The first experience using ceramics to create an interpretation of Peanut was so much fun (and relaxing) that I was eager to sign up for the next workshop at SPACE, which was a three week series.  I shared the workshop information with a few of my girlfriends and this time around, instead of having Taro with me, Vivian signed up.  This was her first time with ceramics and she was very excited on the prospect of creating something unique.  For me, it was a matter of what to create this time around.

I knew walking into the class that I wanted to either create a plate or bowl.  After sifting through some of the books Rebecca Tager, our instructor, provided, I settled on a bowl with an intricate circle design.  Part of the challenge was finding the perfect circular object to “punch out” individual circles.  Luckily, Rebecca is resourceful and she handed me the lid of her lip balm.  (The sacrifices you make in the name of art!)  The size of the bowl itself was not large, but creating individual circles?  It was time consuming, but as I placed one on top of the other, it came out to this great design.  After finishing the bowl, I actually used a slab to create a piece for our garden – essentially a nameplate.  Something small and cute – me, Taro, and Peanut.

Vivian wanted to create mugs that when joined together, it would be a heart.  Rebecca enthusiastically said yes and she started the task right away.  She used a cutout of a heart to build the shape and had to mold individual pieces – front, back, and sides of the cup.  It took the full two hours to create the components and it actually needed some time to dry before piecing it together.

There were other participants in the workshop and it was great to see the direction they were headed in.  Rebecca’s mother really wanted to create a bowl inspired by her own daughter’s creation.  Another created a bowl with an intricate design acting as the foot of the bowl.  One of the most interesting – she had an inspiration to create it and it just called out it her – was a tiny hedgehog.  I thought it was silly, but in a fun, playful kind of way.

So that was how we all began.  A two hour class goes by in a flash, but what emerges out of it is entirely unique, representative of the individual, and creative.

The creation of my bowl:

The hedgehog piece:

Rebecca is a great instructor and someone so easy to work with.  If you need suggestions or an extra hand, she’s right there to give support and direction.