Monday, May 11, 2009

The Hands of a Potter


(Please click to enlarge this photo)

This week we're taking a trip to visit the studio of potter Wade Oliver.  Wade works at Cahaba Clayworks with two other artists in Leeds, AL.  The day we went he was the only artist there, but we were not disappointed.   Wade was a delight to get to know and photograph.  This week I will take you through the process in photographs.

Of course,  the first step is the clay.  Wade takes big chunks of that cold,  red clay in his huge, beefy hands and slaps them into balls.  If  you enlarge the photo,  you can see his fingerprints in the clay!  After that, he puts them on his wheel and within minutes has made a series of bowls. Come back tomorrow to see the results.


19 comments:

Babzy.B said...

I love clay, and i wanted to be a potter when i was young , i used to work during one year with a potter !I like the shots :)

Bergson said...

J'adore les mains du potier
I love the hands of the potter

Olivier said...

comme mister Bergson, j'adore la deuxième photo.
as mister Bergson, I love the second photograph.

Jane Hards Photography said...

I'm intirgued. Is this local clayas I keep seeing this sandstone colour throughout your images. So many creative people your way which I also fin intriguing.

Julie said...

Both images work well, Virginia. I love the hands: you have cropped it so well. I love the strength he has in his hands yet the tenderness with which he has to approach the clay.

Lovely ...

Pat said...

You can tell where my mind is. I saw the top photo, and thought they were chocolate truffles...

cieldequimper said...

I love pottery, I can't wait to see the result! I love to see working hands, it's a nice tribute you are paying to his art.

Unknown said...

I enlarged the 1st pic and it was worth it! Gorgeous image, the light is fantastic!

P.S. You look so nice with your two daughters! Don't worry, my mouth is sealed! :-)

B SQUARED said...

I can make the balls of clay but there, my artistic talent, ends.

Thérèse said...

Nice post yesterday Virginia. Beautiful family portrait to cherish!
Clay is such a pleasant material to have in hand. Make something beautiful out of it is another matter. It seems you met the perfect artist for that.

PJ said...

It would be interesting to have a ball of clay with a loved one's finger/palm print on it. To be able to hold that in the palm of YOUR hand when needed...priceless.

wv brankpi
??????

Anonymous said...

Aren't the good ones something? You know how long it takes me to throw just one pot? I won't tell you, it's too embarrassing.

Then there's the "rock" I made that lets you hide your housekeys inside. Add a few chives and it looks just like a baked potato.

Bob Crowe said...

A soft, lumpy boccie game? Raw material for the Judgment of Paris? (The Trojan, not the city, although the pun is sorta appropriate.) In any event, a very interesting abstraction.

marley said...

The child in me is just thinking clay balls! Lol! Sorry.

I clicked on the first photo and the detail is very cool.

Lowell said...

Potters are amazing. And they can do so much is such a short period of time. Love to watch them work.

Virginia said...

AH,
He made 4 bowls in a flash. It was amazing to watch!

Marley,
Now I just knew someone would think of that! You crack me up,

BOB,
I can always count on you to come up with something like "lumpy bocce balls"! Oh that's great. Happy travels AGAIN. Do you and C. ever stay home????

Marie-Noyale said...

I have never actually seen the whole process I will be back tomorrow..

Ps I still don't know when I 'll be coming to France this summer...

valeria said...

Very interesting to see the whole process, Virginia. The pic of the clay balls with the fingerprints is beautiful!

FireLight said...

What is it about handmade pottery...? So essential...functional...so individual.... I was just telling my son that I thought I could do a post on my small collection of handmade pieces....but I may need to add some of these before I do! Such talent!