I could tell you in first person why signing up for ceramics has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made in my life or tell you everything that my body and mind notice since I practice it, but in the end it would be my perception and we prefer that you know those of the experts.
Some people talk about connection with oneself, mindfulness, stress release and decreased anxiety, and even who compares its benefits to those of a yoga class. It is the fashionable hobby and yes, it has many good things.
The benefits of practicing pottery
Practicing pottery has physical benefits on arms and hands as it improves hand-eye coordination and mobility and develops manual skills. Isabel has a workshop in Madrid, watermelon scratch at Calle Calatrava 9, where he teaches ceramics and sculpture. He studied Pottery and Artistic Ceramics at the Francisco Alcántara School of Art in Madrid and has trained with Joan Jacer at the La Moncloa School of Ceramics, as well as at the La Palma School of Art and at the Arts and Crafts Studio (ASNUM) in Albuquerque, in New Mexico.
As the expert explains to us, “manual dexterity is acquired with the handling of tools, and we experience personal growth because not only do we transform the clay in our hands, but over time the clay transforms us.”
These types of activities help reduce stress as you would paint, cook or embroider. Elizabeth compares it to meditation: “It relaxes us because by concentrating on the task we forget everything”but he also speaks of confidence and security “when seeing that we are capable of doing things that we could not even imagine”, and of course, of the patience that we develop “by having to respect the material and work processes”.
Work with clay in ceramics or sculpture will help us explore our creativityto experiment, to work on patience and to learn to manage our frustration “when having to deal with failures or results that we didn’t want”.
It is also a window to creativity. “Thinking about what we want to do and how, and having to solve problems that we find in the development of the piece helps us to develop the creativity”.
And after practice ceramics for the last three years of my life, I attest to all these benefits. The three hours of my ceramics workshop are a haven of peace that I would not change for anything.
Three reasons to join the fashion hobby
Anyone can make pottery
“If we don’t limit ourselves to the results and we value the process: projecting the piece, touching the clay, handling the tool and above all having a good time doing it, everyone can make ceramics,” says Isabel. “The important thing is to enjoy the work processbecause that will end up being noticed in the piece and in the happiness of the person.”
Start with something simple like this course “Ceramics at home for beginners” offered by Domestika, or this other one from Clarina Ceramics from “Design and creation of self-watering pieces”is a way for you to try.
Pottery at home for beginners. A course by Paula Casella Biase, Ceramist
Ceramics: design and creation of self-watering pieces. A course by Clarina, Ceramist
In Rayaduradesandía they have Face-to-face courses Initiation to ceramics and initiation to modeling in intensive format, or annual courses to discover weekly how to make functional pieces, or sculptures.
Because the good thing about ceramics is that we can make anything from a cup to a character like the ones Nastia Calaca teaches in her course “Character Design with Ceramics: Explore Color and Texture”or even pieces that we can wear as ceramic jewelry.
Ceramic character design: explore color and texture A course by Nastia Calaca, Ceramista
Ceramic jewelry for beginners A course by Julieta Álvarez, Ceramic Artist
We can increase the difficulty at our own pace
Don’t think that the first pottery class you attend will make a piece like Demi Moore’s in Ghost. Ideally, start small and increase the difficulty over time and based on your own abilities and preferences.
As Isabel explains to us, the best way to start practicing ceramics is by using simple techniques such as “pinch, which is very easy to touch and feel the clay”. In her own words “you don’t have to complicate your life. One of the most fascinating things about clay is its versatility”.
We can make ceramics with or without a wheel, using plates, with our fingers or even with molds, as in this xenia bass course. Decorate with a simple punch, with templates or with techniques as simple as sgraffito, for example, or practice something more complex but precious such as Kintsugia Japanese technique with a very deep meaning.
Creation of molds for ceramic reproduction A course by Xènia Bas, Ceramist
Introduction to Kintsugi: restore your pottery with gold A course by Clara Graziolino, Ceramic Artist and Kintsugi Expert
It will be your oasis (and you can have new and handmade crockery)
No matter how complicated the week has been, when you notice the mud between your fingers, everything will dissipate. It doesn’t fail. And do not forget that there is a part of the ceramic with which we can make functional objects ranging from cups, to bowls, salad bowls, trays or plates, so having a handmade tableware (and completely unique) has never been so close.
In addition, you can try the face-to-face courses of ceramic studies in your city with which to interact and share moments with the rest of the students. In Madrid, for example, our favorite studios besides Rayaduradesandía are Dual Space (Mondariz Square, 13), Clarina Ceramics (Street of the Olive grove, 44), and fire and mud (Calle Gaztambide, 24), although there are more and more options and surely you have one close to home.
Once you try it, you will fall forever into the loving arms of this art. Addicted word.
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Photos | Courtney Cook, Earl Wilcox, Alex Jones, Cassidy Phillips, Yana Hurskaya, Andy Kelly, Tom Crew, Diana Light Y Anne Nygard in unsplash