Throwing it all together: Learning to Love Pottery

There’s something humbling about trying a brand-new art form when you’re supposed to have everything figured out. That’s exactly where I found myself this semester in Beginners Pottery. This semester I finally took the class I had been dreading. I was very nervous to take this class because I hadn’t had much experience with clay, and learning a new medium this late in my college career was intimidating. However, I am happy to admit that I have developed a deep love for the art of pottery. This article is my beginner’s look into learning pottery from the ground up.

The first thing we learned to make were pinch pots—simple in theory, just a ball of clay you slowly pinch into a bowl. It should have been easy, but I had acrylic nails. That turned out to be a disaster. I stabbed more holes than I care to admit, and it felt like my pottery journey was off to a pretty rough start.

Things didn’t truly shift until we moved to the wheel and even then, not right away. Centering, the essential technique every potter must master to make anything strong or balanced, gave me a run for my money. I struggled, my acrylic nails didn’t help, and every attempt left me more frustrated. But strangely enough, that frustration grew into determination. I wanted to get it right, and I wasn’t ready to give up. When centering finally clicked, it was like a bolt of lightning in my brain—followed by a thunderous rush of excitement and relief. Suddenly everything made sense. I kicked into overdrive, producing new pieces every day.

My next challenge, though, came with glazing. Glazing is the process of coating a ceramic piece with a glass-like layer before firing. It adds color, makes the piece waterproof and food safe, and strengthens the structure. The catch? The glaze you paint on looks nothing like the color it becomes after firing. You don’t see the final result until it comes out of the kiln. That unpredictability tested me. I like to be in control and not being able to visualize how a piece would turn out made me anxious—and very protective of anything I thought I might ruin.

But, as with most things that once intimidated me, practice changed everything. The more I experimented, the more I discovered glaze combinations I genuinely loved, and they quickly became my signature choices. I left my pottery class with 22 extra items. As you can see, I went a little overboard. The sleepless nights and clay-stained pants really paid off, and I wouldn’t trade this experience for the world.

It was incredibly rewarding to watch my classmates form the same connection to pottery that I did. We were all challenged in different ways, yet each of us grew to appreciate the art through our own perspectives. The result was a beautiful mix of ideas, forms, and designs.

This week, our pieces, along with work from other students, will be featured in the Fine Arts Winter Art Sale! Today through Friday, students will be selling their handmade pieces in the Ryan Gallery from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Stop by and show your support! You’d be surprised how many stray balls of clay were thrown on the floor to create the work you’ll see on display.

And finally, a heartfelt thank-you to my pottery instructor, Amanda Baldwin. Learning from her has been a joy, and she is truly an invaluable part of the McMurry Art Department.