Mud, Mud, Glorious Mud!

Hi there

Thanks for popping in. Had to chuckle yesterday, when I turned my attention to turning Terracotta on the wheel. Many of you had been commenting about how the lino cutting took you back to your school days. Well, with the terracotta clay session in the afternoon, all I could think of was trying to wash our Mark’s team rugby kits after a particularly rainy day a few seasons ago, when he played for Crowborough.

Can you spot him?

I remember watching from the terraces, and you couldn’t even tell which team was which. They were caked. As was I yesterday!

No matter how much I tried to clean as I went, I just kept getting coated in red mud! Turning terracotta is certainly not for the faint hearted! Good Lord! I should have known when I unpacked the first lump to wedge that things were going to get gloriously muddy!

I did manage to throw a few little pots and bowls…

but I will NEVER EVER look at one of those big terracotta planters in the garden centre in the same way again. HUGE respect for anybody who can throw something that massive with ANY clay. But with this gear – that is indeed a skill!!

I don’t mind getting messy. But there’s messy and there’s caked. I was caked. Thought about Linda Williams and laughed out loud. She would have had a cardiac! I’ll never forget her at one of our arty retreats, using the Gelpress for the first time. She must have gone through a family size pack of baby wipes before she even pulled a print!! It was hilarious! She was trying to keep her workspace – and everyone else on her table – clear of paint!!

So this morning, I went back in to turn said terracotta offerings. Turns very nicely actually. You can leave the gritty texture, or you can burnish it with a spoon or a metal kidney.