As if throwing a ceramic vase, bowl or tea kettle on a wheel doesn’t already demand enough skill and patience with your hands, one can only imagine the amount of patience it would take to perform the exact same process on pieces that measure just 1″ tall.
Yet, these ceramic miniatures are exactly what self-described “extremist” Jon Almeda creates in his Washington state studio using normal pottery production processes including throwing, hand building, glazing and firing.
“For many years I was throwing massive pieces, the bigger the better type mentality. While browsing a book store, I came across a book called ‘Creating Ceramic Miniatures’ that really changed my whole outlook and approach,” explains Almeda.
“I went to the opposite end of the spectrum and began working in 1″ scale. Throwing small really allows me to focus on the shape and form of a piece. It is a very meditative form of creation. I enjoy the process of making small vases and bowls that without any scale or context look exactly like their larger counterpart in detail and proportion.”
To create the pieces, Almeda uses the a custom wheel that he helped design specifically for miniature ceramic production called the Curio Wheel. Powered by a high quality German motor and housed in a die cast body, the Curio Wheel features a 2″ aluminum wheel that spins at normal speeds.
If these photos don’t make your hands cramp up, then you may be a great candidate for creating your own ceramic miniatures. You can find out more about Almeda’s process and how to get your own Curio Wheel by heading over to Almeda Pottery. For those who prefer Instagram, you can follow Almeda here.
