First try on a potter's wheel

Yesterday, I tried to use potter’s wheel for the first time. After working on it for four hours, left palm of my hand was bruised. At times, clay felt like sandpaper. After a few failed attempts, I have thrown two forms that later will become a coffee mug and a small round bonsai pot. The teacher was very encouraging. The picture below shows a beautiful Moreton Bay Fig I saw on the way to ceramics class.