottery is about. Now that the research is somewhat over they are not as (scary) as I had envisioned.  I hope to find one close by that somebody else just had to have. Paid a lot of money for it. But wants to practically give it away.  Cause that is usually how I have to buy things and I think it is somebody else's turn to take a major loss instead of me.
So today was my second day to admire my shining new Aspire wheel.  Which I did just that!  I also made this little tool workstation holder.

Ever notice in all the youtube videos how every potter seems to just randomly throw their tools everywhere when they are done using it. Just any random flat spot by their wheel seems to do. And then notice that they spend a good portion of their time finding them? Maybe that is just how a laidback potter is supposed to do it. Throwing without a care!  Maybe that will be me also. I am not the neatest person around.  Just ask my wife.!  Anyway, Are you jealous of my new tool holder?

No. Then how about being able to put that Aspire on the back of a tailgate and throw till the kids get out of soccer practice.

Still not Jealous ???

then how about turning a few goblets sitting outside on the patio table, with this view !!

I know you're jealous now.  Just admit it.  I need you to be jealous or all my effort of today will be for not.

I may have to get some mud on the Aspire tomorrow. It is time for me to Aspire to greatness and start throwing  GOBLETS. 

IN THE BEGINNING

How did it all start ?
 Well I signed up for 3 months of studio time in a pottery studio about half an hour away probably two years ago.  Did I know anything about working with clay. NO !  So why did I sign up.  Cause it was as cheap as a four day class.  It's always about money in our family. So what did I learn?
I learned I don't like driving a half hour to play with clay.  I learned I am not really a group clay player.  I learned that if I could center a piece of clay first time at the wheel on my own that I just needed youtube and my own space. But I did think the studio was cool and the owner was doing a good job running it. And I found what others were making pretty neat and maybe beyond my skill set. but-
So while I seem to like throwing clay on a wheel. I don't seem to care about flat building or even the artsy part of glazes and such. So why the intrigue?  I am not sure why. I just find throwing clay somewhat soothing and making a ball of clay into something useful.  So while I didn't really use the 3 months of access very much.  I still found I was interested in that stupid wheel.
So after about a year and doing a lot of research on wheels both new and used. ( I am not sure why used wheels are so expensive) they seem to be worth more than my 22 ft. Catalina sailboat with a trailer.  I realized that I am not really interested in throwing anything over 10 pounds. So I got a bug up my butt one day and ordered a Shimpo Aspire.  I wanted a wheel that I could use standing up. I wanted a wheel that I could take and work outside easily on a whim.  I wanted a wheel that I could take to the park or top of a hill and throw clay with it hooked up to my car battery. But I also wanted a wheel that did not cost more than half the things I own.
I got that wheel today from good old Fed ex. Pulled it out of the box.  It was a good solid weight instead of a toy. I could pick it up easily. and move it where ever. I screwed the speed handle on. Plugged it in. Slowly turned it on as it is variable speed from nothing to high. And put my hand on it to see if I could slow it down. I am a big strong guy. 6-2  208.   It did not slow down as I thought it might (as I was ready to put it back in the box if it did.) My hand started to heat up fairly quickly from the friction. Next, I checked out how slow it would go.  To make a long story short. I am happy and impressed with my choice. I hope to make a lot of potters jealous.
So I have had that wheel for 6 hours now and haven't made anything on it yet.  Why you ask ?  Cause it just looks good so clean and clay free ! Is it me or do most pottery wheels look like they belong to slobs ?  I may just stare at it for a couple days.
What is the goal and purpose of this blog.  I am going to throw 1 goblet a day for 365 days. It will allow me to see how my skills progress.
I went to a pottery show last year.  Only saw one goblet. And I bought it. So obviously they are not too popular.  At least as something to sell.  Good, as I want this whole process to be about doing something because I just enjoy it and for a change not about making money. Here are some pictures of that pretty thing called a Shimpo Aspire !