Since You Liked Those…

I was completely flabbergasted by the response to yesterday’s post in which I shared some of the pottery I’ve made, and I always appreciate any excuse to use the word “flabbergasted”. It’s up there with “effluvia”, “rictus”, “discombobulated”, and “xenium” on my list of words I don’t think get used often enough, but that’s another story.

Since I’ve been in a bit of a creative dry spell lately here are some of my other pottery works. The first thing I ever made in pottery class was a coffee mug.

005

pawprintmug

I also made a small bowl.

017With a tremendous amount of help from my instructor–so much so that I feel a little guilty claiming I made this–I made another bowl on the wheel. Expert potters make using the wheel look incredibly easy, but, as my instructor told me, it took her seven years of almost daily practice to reach the point that she can imagine something and make it.

021My best piece, though, is one I made for a friend who’s a fellow Doctor Who fan. If you’re a Whovian–and I know some of you are–you’ll appreciate how twisted I am for giving this to him as a gift.

angel

When things don’t turn out right–and I have made a lot of junk–it can be very frustrating. When they do turn out, though, it’s extremely satisfying.

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11 Comments

  1. Ann Koplow

    I am flabbergasted at how great your pottery is, even though you’d think i’d be more prepared and less discombobulated because of what I saw in your post yesterday. I don’t blink when I read your posts, for fear of missing something wonderful. I appreciate all the effluvia in this post, including something from “The Naked Gun,” always good for happy facial rictuses. Or is it ricti, Chris?

    Reply
    1. Christopher Waldrop (Post author)

      According to the Oxford English Dictionary both “ricti” and “rictuses” are acceptable. The same source tells me “xenium” is “a present…given to a guest or stranger”. So thank you for the xenium of this comment.

      Reply
  2. mydangblog

    Wow! You are amazingly talented! These are nicer than things I’ve seen for sale in shops–makes me want to get creative with something too!

    Reply
    1. Christopher Waldrop (Post author)

      Please do get out there and get creative with something. If you can find a pottery class it’s both fun and easy–really. Now I’m thinking I should sell some of the stuff I’ve made. That would be a good way to get rid of it.

      Reply
  3. Gina

    I like the cat paw design and the tree design. Very cool. I have to know– did you use a real cat to make the paw impression? Which reminds me when my son was 6 months old I took him to one of those “Make your own pottery” places so I could make something for my husband for his first Father’s Day. I put my son’s little footprints on a mug and it took FOREVER to get it done because he screamed his head off the entire time. I guess he didn’t enjoy the feeling of wet paint on his bar feet. He was not a cooperative subject AT ALL. That’s what I think of every time I see that mug.

    I forgot how funny (and silly) the Naked Gun movies were. Now if someone would just explain to me all the symbolism at the end of the clip…

    Reply
    1. Gina

      Bare not bar. Stupid typo. Sigh.

      Reply
      1. Christopher Waldrop (Post author)

        If there was one thing about the commenting feature here that I’d change it’s that people would be able to edit their comments. Yes, I can edit your comment–a power I vow to only use for good, never evil. And a couple of times I have discreetly edited typos in peoples’ comments because I’m also one of those people who sees a typo after I’ve hit the button and thinks, aw, crap. And I want to save others that embarrassment if I can.
        Or I could just do what I’ve done here and basically highlight your typo.

        Reply
    2. Christopher Waldrop (Post author)

      It’s funny but I meant the paw impression to be a dog’s paw. It was made with a rubber stamp since none of our dogs would allow themselves to get wet clay on their paws. They’re kind of like your son in that way so I’ll just add that to my list of reasons I tell people we have four-legged children.

      Reply
  4. M. Firpi

    The video of The Naked Gun is hilarious. I once worked with the wheel and it’s very challenging. I like what you’re doing! It looks very nice. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    1. Christopher Waldrop (Post author)

      What’s really funny to me about the wheel is when I watch a real professional it looks ridiculously easy. I used to watch potters and think, “Oh, so I just put my hands on either side and move ’em up and down a bit and–presto! A lamp!” I still thought pottery was cool but I have an even greater appreciation for it now that I’ve actually tried it.
      My pottery instructor says the hardest part is getting the clay centered. That’s extremely difficult, but I’m not sure about it being the hardest part.

      Reply
  5. Sandra

    I looooove the cup with the little paw print. This is all pretty impressive. You’re a man of many talents.

    Reply

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