Looks easy, but when you try it yourself, it’s a different story.
Playing for the first ti, Li Younan found it hard to grasp the technique.
Li Younan sighed softly.
His gaze shifted to Zhu Qingyue over there.
The clay lay obediently in her palm, smoothly growing upwards as the wheel turned, already forming the prototype of a small bowl with a rounded, even edge.
She pressed her lips together, her eyes focused, and her finger movents appeared gentle.
The old master strolled over for a look, said nothing, only nodded slightly.
Li Younan blinked, watching Zhu Qingyue swiftly slice the bottom of the clay with a thin wire, and a complete small bowl rested in her palm, set on the wooden board next to her, perfectly shaped.
It proved once again, so people can play well even on their first try.
Excitedly, Zhu Qingyue clapped her hands, breaking out of her imrsive state, and turned around to look at Li Younan.
Li Younan smiled, casually hiding his work among a pile of clay pieces...
Watching her, Zhu Qingyue couldn’t help but laugh, her eyes dancing with pride.
Li Younan awkwardly touched his nose.
Zhu Qingyue wandered over to showcase her masterpiece, and Li Younan said, "Impressive, it’s practically a work of art."
Zhu Qingyue humbly replied, "It’s just a piece of clay." Then suggested, "Why don’t you try again?"
Li Younan coughed lightly, "Let’s forget it."
Zhu Qingyue lowered her head, "But I want to try once more."
Li Younan paused, then laughed, "Then go ahead, I’ll wait for you."
Zhu Qingyue lifted her head, "Well... then thank you!"
Li Younan smiled, actually he was more interested in watching.
Zhu Qingyue began to try again, while Li Younan watched for a while, then noticed so abandoned clay pieces under the shelf.
Li Younan crouched down, fingers searching on the damp cent floor, avoiding the flattened clay cakes, finally digging out a slightly decent piece.
Smaller than a fist, irregularly shaped, but fairly uniform in texture, with so pliability.
Li Younan leaned against the wall, found a low stool and sat down, unnoticed.
He casually pulled out a Swiss army knife from his pocket, its blade extended, thin and cool.
Fingers pinched the piece of waste clay, not rushing to carve, feeling its moisture and hardness with his fingertips, no specific plan, just finding the shape... interesting.
A protruding lump connected to a flat round body below, with a natural indentation on the side.
Using intuition, the blade lightly shaved the protruding lump, following a subtle arc, revealing a smooth, slightly raised contour.
Like the head of so small creature.
Gradually, an image took form in his mind.
He smiled faintly, carefully tapping the knife tip on the head, creating two small dimples for eyes.
No pupils carved, leaving them hollow, giving a naïve expression instead.
Soon, a palm-sized, curled-up, napping mud sculpture of a chubby pig rested in Li Younan’s palm.
Its eyes closed, short legs tucked under a round belly, ears drooping, spiral tail loosely curled. The clay still moist, carrying the workshop’s coolness.
With intricately carved belly folds, ear curvature, spiral tail, even the outline of the short legs, exceptionally clear and smooth.
No glaze, no firing, just the original gray-brown of waste clay, yet exuding a cute vitality.
anwhile, Zhu Qingyue finished her second round, proudly flaunting a more stylized little pot in her hands to Desheng.
The next mont she spotted what Li Younan was holding.
First stunned, she leaned in closely, almost touching.
Examining carefully, her bright eyes scanned the pig’s smooth back, underbelly with almost overlooked fine folds, crooked little ears, ultimately fixating on the intricately crafted spiral tail.
Zhu Qingyue’s eyes laughed, her mouth puckered, unable to boast.
Oh... he can do this too.
With so clay still on the blade, Li Younan blew gently before sheathing it, like Xin, blowing snow.
"Simply a work of art," Zhu Qingyue remarked.
"Just a piece of clay," Li Younan replied, sheathing the knife.
"Haha... give it to , I’ll cherish it!" said Zhu Qingyue, shalessly.
...
In the afternoon, they wandered around the old factory area randomly.
Zhu Qingyue idly fiddled with the small pig Li Younan gave her, focused and earnest, occasionally looking up with a smile at Li Younan.
Wandering aimlessly.
Seeing so old kilns, the brick walls blackened, so abandoned, so still in use, chimneys emitting faint smoke. Encountering a tricycle carrying porcelain clay, covered with plastic. Workers resting under roadside trees, drinking water from large enal mugs.
Near evening, legs wearied. Leisurely strolling towards Tao Xichuan.
The sky not completely dark, yet lights already lit. The old factory precinct transford, with red brick walls, warm lighting.
More people gathered, roadside filled with small stalls, all selling ceramics.
Mostly young artisans, their works appearing more modern and flashy.
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