Robert Harris on sat 22 may 10
Hi ClayArters,
I have been a long time lurker on ClayArt but haven't really had to post
much as EVERYTHING seems to be in the archives! I can't tell you how ofte=
=3D
n
my pre-bed reading has been from =3D93potters.org=3D94!
However I now have a =3D93real-time=3D94 problem. About a year ago the econ=
om=3D
y went
south (as we all know) and the company I was working for as a research
scientist folded. My hobby (very very seroius hobby) since the age of 10 =
=3D
has
been pottery. So I decided to see if I could go pro. Well I am enjoying
myself more than ever before, and I'm managing to sell a fair bit at loca=
=3D
l
fairs (Gainesville and Central Florida). However for one reason and anoth=
=3D
er
I am considering moving to San Francisco (I'm definitely leaving Gainesvi=
=3D
lle
whatever).=3D20
My question to all you ClayArters is this. How easy would it be for me to=
=3D
find studio space (I'd love to be a shared environment of some sort) in t=
=3D
he
Bay Area? (I have my own wheel and 8+ CuFt ConeArt kiln). Are there ling
waiting lists to get into co-op studios? I would be happy to do some
teaching as part of the deal (i've done a little before and been told I'm=
=3D
pretty good at it).
The other thing I'm interested in is some serious further training =3D96 pe=
=3D
rhaps
an apprenticeship of some sort. I am a functional potter through and
through, (heart, mind and soul tells me that form follows function. If a
teapot doesn't pour and is awkward to lift and hold...then (for me at lea=
=3D
st)
it ain't a teapot) so I don't think an academic environment is right for =
=3D
me.
Apart from anything else I was in a university environment for 15 years
(Undergrad, Ph.D and research fellowship) and I think I'm about done with=
=3D
that. Secondly, I draw like a monkey with a stick! All my new ideas are d=
=3D
one
with a lump of clay on the wheel! Workshops are great but a little limite=
=3D
d,
they don't tell you much about the rhythm of a studio.
If you could take a look at some of the stuff I've done (see below) and g=
=3D
ive
me feedback as to the direction (geographically and craftwise) Tshould go=
=3D
, I
would be extremely appreciative.
prometheanpottery.etsy.com
and=3D20
prometheanpottery.wordpress.com
The blog is mostly my partner's experiments with glazes, but if you scrol=
=3D
l
through to older posts there are pictures of pots up too.
Many thanks to you all.
Robert
Eric Hansen on sun 23 may 10
Robert: Working with studio space restrictions is a common problem in most
large urban settings. There is a fairly robust business associated with
shared studios, and you'll find pottery communities that sprout up around
them. Setting up a kiln at home, a garage, basement, or shed will serve.
Wheels can be located similarly, and although there is a good argument for
having the wheel in a heated area, it is probably more of a conveniece than
a necessity in SF. I make small hand-formed pieces in the living space but
it is important to use a clay body which is never powdery as it dries. With
your science background, it might be good to look for facilities with a ful=
=3D
l
glaze lab.
h a n s e n
On Sat, May 22, 2010 at 5:41 PM, Robert Harris wro=
=3D
te:
> Hi ClayArters,
>
> I have been a long time lurker on ClayArt but haven't really had to post
> much as EVERYTHING seems to be in the archives! I can't tell you how ofte=
=3D
n
> my pre-bed reading has been from =3D93potters.org=3D94!
>
>
> However I now have a =3D93real-time=3D94 problem. About a year ago the ec=
onom=3D
y went
> south (as we all know) and the company I was working for as a research
> scientist folded. My hobby (very very seroius hobby) since the age of 10
> has
> been pottery. So I decided to see if I could go pro. Well I am enjoying
> myself more than ever before, and I'm managing to sell a fair bit at loca=
=3D
l
> fairs (Gainesville and Central Florida). However for one reason and anoth=
=3D
er
> I am considering moving to San Francisco (I'm definitely leaving
> Gainesville
> whatever).
>
> My question to all you ClayArters is this. How easy would it be for me to
> find studio space (I'd love to be a shared environment of some sort) in t=
=3D
he
> Bay Area? (I have my own wheel and 8+ CuFt ConeArt kiln). Are there ling
> waiting lists to get into co-op studios? I would be happy to do some
> teaching as part of the deal (i've done a little before and been told I'm
> pretty good at it).
>
> The other thing I'm interested in is some serious further training =3D96
> perhaps
> an apprenticeship of some sort. I am a functional potter through and
> through, (heart, mind and soul tells me that form follows function. If a
> teapot doesn't pour and is awkward to lift and hold...then (for me at
> least)
> it ain't a teapot) so I don't think an academic environment is right for
> me.
> Apart from anything else I was in a university environment for 15 years
> (Undergrad, Ph.D and research fellowship) and I think I'm about done with
> that. Secondly, I draw like a monkey with a stick! All my new ideas are
> done
> with a lump of clay on the wheel! Workshops are great but a little limite=
=3D
d,
> they don't tell you much about the rhythm of a studio.
>
> If you could take a look at some of the stuff I've done (see below) and
> give
> me feedback as to the direction (geographically and craftwise) Tshould go=
=3D
,
> I
> would be extremely appreciative.
>
> prometheanpottery.etsy.com
>
> and
>
> prometheanpottery.wordpress.com
>
> The blog is mostly my partner's experiments with glazes, but if you scrol=
=3D
l
> through to older posts there are pictures of pots up too.
>
> Many thanks to you all.
>
> Robert
>
Melinda Collins on mon 31 may 10
Hi Robert! Don't think of your home as separate from your studio.
Especially if you are just getting going and want to keep a little of what
you make. Functional pots...ok you have a wheel and kiln. Spray a little
kid's plastic bathtub with flat black or a neutral color, put it in the
corner of the living room and put wheel in it. ...put kiln in place of
clothes dryer.....buy a smaller one if it's too big...live in your
studio....convince partner to give it a chance. THEN, later, find studio
space if necessary (you can make this work, I've done it myself before)
There are so many other ways to interact/find other potters friends/suppor=
t
system....not necessary to share studio. I share studio space now away fro=
m
where I live (just 4 miles away) but it's a royal pain. The muse doesn't
always speak in the 9 to 5 time slot...good luck! Melinda Collins ps...I
also have bought a second RV which is my portable studio available 24/7 and
it is working out like a charm....
| |
|
