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Hello Reader,

Five years ago, I was struggling with yet another failed pottery project. I was trying to make a simple plant pot, and like usual, it was turning into a disaster.

That's when I decided to try something completely different.

The Experiment That Changed Everything

Instead of just grabbing clay and hoping for the best, I decided to approach it like the scientist I am.

I sat down with paper and actually planned the piece first. I calculated exactly how much clay I'd need, marked out proportions, and set target wall thicknesses before I even touched the clay.

I remember thinking: "This feels like cheating."

But then something magical happened...

The Best Plant Pot I'd Ever Made

For the first time in my pottery journey, I made something that actually looked intentional. The walls were even, the proportions felt right, and it didn't crack during drying.

Most importantly: I could replicate it.

The next week, I used the same planning approach and made another plant pot that looked just as good. Then another. And another.

The Unexpected Creative Freedom

But here's what surprised me most: having the structure sorted actually made me MORE creative, not less.

When I wasn't constantly worried about whether the walls were too thick or if the proportions looked odd, my mind was free to focus on the fun parts – adding texture, experimenting with handles, trying different rim shapes, or creating interesting surface patterns.

Before planning, I was so focused on just making something that didn't fall apart that I never got to explore the creative possibilities. The technical struggle was blocking the creative flow.

With planning, the creative part became effortless. I could play, experiment, and personalise knowing the foundation was solid.

Coming Soon: Your Pottery Planning Toolkit

I've been working on something that makes this planning approach available to everyone. It's a collection of guides that do all the calculations and planning for you – I'm calling it The Potter's Vault.

Whether you're making your first mug or your fiftieth, these templates eliminate the guesswork and help you create pieces you'll be genuinely proud of.

I'll be sharing more details very soon, but I wanted you to know it's coming.

This Week's Game-Changer

Try this before your next pottery session: Plan your piece on paper first.

Sketch it out, note the approximate dimensions, and estimate how much clay you'll need. Spend 5 minutes planning instead of diving straight in.

I guarantee your next piece will turn out better than usual. Sometimes the smallest changes make the biggest difference.

Happy planning (and creating),

Victor

P.S. That simple planning experiment five years ago changed everything – not just for my own pottery, but for every student I've taught since. Sometimes the biggest breakthroughs come from approaching familiar problems in completely new ways.