Since January I've been taking ceramic and woodworking classes, and have become a little obsessed with them both. Each of them are so satisfying, but so different. With ceramics, it feels like I'm dealing with a malleable material that you can squish, form, and create textures in with ease. It's misleading, though, because once the clay has had enough with your experimentation it will tell you so by cracking, caving in, or just by looking pretty sad while you stare down at it wondering where you went wrong. It's a really individual process, like woodworking can be, but so much more quiet and messy messy messy.
As someone who has a strong aversion to loud noises, woodworking was a bit out of my comfort zone, but the amazing smell of a wood shop more than makes up for the occasional flinch when someone starts up some crazy loud piece of machinery. Where clay has a time limit, you can really take your time with wood and figure out what you want to do before you make that cut. I marvel at small pieces of furniture when I'm in cafes or restaurants, now. I stop to examine abandoned pieces of wood on curbs, trying to figure out how I can lug them home while I lament over the fact that I don't own a car. I'm so hooked.
There are so many amazing artists and creators out there that keep me working on getting better when I get frustrated, but here are a few of my first attempts that I'd like to share with you.
