Leaning in to the essence of spring
As mother nature teases us with short spells of sun, the studio is starting to come into bloom, much like the growing plants outside. Spring teaches us that good things come to those who wait, and those who are patient. A similar lesson can be learned from the pottery wheel. Good things don’t happen all at once, but with time, your wheel throwing skills can begin to fully blossom.
Altering your brain chemistry through learning a new skill
When we’re young, we are constantly learning new things. As an adult, these lessons are harder to come by. Committing yourself to learning a new skill can be daunting at any age, but if you aren’t in the habit of being a novice, this feeling can be a bit uncomfortable. That uncomfortable sensation of learning a new skill that takes time and practice to master is exactly what we all are in such desperate need of. Life on earth has become so incredibly convenient. Especially when you live in a city like Amsterdam, there are few opportunities to be truly challenged (unless your daily bike commute requires you to cross the Amstel on what always seems like a windy day).
Our wheel throwing classes present the perfect opportunity for you to challenge your mind and your body. Throwing is an art form that is incredibly technical, although the potters on instagram make it look so easy, it really is a constantly evolving practice. The difficulty of mastering the potters wheel, is exactly what makes it so worthwhile. The satisfaction of seeing your progress week after week is what motivates aspiring potters to dedicate the time and energy it takes to learn it.
Small is beautiful
The beauty of learning the wheel at Mango in a Pot is that our throwing classes always host up to 3 participants at a time. This means that you are always going to have a very personalized lesson, with our wonderful teacher Anna. We have 3 different wheels, and everyone at the studio has their personal favorite. The small group sizes and tailored teaching approach means that our workshops are dynamic and flexible, always meeting you where you are in your throwing journey.
Our wheel throwing teacher Anna is a very talented multi-disciplinary artist. With her foundations in the art world coming from her work in textiles, Anna’s approach to pottery is that of pure enthusiasm and curiosity. She loves to explore different techniques and forms, and doesn’t hesitate to try new things. At the moment, her personal art is centered around working with found and recycled materials, think raw clay, homemade glazes, and more. She is really an inspiring artist all around, and her classes are no different.
How to prepare for your first wheel throwing lesson
The beauty of our community studio space is that nearly everything you need for the lesson is provided. We’ve got it all, including aprons! There’s just a couple of things to keep in mind before showing up to a lesson to make sure you get the most out of it. For starters, its always good to have your hair tied back if you have long hair. Wheel throwing requires you to sit leaning over the wheel, with your hands full of clay, hair can be a pain when trying to learn this new skill. Same goes for long finger nails, its always easier (especially if you are a beginner) to have short nails for your lesson. It’s also advised to remove any jewelry from your hands and wrists before throwing.
Wheel throwing a completed piece is a multi-day process. To learn more about the process of creating with clay check out our other blog post on that. That is why we recommend committing to at least 2 wheel throwing workshops so you can walk away with a piece of your own. After your 2nd lesson, your piece will get bisque fired in the kiln and you can even come back to the studio to learn how the glaze - which is how we finish off our pieces to make them dishwasher safe, watertight, etc.
Our wheel throwing classes happen on most Mondays and Tuesdays (5:30-7pm). You can see the classes we have available here and book directly from the calendar by clicking on the date you want to attend. We look forward to welcoming you in class!
