Odd Pots.
In a world that often celebrates perfection, there's a unique charm in embracing the imperfect and the unconventional. Odd Pots, an aspiring pottery studio nestled in the heart of Auckland, New Zealand, stands as a testament to this philosophy. Founded by a passionate potter who embarked on their pottery journey in 2023, Odd Pots is more than just a craft; it's a celebration of individuality and the beauty of imperfection.
Where this journey began.
I have always been an admirer of pots and my parents are avid collectors. I have memories of them bringing home pieces of Sarn pottery from holidays in Abersoch, the shelves always filled with unique finds. I carried on this tradition in adulthood, spending my weekends at second-hand stores or flea markets, sifting through boxes for Temuka or Crown Lynn. I'd collect dishes and mugs to sit proudly on my shelf, patiently waiting for their debut at dinner parties so that a friend could ask, "Is that a Beswick?".
I guess you could say I've always been drawn to the odd in things.
Learning how to throw.
I moved to Aotearoa from Kent, South East England, with my other half 5 years ago. Once were were settled, I started looking into creative courses as a hobby.
I'd been keeping an eye out for courses in wheel-throwing specifically, one that fit around my 9-5 and one that was conveniently located. It took a while, but i found a slot at a well-known studio in Auckland. They offered 6-8 week courses in wheel-throwing or hand-building.
Although hand-building appealed to me, I thought wheel-throwing would be quicker. HA. I was wrong, very wrong. When you're no longer a beginner, throwing down on a wheel is the quickest part of the process, so I wasn't far off. But as a beginner... it's a marathon, not a race.
So there I was, mutilating balls of clay. When finally, thanks to a delightfully patient tutor and a class full of like-minded, clueless souls, I got it. I not only got it, I loved it. I was still pretty bad, but I had the basics down and when you see your creations come out of the kiln, it's an addictive feeling.
The creation of Odd Pots.
When my Level 1 course finished, I was too slow in securing a popular spot in the Level 2 class. The studio offers classes up to Level 3, but if you have completed Level 1 you can become a member in their shared studio space.
So, as scary as the thought of throwing clay unsupervised was, I decided to become a member at their studio. I will write another blog post about what it's like to share a studio space, and more specifically be a member at a shared studio space. But for now, back to me.
Not long after, I created Odd Pots to document my pottery journey through social media and support other artists along the way. Creating content keeps me motivated, and helped me progress to where I am now. I think it would have been a smoother journey had I continued with the course, but I've learnt a lot from my own failures.
The name Odd Pots removes the pressure of perfection in what I create. I wanted to break my own mould, embrace the quirks and let the clay do its work.
Odd Pots today.
Thanks to the support of my other half and encouragement from friends and family, i now have a platform to promote my work. I will continue my learning journey through social media, and share my Odd creations to buy online.
So, If you're looking for perfection in a pot, I can recommend some beautiful collections. However, if you're looking for something a little bit odd, then i think i might have a pot for you.