Antoinette Badenhorst on thu 11 sep 08
Questions about cracks in ceramic re appear all the time on this forum. I remember it to be one of my very first frustrations in clay and to this day it can still be a huge challenge to avoid cracks, to live with them, to hide them or simply give up on them.
There are to very good volumes of information that I know of available that help to identify different kinds of cracks( o yes different circumstances causes different kinds of cracks and it is ALL related to stress.) Harry Frazer in his book " Ceramic their faults and remedies" addresses all different cracking problems. Hammer and Hammer in " The Potters Dictionary" takes the cracking issue even further and discuss it in more detail. Once we can identify those problems, we can fix them;by working by the book.
So is it at all worth it to try to fix a crack and when is it worth it to consider that option.
In my case where I push porcelain clay to its limits and spend hours and hours on one bowl, I have to make the decision on a daily basis: fix the crack or let it go. Since most of my cracking problems happens during the handling of my work, there is no way to avoid them. I create plans, support systems; you name it, but the slightest lack of concentration, can turn into a huge frustration.
Often times I do fix the crack and then it re appear. Then I fix the crack and it was worth all the time spent. Just last week I fixed a handle on a teapot lid; tedious time consuming frustrating job! It took me about one hour to fix that, but it was worth the 12 hours spend on the teapot.
So all this long stories to ask the question; when to fix and when to let go?
I would say fix it if you feel emotionally attached to the piece.( if the fixing fails it will help you get closure!) Fix it when you've spend endless hours on the piece and the fixing has a chance to out do the crack. Fix it to gain the experience of fixing or failing. DON'T fix it if you can repeat exactly the same item and make a new one faster than fixing the crack. Learn by judgment, success and failure.
Study the crack and know what causes it. The best way of fixing cracks is by knowledge of how to avoid them. The science of ceramic is very logic once one get it. Follow the basic rules or else the clay will teach you to follow the rules.
--
Antoinette Badenhorst
www.clayandcanvas.com
www.studiopottery.co.uk
Curtis Benzle on thu 11 sep 08
Antoinette:
I think your response reveals more about your aesthetic preferences than it
does about what to do with cracks. Clearly, this aesthetic does not pay
much homage to certain Japanese ceramics from the late 1300's onward or the
complexities of wabi-sabi. That is fine, but in an environment where
un-saggared, wood kiln firing is gaining in popularity, the potential
aesthetic significance of naturally occurring cracks should be
acknowledged. You do recognize the option to "live with them" but stop
short of celebrating a well placed crack as an aesthetic enhancement.
When we are fortunate, attentive and skilled, the clay we use can reflect
important aspects of both the maker and the object made.
All the Best.
Curt
On Thu, Sep 11, 2008 at 9:58 AM, Antoinette Badenhorst <
clayart_friends10@comcast.net> wrote:
> Questions about cracks in ceramic re appear all the time on this forum. I
> remember it to be one of my very first frustrations in clay and to this day
> it can still be a huge challenge to avoid cracks, to live with them, to
> hide them or simply give up on them.
>
> There are to very good volumes of information that I know of available that
> help to identify different kinds of cracks( o yes different circumstances
> causes different kinds of cracks and it is ALL related to stress.) Harry
> Frazer in his book " Ceramic their faults and remedies" addresses all
> different cracking problems. Hammer and Hammer in " The Potters Dictionary"
> takes the cracking issue even further and discuss it in more detail. Once we
> can identify those problems, we can fix them;by working by the book.
>
> So is it at all worth it to try to fix a crack and when is it worth it to
> consider that option.
>
> In my case where I push porcelain clay to its limits and spend hours and
> hours on one bowl, I have to make the decision on a daily basis: fix the
> crack or let it go. Since most of my cracking problems happens during the
> handling of my work, there is no way to avoid them. I create plans, support
> systems; you name it, but the slightest lack of concentration, can turn into
> a huge frustration.
>
> Often times I do fix the crack and then it re appear. Then I fix the crack
> and it was worth all the time spent. Just last week I fixed a handle on a
> teapot lid; tedious time consuming frustrating job! It took me about one
> hour to fix that, but it was worth the 12 hours spend on the teapot.
>
> So all this long stories to ask the question; when to fix and when to let
> go?
>
> I would say fix it if you feel emotionally attached to the piece.( if the
> fixing fails it will help you get closure!) Fix it when you've spend endless
> hours on the piece and the fixing has a chance to out do the crack. Fix it
> to gain the experience of fixing or failing. DON'T fix it if you can repeat
> exactly the same item and make a new one faster than fixing the crack. Learn
> by judgment, success and failure.
>
> Study the crack and know what causes it. The best way of fixing cracks is
> by knowledge of how to avoid them. The science of ceramic is very logic once
> one get it. Follow the basic rules or else the clay will teach you to follow
> the rules.
>
> --
> Antoinette Badenhorst
> www.clayandcanvas.com
> www.studiopottery.co.uk
>
Antoinette Badenhorst on thu 11 sep 08
Curt,
I was thinking about you while I was writing about cracks and I was wondering how you would respond to my writing. I am very glad you did and I would like to hear your full philosophy behind cracks. When is it a celebration and when is it a frustration( if at all)?What do you consider as a "well placed crack"?
You are partially right in your observation about my aesthetic preferences, but not exactly. You mention a "well placed crack as an aesthetic enhancement". Not all cracks in my opinion are well placed. Too often they are messing up the whole piece.Those times I fix it as well as I could.If it fits with the overall theme I am trying to communicate, I celebrate it.
My whole philosophy about clay is: Do what you should do to do the best you can.
I think it is okay to celebrate a crack; particularly when the ultimate is challenged, but I also think that one should not celebrate negligence of cracks. Know the rules before you bend them; make a good pot before you crack one as a celebration for cracks.
--
Antoinette Badenhorst
www.clayandcanvas.com
www.studiopottery.co.uk
-------------- Original message ----------------------
From: Curtis Benzle
> Antoinette:
>
> I think your response reveals more about your aesthetic preferences than it
> does about what to do with cracks. Clearly, this aesthetic does not pay
> much homage to certain Japanese ceramics from the late 1300's onward or the
> complexities of wabi-sabi. That is fine, but in an environment where
> un-saggared, wood kiln firing is gaining in popularity, the potential
> aesthetic significance of naturally occurring cracks should be
> acknowledged.
>
> When we are fortunate, attentive and skilled, the clay we use can reflect
> important aspects of both the maker and the object made.
>
> All the Best.
>
> Curt
>
>
>
> On Thu, Sep 11, 2008 at 9:58 AM, Antoinette Badenhorst <
> clayart_friends10@comcast.net> wrote:
>
> > Questions about cracks in ceramic re appear all the time on this forum. I
> > remember it to be one of my very first frustrations in clay and to this day
> > it can still be a huge challenge to avoid cracks, to live with them, to
> > hide them or simply give up on them.
> >
> > There are to very good volumes of information that I know of available that
> > help to identify different kinds of cracks( o yes different circumstances
> > causes different kinds of cracks and it is ALL related to stress.) Harry
> > Frazer in his book " Ceramic their faults and remedies" addresses all
> > different cracking problems. Hammer and Hammer in " The Potters Dictionary"
> > takes the cracking issue even further and discuss it in more detail. Once we
> > can identify those problems, we can fix them;by working by the book.
> >
> > So is it at all worth it to try to fix a crack and when is it worth it to
> > consider that option.
> >
> > In my case where I push porcelain clay to its limits and spend hours and
> > hours on one bowl, I have to make the decision on a daily basis: fix the
> > crack or let it go. Since most of my cracking problems happens during the
> > handling of my work, there is no way to avoid them. I create plans, support
> > systems; you name it, but the slightest lack of concentration, can turn into
> > a huge frustration.
> >
> > Often times I do fix the crack and then it re appear. Then I fix the crack
> > and it was worth all the time spent. Just last week I fixed a handle on a
> > teapot lid; tedious time consuming frustrating job! It took me about one
> > hour to fix that, but it was worth the 12 hours spend on the teapot.
> >
> > So all this long stories to ask the question; when to fix and when to let
> > go?
> >
> > I would say fix it if you feel emotionally attached to the piece.( if the
> > fixing fails it will help you get closure!) Fix it when you've spend endless
> > hours on the piece and the fixing has a chance to out do the crack. Fix it
> > to gain the experience of fixing or failing. DON'T fix it if you can repeat
> > exactly the same item and make a new one faster than fixing the crack. Learn
> > by judgment, success and failure.
> >
> > Study the crack and know what causes it. The best way of fixing cracks is
> > by knowledge of how to avoid them. The science of ceramic is very logic once
> > one get it. Follow the basic rules or else the clay will teach you to follow
> > the rules.
> >
> > --
> > Antoinette Badenhorst
> > www.clayandcanvas.com
> > www.studiopottery.co.uk
> >
Curtis Benzle on fri 12 sep 08
Des:
Clearly you have made as "aesthetic judgment"--the mug in question was
clearly garbage and never should have made it to even the coffee stage. If
the mug had greater aesthetic value I am sure you would have considered
alternatives to destruction. Hopefully, most of the "garbage" is diminished
through ever increasing skills so the rock wall will remain that, instead of
an enormous shard heap.
curt
benzleporcelain.com
On Thu, Sep 11, 2008 at 6:05 PM, Des & Jan Howard wrote:
> Curt
> Depends on the piece of work.
> The first time a crack on an aesthetically enhanced coffee mug catches
> you by the moustache hairs, rips a couple out of your lip causing you to
> drop the hot liquid in your lap, the mug will aesthetically enhance the
> rock wall outside it was thrown against.
> Des
>
> Curtis Benzle wrote:
>
>> I think your response reveals more about your aesthetic preferences than
>> it
>> does about what to do with cracks. Clearly, this aesthetic does not pay
>> much homage to certain Japanese ceramics from the late 1300's onward or
>> the
>> complexities of wabi-sabi. That is fine, but in an environment where
>> un-saggared, wood kiln firing is gaining in popularity, the potential
>> aesthetic significance of naturally occurring cracks should be
>> acknowledged. You do recognize the option to "live with them" but stop
>> short of celebrating a well placed crack as an aesthetic enhancement.
>>
>> When we are fortunate, attentive and skilled, the clay we use can reflect
>> important aspects of both the maker and the object made.
>>
>
> --
> Des & Jan Howard
> Lue Pottery
> Lue NSW
> Australia
> 2850
>
> 02 6373 6419
> www.luepottery.hwy.com.au
>
Curtis Benzle on fri 12 sep 08
Hi Antoinette:
I think we are on the same page...
There was an article in CM (Feb., 2004) that covered my thoughts in depth
but the short answer is that the crack must be both unexpected and related
to an inherent physical characteristic of the clay. Put another way---I
wouldn't call cracks that are the consistent result of poor craftsmanship(S
cracks.....) aesthetic enhancements. Other, less predictable cracks, often
offer an opportunity to step back from original intention and evaluate an
idea in a new light. Final appearance almost always requires more than
benign neglect. But an enhanced crack, for me, usually results in a piece
that is more complex, more insightful about the nature of my materials and
more interesting. I should also add that I have specifically formulated a
clay body that, in pursuit of translucency, is prone to cracking. So
cracking is a characteristic that I have learned to appreciate and in fact,
more often than not, celebrate.
All the Best.
Curt
On Thu, Sep 11, 2008 at 3:22 PM, Antoinette Badenhorst <
clayart_friends10@comcast.net> wrote:
> Curt,
>
> I was thinking about you while I was writing about cracks and I was
> wondering how you would respond to my writing. I am very glad you did and I
> would like to hear your full philosophy behind cracks. When is it a
> celebration and when is it a frustration( if at all)?What do you consider as
> a "well placed crack"?
>
> You are partially right in your observation about my aesthetic preferences,
> but not exactly. You mention a "well placed crack as an aesthetic
> enhancement". Not all cracks in my opinion are well placed. Too often they
> are messing up the whole piece.Those times I fix it as well as I could.If it
> fits with the overall theme I am trying to communicate, I celebrate it.
>
> My whole philosophy about clay is: Do what you should do to do the best you
> can.
>
> I think it is okay to celebrate a crack; particularly when the ultimate is
> challenged, but I also think that one should not celebrate negligence of
> cracks. Know the rules before you bend them; make a good pot before you
> crack one as a celebration for cracks.
>
> --
> Antoinette Badenhorst
> www.clayandcanvas.com
> www.studiopottery.co.uk
>
>
> -------------- Original message ----------------------
> From: Curtis Benzle
> > Antoinette:
> >
> > I think your response reveals more about your aesthetic preferences than
> it
> > does about what to do with cracks. Clearly, this aesthetic does not pay
> > much homage to certain Japanese ceramics from the late 1300's onward or
> the
> > complexities of wabi-sabi. That is fine, but in an environment where
> > un-saggared, wood kiln firing is gaining in popularity, the potential
> > aesthetic significance of naturally occurring cracks should be
> > acknowledged.
> >
> > When we are fortunate, attentive and skilled, the clay we use can reflect
> > important aspects of both the maker and the object made.
> >
> > All the Best.
> >
> > Curt
> >
> >
> >
> > On Thu, Sep 11, 2008 at 9:58 AM, Antoinette Badenhorst <
> > clayart_friends10@comcast.net> wrote:
> >
> > > Questions about cracks in ceramic re appear all the time on this forum.
> I
> > > remember it to be one of my very first frustrations in clay and to this
> day
> > > it can still be a huge challenge to avoid cracks, to live with them,
> to
> > > hide them or simply give up on them.
> > >
> > > There are to very good volumes of information that I know of available
> that
> > > help to identify different kinds of cracks( o yes different
> circumstances
> > > causes different kinds of cracks and it is ALL related to stress.)
> Harry
> > > Frazer in his book " Ceramic their faults and remedies" addresses all
> > > different cracking problems. Hammer and Hammer in " The Potters
> Dictionary"
> > > takes the cracking issue even further and discuss it in more detail.
> Once we
> > > can identify those problems, we can fix them;by working by the book.
> > >
> > > So is it at all worth it to try to fix a crack and when is it worth it
> to
> > > consider that option.
> > >
> > > In my case where I push porcelain clay to its limits and spend hours
> and
> > > hours on one bowl, I have to make the decision on a daily basis: fix
> the
> > > crack or let it go. Since most of my cracking problems happens during
> the
> > > handling of my work, there is no way to avoid them. I create plans,
> support
> > > systems; you name it, but the slightest lack of concentration, can turn
> into
> > > a huge frustration.
> > >
> > > Often times I do fix the crack and then it re appear. Then I fix the
> crack
> > > and it was worth all the time spent. Just last week I fixed a handle on
> a
> > > teapot lid; tedious time consuming frustrating job! It took me about
> one
> > > hour to fix that, but it was worth the 12 hours spend on the teapot.
> > >
> > > So all this long stories to ask the question; when to fix and when to
> let
> > > go?
> > >
> > > I would say fix it if you feel emotionally attached to the piece.( if
> the
> > > fixing fails it will help you get closure!) Fix it when you've spend
> endless
> > > hours on the piece and the fixing has a chance to out do the crack. Fix
> it
> > > to gain the experience of fixing or failing. DON'T fix it if you can
> repeat
> > > exactly the same item and make a new one faster than fixing the crack.
> Learn
> > > by judgment, success and failure.
> > >
> > > Study the crack and know what causes it. The best way of fixing cracks
> is
> > > by knowledge of how to avoid them. The science of ceramic is very logic
> once
> > > one get it. Follow the basic rules or else the clay will teach you to
> follow
> > > the rules.
> > >
> > > --
> > > Antoinette Badenhorst
> > > www.clayandcanvas.com
> > > www.studiopottery.co.uk
> > >
>
Des & Jan Howard on fri 12 sep 08
Curt
Depends on the piece of work.
The first time a crack on an aesthetically enhanced coffee mug catches
you by the moustache hairs, rips a couple out of your lip causing you to
drop the hot liquid in your lap, the mug will aesthetically enhance the
rock wall outside it was thrown against.
Des
Curtis Benzle wrote:
> I think your response reveals more about your aesthetic preferences than it
> does about what to do with cracks. Clearly, this aesthetic does not pay
> much homage to certain Japanese ceramics from the late 1300's onward or the
> complexities of wabi-sabi. That is fine, but in an environment where
> un-saggared, wood kiln firing is gaining in popularity, the potential
> aesthetic significance of naturally occurring cracks should be
> acknowledged. You do recognize the option to "live with them" but stop
> short of celebrating a well placed crack as an aesthetic enhancement.
>
> When we are fortunate, attentive and skilled, the clay we use can reflect
> important aspects of both the maker and the object made.
--
Des & Jan Howard
Lue Pottery
Lue NSW
Australia
2850
02 6373 6419
www.luepottery.hwy.com.au
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