At first look, clay class looks a lot easier than expected. Students take the class thinking they will make simple cups and bowls that they will be able to take home later. However, once you try, you realize that working with clay is a lot messier and harder than how it looks.

Asking people what the hardest part of the class is, most people say the wheel. You have to be able to center the clay correctly which takes a long time to learn how to do. After centering it, you have to be able to make a hole in the center and then try to create whatever you’re looking to make. 

A lot of students don’t even try to do the wheel because it’s too stressful. And having to clean it up is a lot of work.

One moment a project can look smooth and nice the next moment it can completely collapse and crack. 

Students usually take the whole class period making something they like only to see it get ruined right at the end of the class. 

Cups, bowls, plates, basic things that look easy to make usually leave students frustrated. Even professionals that do clay every day still mess up a lot. 

“It looked perfect when it went in, and cracked in a minute,” said junior Emma Mahoney. 

“Situations like this are very common. Changes in moisture, thickness, or handling can cause the pieces to crack, or break entirely,” said Mrs. Rebekah Arrington.

This process looks stress relieving, but it’s really stressful, especially when so much effort is put into one piece. Unlike the other art classes at our school, clay requires a lot of attention at every step. Most mistakes are impossible to fix. 

This surprises many students who expected the class to be easy. 

There are deadlines to have our work done by and when projects get ruined, you have to work a lot harder in class to make sure it is finished in time. 

Arrington does not care if the pieces are perfect as long as you put your effort into the class, you will get a good grade.

Although students are faced with many challenges, failure helps them get better.