Monday, September 22, 2014

a pottery play date

I mentioned a couple weeks back that I am busy working on a series of pottery posts and I am excited to begin sharing them! In weeks and months ahead I have some fun pottery tutorials and clay inspiration coming your way.

For those of you new to my blog (or my background), my parents are potters and I've spent my entire life around clay.  I was introduced to clay long before painting and spent a great deal of time dabbling in pottery as a kid. Growing up my mom and dad ran a successful pottery business from their home studio- I spent my childhood watching my dad throw pots on the wheel and my mom run a wholesale tile business. My brother and I spent weekends and summers at craft shows and art galleries so it's really no surprise I grew up to be an artist!



While my dad taught me how to throw on the wheel, it never really stuck, I always preferred sculpting and hand building and then I fell in love with painting and it was all over for me! But now that Lucy is getting older we've wanted to get her playing on the wheel or at least witness the process. Recently we planned a family play date where we all took turns, with my dad's help, playing on the wheel. Throwing on the wheel is hard and it take tons of time and patience to actually make something but the process is exhilarating! Needless to say we had a BLAST! It took a while for Lucy to warm up to it all (ironic that the kid who loves dirt, mud, sand and paint wasn't excited about getting clay on her hands) but with a little encouragement she finally jumped right in. Here is a peek into our creative session:


                                               pottery from Alisa Burke on Vimeo.


Normally I don't laugh at my crying child but the fact that she was so upset by the clay on her hands was just hilarious- especially because she spent the previous day painting with her hands. 

Much better :)


42 comments:

Preeti Dubey said...

Absolute fun!!

muriel said...

Thanks a lot for sharing this beautiful video!

Joan Princing Art said...

Absolutely Wonderful !!!

Marieke said...

Wow, what a wonderful post. I grew up with that too. I remember making pots on a large wheel, one that you had to kick with your feet to get it moving. I think all my friends and cousins got to try at some point. I also remember taking turns in sitting on this wheel (were you would normally put the clay) and the other would turn it so you'd spin round and round. Thanks for remembering me!
Did Lucy get used to the clay on her hands or would she still rather paint?

Nina Fenner said...

I do remember the texture being very slippery, almost slimey and COLD?, so I can kind of relate to her not liking it! It is a very magical process tho, so I hope she gets to like it.

Michelle said...

Oh, wow! I so enjoyed this story. I especially love the story of your mum, dad, and Lucy. :-) I was lucky enough to attend a primary school that had a pottery room - bench for working on coil pots, wheel when we "graduated" to it, and the kiln. I spent a lot of time in that room. I remember it fondly!

Joanne said...

What a fantastic memory for your whole family! What fun it looks like you had...thanks for sharing!

Deb said...

Now that looks like fun. What a beautiful bowl to enjoy. Deb

Elisabetta Brustio said...

Non ho mai provato ad usare la ceramica ed il tornio: è uno di quei lavori che a vedersi sembra facile ma quando è ora di farlo.... capisci quanto è difficile!
Ma basta guardare lo sguardo di Andy per capire la soddisfazione di ottenere un oggetto realizzato con le proprie mani!

I've never tried to use pottery and clay: it's one of those jobs that seems to look easy, but when it's time to do it .... you know how hard it is!
But just to note at the look of Andy to understand the satisfaction of getting an object made with your own hands! (bad translation ... I know...) :)

Sue Marrazzo Fine Art said...

What FUN!

AlexM said...

wow, how lucky you are! I would love trying pottery! And even more with my son.
Looking forward to your future posts about your experiments!

patty a. said...

I love how focused and curious Lucy was checking out what everyone was doing.

Vi soriano said...

Love those pictures....something to cherish in the future. Wish i had a chance to do those pottery
Project. Seems interesting.

Ashley said...

Look at that smile on your face.... And your parents!!! Amazing family time..

Vivyane Veka said...

You Guys had a very nice day !!! Thank you for sharing = )

Joanne said...

absolutely beautiful what a fun day with your family lucy was adorable

Anonymous said...

A lovely family with tremendous talent. Thanks for sharing with us.
Barb
NC

Joanne said...

oh man! You guys ARE THE BEST PARENTS!! Lucy is such a lucky little girl. Loved the video...just awesome. I'm pretty amazed by Lucy's level of concentration.

Martina said...

I adsolutly love your photos and the atmosphere!
Thank you for sharing with us!

jackie said...

What a wonderful way to spend the day with your parents..........and pass down the artistic love with little Lucy!

Charlotte said...

I've never tried pottery but I'd love to give it a go after seeing this! And Lucy's face is so adorably hilarious in those photos!

justmuddlingthroughlife.com

Anonymous said...

Oh glory you're pulling my heartstrings! I miss pottery so much. Can't blame you for laughing at the tears - I do the same with Forrest every once in a while, and he usually starts laughing along. = )

Iris said...

this is adorable !!! :)

ne_samo said...

I could watch a potter creating on a wheel all day long....

Mami Made It said...

Wonderful!

Unknown said...

Gorgeous photos. What a great experience for your little one!

gg designs said...

Clay is my favorite thing in the art/craft/creative world. I've always been TERRIBLE at it, but loved it none-the-less. Never stuck with anything I was so bad at for such a long time. I still love watching others do it and get the "itch" whenever I see a potter throwing anything!

Unknown said...

What a lucky little lady! Love the crying pictures-so cute :)

Kalliope said...

love the pic with your parents... that is precious:)

Virginia said...

That video is fabulous and made me smile - what a fantastic family day!

Karen said...

This is one of my favorite posts from you ever, I just adore seeing three generations of artists! You all radiate joy in your creativity. Thanks for sharing, Alisa!

dawn said...

LOVE LOVE THIS SO MUCH!!!

studioGypsy said...

i love your family. <3 xoxo

Van alle seizoenen said...

Oh wow, I've always wanted to do that!

Haley said...

What a fun family date! I took pottery a little in high school and always had so much fun throwing on the wheel. I wish it was an easier/cheaper hobby to take up again. I'm looking forward to seeing more of your pottery tips

Anonymous said...

looks like fun. my son (6) despises dirty hands. finger painting so.not.fun. for him! I doubt he would like this but he would probably love the result!

Jo Murray said...

Fun, fun, fun. A star in the making.

Bonnie Banks said...

So very special are these family times. This post has done my heart a world of good. I look forward to times like these with my grandkids. Thanks for the love.

Lucky Girl said...

Thanks for sharing the fun! Do your parents still sell their pottery? I'm headed your way soon and would love to bring a piece home with me! Thanks - Denny C

Jeannie said...

What fun! That is something I have always wanted to try. Creating these memories and experiences for Lucy are the best gifts you can give her. I remember being her age and going to painting and spinning classes with my Gram. Those memories stuck with me for over 50 years.

Unknown said...

Awesome I loooooovvve clay lucky you growing up surrounded by it xxxx

Silvia said...

Such a sweet video! Thanks for sharing it.

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