I recently did an art show at Williams Sonoma and was telling a friend if I ever decided to re-name my business, I would change it to “Happy Accidents.” I find that some of my favorite pieces are results of a mistake and me having to punt.

For those who don’t know me personally, I am a type A personality, total perfectionist. Why I choose mediums that are hard to control (watercolor and alcohol ink) is beyond me. Glutton for punishment, or does the control freak side of me revel in being able to actually have control over something that most people can’t?

Recently, I was encouraged by a friend to start back up with my pottery. I had taken a 10 year hiatus from it. I was under a deadline to get things in the kiln in time for the Williams Sonoma event, so I knew I had no time to dink around, and could not have my pieces take extra time for drying, if they were too thick.

I spend a wonderful Monday afternoon throwing pieces, and things were going “okay.” I had to punt several times because my 10 year break left some techniques rusty, but for the most part, it went as planned.

I threw one larger bowl that had a thicker bottom than was acceptable, and as I was trying to thin it, it started collapsing on me. I decided to leave it as is, and once it got leather hard, I would attempt to thin it out with a carving tool, and incorporate that into the design (punt #1).  To mask this “punting,” I would intentionally choose a glaze that is very friendly to settling in crevices, and really emphasize the newfound texture I was creating (all while just trying to salvage a piece that normally is too thick).

While removing extra clay, I removed too much and carved right through the damned thing! UGH.

I am stubborn, and was not going to let this big gash ruin the bowl. I ran outside, grabbed some oak leaves, and decided this bowl all of a sudden needed some “artsily-placed” decorative elements. (Punt #2).

A week later, after two firings and glazing, it is now one of my favorites!  Honestly, had I not carved through it, I think it would have looked “naked” without some additional design element. Another “happy accident” that actually was an improvement!

Author Info

Joyce Foy