Oh My, Oh My, Oh My!

I can hardly sit still to write this post! I'm having a bit of a visual stimulation rush! Forget the sugar rush, this is something else!

I greatly believe that visualisation can improve performance. Like a kind of "visual practice" rather than actual practice (I used to practice driving in my head and I passed first time). Bearing this in mind and the fact that I have my first lesson on the potter's wheel on Monday, I decided to prepare myself mentally by looking up some basic tutorials on Youtube. It's both interesting and comforting to see how each potter uses a slightly different technique depending on what feels comfortable for him or her. Of course, I can't fully prepare myself for Monday because I have no idea what sort of pressure I will have to apply to stop that lump of clay from flying outwards! Only experience will tell me that!

After watching the following Youtube clip of Anne Webb, you could be forgiven for thinking that clay is as lightweight as marshmallow and that throwing a pot is as easy as making a cup of tea! She makes it look so easy!



So I'm glad I looked up the tutorials because it gives me a better idea of what sort of challenge to expect. Great choice of music by the way Anne!


And then today I received a comment on my last post by Peter Holland. "Who's he?" I hear you cry. I know, I said the same thing, and then I looked up his website. He only designs figurines for the likes of Royal Doulton, Royal Worcester, and Coalport that's all!! How on earth did he come across a beginner like me?!

Well, it was looking at his website that has made my mind go into stimulation overdrive! Tutorials, tutorials - I'm in heaven! It's all free, and better still, he makes you believe you can do it, with little more than the right mindset and determination. "Notice I didn't say anything about fabulous artistic ability or 'formal' training" he says.

Ok, deep breaths Linda, you're hyperventilating. I need to remind myself that I still have a throwing lesson coming up on Monday and I need to prepare my mind for that without becoming distracted. So much to learn, so few hours in a day...