Pottery Is Making A Comeback
by Freddy Roy
It would seem that lately, all things old within the realm of arts and crafts have suddenly been made new. The same holds true for pottery and it really doesn't get much older when one considers some of the popular crafts of today, perhaps textiles but that's another story all together.
At any rate, pottery making has seemed to enjoy a sudden rebirth of popularity and this is really a great thing. Not only is this a great way for young and old alike to find common ground it is also a way of producing something that is useful in the end. Many hobbies are merely decorative or entertaining. There are few exceptions to this such as knitting and pottery making, which create things that are useful in their own right rather than merely nice to look at or sit upon a shelf.
For younger adults, teens, and children pottery making provides a creative outlet and keeps minds and hands busy on positive things rather than dwelling on negative or painfully idle. It is a great idea to keep kids busy and a hobby such as pottery making does just that. It takes an investment in time to create beautiful pottery by working the clay. There is also time involved in the glazing process. There is also a very real sense of excitement that takes place when waiting to see what the finished product looks like once it has been properly fired. It's a fun hobby that is always new, different, and exciting.
If you have never tried pottery before, I strongly urge you to go out and buy one of the cheap little pottery making kits you can find in local stores. While there are bigger and better things you can work up to when it comes to pottery these make a good solid beginning and allow you to get your feet wet without going in over your head in the sometimes muddy clay filled water of the pottery world. These projects are generally quite simple and give you a decent feel for what it's like working with clay. It is important to realize that this is not a hobby for everyone but most people either love it or hate it. There are very few with mediocre reviews.
Once you have a feel for pottery so to speak and have decided to move on then you might really want to consider checking around for community courses that are offered in pottery. These are often less expensive than art schools or college courses in pottery and often provide excellent instruction and time on the wheel, if the potter's wheel is something you are hoping to work with. Not all potters enjoy wheel work though this is something you must decide for yourself. Hand building is where most potters begin and a good foundation in the skills that are ultimately needed when working on the wheel.
If you are enjoying the current rebirth of all things craft, then you should really become a true Renaissance man or woman and try your hand at pottery to add to your collection of useful skills in the modern world. It's not likely that you can go wrong in this adventure. You just might find that this is an exceptionally fun skill in which to invest your time, talent, and energies.
At any rate, pottery making has seemed to enjoy a sudden rebirth of popularity and this is really a great thing. Not only is this a great way for young and old alike to find common ground it is also a way of producing something that is useful in the end. Many hobbies are merely decorative or entertaining. There are few exceptions to this such as knitting and pottery making, which create things that are useful in their own right rather than merely nice to look at or sit upon a shelf.
For younger adults, teens, and children pottery making provides a creative outlet and keeps minds and hands busy on positive things rather than dwelling on negative or painfully idle. It is a great idea to keep kids busy and a hobby such as pottery making does just that. It takes an investment in time to create beautiful pottery by working the clay. There is also time involved in the glazing process. There is also a very real sense of excitement that takes place when waiting to see what the finished product looks like once it has been properly fired. It's a fun hobby that is always new, different, and exciting.
If you have never tried pottery before, I strongly urge you to go out and buy one of the cheap little pottery making kits you can find in local stores. While there are bigger and better things you can work up to when it comes to pottery these make a good solid beginning and allow you to get your feet wet without going in over your head in the sometimes muddy clay filled water of the pottery world. These projects are generally quite simple and give you a decent feel for what it's like working with clay. It is important to realize that this is not a hobby for everyone but most people either love it or hate it. There are very few with mediocre reviews.
Once you have a feel for pottery so to speak and have decided to move on then you might really want to consider checking around for community courses that are offered in pottery. These are often less expensive than art schools or college courses in pottery and often provide excellent instruction and time on the wheel, if the potter's wheel is something you are hoping to work with. Not all potters enjoy wheel work though this is something you must decide for yourself. Hand building is where most potters begin and a good foundation in the skills that are ultimately needed when working on the wheel.
If you are enjoying the current rebirth of all things craft, then you should really become a true Renaissance man or woman and try your hand at pottery to add to your collection of useful skills in the modern world. It's not likely that you can go wrong in this adventure. You just might find that this is an exceptionally fun skill in which to invest your time, talent, and energies.
