Bruce the Chef

By: Mitch Johnson

Every human being is unique so as the hobby. Pottery is one of the most
unique and special hobby which very less people have. For a people
having a good sense of creativity, pottery can be considered to be the
best in developing their creative ability. Go through this article and
learn more about this fascinating creative art.

In the cold, concise language of Webster’s Dictionary, clay is "an
earthy substance used in making pottery, bricks, etc". To the ceramist
this definition seems much too objective and academic like saying the
Hope Diamond is nothing more than a chunk of carbon which has undergone
immense subterranean pressure and heat. Surely this flawless gem is
worthy of a more full-flavored description.

So it is with clay. It can be shaped, colored and fired into myriad
marvels of esthetic and utilitarian beauty. It has "life" and is
capable of playing strange tricks under the influence of fire. Colors,
too, are often capricious. Even under the strictest control they may
affect results which are, to say the least, unexpected.

Every time you open the kiln, it is like Christmas. For you can never
be certain about exactly what you will get. These surprise endings only
add an extra dash of spice to an already absorbing hobby.

When you have started to work with ceramics, you will find that the
more you know, the more there is to learn about this fascinating
creative art. As with any worthwhile accomplishment, you will not
become an expert potter merely by reading a book. You will have to
taste your share of joys and disappointments during your
trial-and-error apprenticeship. But don’t be too easily discouraged if
at first your trials turn out to be mostly errors.

Most educators agree that lessons learned by trial and error are
lessons best remembered. With ceramics, moreover, all mistakes are not
for the worst. On the contrary, many of a potter’s errors result in his
most attractive and original works. Usually these are the pieces which
can never be duplicated.

Very popular in the ceramist’s lexicon of phrases are the words "let us
see what happens". The thrill of experimentation is not lacking in this
hobby. For example, you could glaze a tray and toss on a few pieces of
copper, just to "see what happens". After firing it, you may find the
copper completely burned away, leaving a scrumptious splotch of green
from the copper oxide. On the other hand, the copper might scale over
the glaze and ruin the tray. You won’t know until you remove it from
the kiln and the suspense, as any ceramics enthusiast knows, can be
unbearable.

Since the end of World War II, ceramics has mushroomed in popularity
until today it is one of the nation’s favorite pastimes. Its
enthusiastic adherents are outnumbered, according to latest estimates,
only by those of bowling, fishing and stamp collecting. As for creative
hobbies, there are more ceramists in the country than any other breed
of amateur artist.

Actually, it is difficult to put your finger on the reason for this
sudden spurt in popularity. Perhaps it can be attributed to the war
itself. Existing conditions then made it impossible to import pottery
from abroad. Stores were eager to sell locally made merchandise.
Critical shortages existed in metals and other materials that normally
go into gift ware. But there has always been an abundance of raw
material for the manufacture of pottery: clay. And the metallic oxides
and carbonates that are used for pottery colors were likewise available
throughout the war years.

No one can become an expert potter by just reading books, he has to
gone through a long way of trail and error. Those who keep in going
without feeling discourage can only be called an expert potter.

About the Author:

Mitch Johnson is a regular writer for www.curtains-n-drapes.com/ , www.myceramicshub.info/ , www.myceramicsresource.info/

Article Source: http://www.therealarticles.com