Potter’s Wheel: Take A Spin

According to people who know what to look for clay can be found many places outside. Working with clay and making useful things out of it, which can include artistic creations, has been something humans have done for a very long time. The information that follows may not help you find your own clay on your next hike, but it may help you get started working with clay if you’re interested. Hope you enjoy it.

“Sometime between 6,000 and 4,000 BC, the first potter’s wheel was invented in Mesopotamia. This brought about a revolution in the way ancient people could create items out of clay. No longer were pottery makers restricted to the long process of hand molding clay — they were then able to have more freedom in experimenting with new forms and aesthetics. While pottery had always had intrinsic artistic qualities, when the potter’s wheel arrived, it shifted the process even more. Instead of serving utilitarian purposes, it now served artistic ones. While the earliest types of items found by archaeologists were generally undecorated, unglazed, hand-formed clay vessels, by 6000 BC, places like the Middle East, China and Europe had developed a wide array of design techniques. From intricate painted designs that told the history of a Pharaoh’s reign to highly polished bowls and plates to elaborate animal figures, ceramists attained remarkable skill and ability that was never seen before, thanks to the invention of the potter’s wheel.” Source: https://deneenpottery.com/pottery/

The folks at Deneen Pottery have put together a helpful guide to introduce pottery to beginners. The following link will take you to the page below: Deneen Pottery

Easter Egg #1: You should really check the site below out if you like working with your hands. It has a ton of information about many different trades and skills.

It’s the website of a non-profit group called The Crucible. They help those interested learn a variety of trades, including pottery. It’s not in our neck of the woods, but if it was we’d be hanging out there. Hit this link to learn more and to get to the page below: The Crucible