05/05/2026
flew Bangkok today —though she didn’t leave without making sure I put in some work! She passed along a challenge initiated by :
2 Pounds, 4 Pulls, 10 Inches Tall.
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To be honest, it was a humbling experience. I started the session using reclaimed clay, but it was a bit too loose and wet for this kind of vertical demand. After three attempts that stubbornly maxed out at 9 inches, I realized I needed to reset. I switched to fresh clay straight from the bag, and that made all the difference.
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Those initial failures were actually a blessing in disguise; they forced me to rethink my entire approach. I realized I had to be much more intentional with the physics of the piece. I started with a base thinner than my norm—about 7mm—and adjusted my rhythm. Instead of my usual habit of collaring immediately after widening, I added a light pull first to ease into the height and prevent the first major pull from being too aggressive. By the second pull, I focused on shaping from the inside to keep the rim wide enough so I could reach the bottom for the final stretch without knocking the walls. A final collar brought everything back into a straight, clean cylinder.
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In the end, it measured 10 inches tall by 3.5 inches wide. After wiring it off, I could see where there might have been room for even more height, but I wanted to stay true to the four-pull limit. This challenge was a great reminder that even when you work with clay every day, there is always a new lesson to be learned in patience and technique.
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Thank you for the push, and !
