Trying My Hand at Pottery

I have always believed that the best artists never stop learning. No matter how confident you become in your own medium, there is always something new to discover — a different way of seeing, a fresh challenge to humble you, a reminder of what it feels like to be a complete beginner.

So this month, I stepped well outside my comfort zone and tried pottery for the first time. And I absolutely loved it.

There is something wonderfully grounding about working with clay. After years of standing at an easel with a brush in hand, it felt completely different to sit at a wheel and feel the material respond to the pressure of my fingers. It is immediate, physical, and surprisingly meditative.

What struck me most was how much of what I know about painting translated — and how much did not. The sense of form, the understanding of curves and balance — that carried across. But the control? The precision? That was a whole new world. Clay has a mind of its own.

I came away with a couple of slightly wonky bowls, a huge smile, and a deep respect for potters everywhere. It reminded me why I fell in love with creating in the first place — that feeling of making something with your hands that did not exist before.

I will definitely be going back. And who knows — maybe one day you will see some pottery alongside the paintings in the gallery. For now though, it is back to the oils and canvas.