Paul Lewing on fri 8 jan 10
On Jan 8, 2010, at 12:59 PM, Russel Fouts wrote:
I told her to go for it. It's only recent that 'real potters' have begun
to appreciate china paint through the efforts of people like Marci and
Paul Lewing (I told her about your book Paul).
I would tell her to find another program but as you say, there aren't
any that support china painting.
It's a damn shame.
Russel
Yeah it is. Let's not forget Kurt Weiser's influence either. And
thanks for the plug, Russel.
In line with this whole thing about china painting not being taken
seriously and there not being any place that teaches it, I have an
offer to make to some university, college or art school that wants to
incorporate china painting as a regular ongoing part of their
curriculum.
A couple of years ago, I was given an incredible gift by one of the
true stars of ceramics in the US today, Jonathon Kaplan. He thought
he'd go into the custom decal business, but decided not to. So he
gave me his china paint. It's 17 pounds of china paint, of 41
different colors. Now that may not sound like much to people who are
used to working with glazes or underglazes, but to a china painter,
that's a truly jaw-dropping amount of material. I've been painting
large tile murals with china paint for about 25 years, and it's
probably about how much I've used so far total. It's more than most
china painters would use in a lifetime. It's so much that I don't
really know what to do with it, other than never buy paints again for
the rest of my life. What I've been doing with paints that people
give me is taking them to workshops and saving the schools and
students the cost of buying that material.
I've been looking for several years for a school that would take this
and incorporate it into their program. I thought I'd found one; the
professor was enthusiastic about the deal and even had some students
who were doing some china painting, but the student committee that had
to approve the deal didn't want it.
So here's the deal. I'll only give this to a real school- a
university, college or art school, not some community center or
private studio. I want a place with an ongoing commitment to china
painting, preferably in a degree program. It has to be included in
the curriculum on an equal footing with glazes, underglazes, raku,
wood fire or any other of the many ceramic decorating methods. And
one other condition: I come and teach a workshop on how to use it.
It's hard to say what this stuff is worth in money. China paints vary
widely in price depending on what brand they are, what color they are,
and how much you buy at once. But at today's prices, I'd say it's
worth at least $1000. I could probably sell it, but I don't think
that would be right since it was a gift to me. I want to pass it on.
I've tried to find a school every year at NCECA, but so far have had
no luck. Maybe there's someone out there in Clayartland who knows a
school that will take it. I hope so.
Paul Lewing
www.paullewingtile.com
www.paullewingart.com
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