Ceramics for the Soul

I went to my first ever ceramics class last night, and I really enjoyed it! As it may be obvious by now, I've been trying to get back into making art recently. I have tried the online Creative Every Day '09 initiative, and I was doing fine for a week or so, yet it still felt too forced and I was far from inspired. I was finding it too hard to not be critical of my work.

I have spent some time thinking this over, and how to overcome it. Because in the past I have made 'good' drawings and paintings, when I don't do ones that meet up to my expectations I simply stop drawing or painting to avoid the failure. So, I thought that if I try something totally new, then I wouldn't be able to judge the work by any past standards. Boom, I join a ceramics class.

And I have to say, I'm glad. It's a lot of money, but I already believe it's worth it. It's a two hour session per week, for eight weeks. The people there are really nice, and the teacher Sue, who owns the shop below the studio, went to Camberwell College of Arts, where I did my degree! So it was nice to have that in common. She had me make a basic vase (and believe me, I need the basics!). I spent the whole two hours on this vase, learning how to roll the clay, making it into coils and then using the coils to make the shape etc. I was so absorbed in it. Working the clay is so relaxing, I can understand why it's used in art therapy!

Whilst making the vase, it was almost like I was meditating. No, more like mindfulness. Just being totally aware of what I'm doing whilst my mind is void of interfering thoughts. I've come across this word a lot, and have only had small experiences of what I would call mindfulness. Funnily enough, these have been times when I've been totally absorbed in drawing, lol. So to have that feeling return to me last night whilst doing something totally new is great =D.

So, no more ceramics until next Tuesday. But until then, I can already feel the creative impulse slowly being rekindled . . . and I thought I did a pretty damn good vase for a first-timer to boot ;).