The clay is in charge

One of the most exciting - but sometimes frustrating - things about working with clay, is that it has a life of its own and the outcome really isn't up to me. I always start out hoping it will behave itself and do what I want it to do - turn into a bowl or a sculpture or a vase maybe - but whether it will go there remains to be seen.  Some of the pieces I have made that I like the most have ended up a million miles away from what I originally intended.  Hard to believe now but this dish was meant to be a vase ... I began with a large chunk of porcelain and a pretty fixed idea in my mind.  It was going to be tall and willowy, very stylish, pure white and probably end up full of peonies ... but the clay just refused to do it. It wouldn't go 'up', it just wanted to go 'out' and at times like these there is always a moment when you have to concede and say 'OK, you win' and then let go and see where the clay takes you. As it happens, I'm pleased this quirky little dish appeared because I rather like it!  It won't hold a peony, but it will hold some Easter eggs, and there's always tomorrow for that vase; but of course there's no guarantee...