Drake Ash on thu 7 apr 11
hi--can anyone recommend a straightforward and effective book about teachin=
g
adult beginners to throw? my 24 year old daughter will be home this summer,
and would like to try clay. i feel a bit at a loss about how i would go
about teaching her the basics. suggestions would be much appreciated.
thanks! drake
Hank Murrow on fri 8 apr 11
On Apr 7, 2011, at 4:58 PM, Drake Ash wrote:
> hi--can anyone recommend a straightforward and effective book about =3D
teaching
> adult beginners to throw? my 24 year old daughter will be home this =3D
summer,
> and would like to try clay. i feel a bit at a loss about how i would =3D
go
> about teaching her the basics. suggestions would be much appreciated.
Dear Drake & Daughter;
Others will recommend books, but as I have only gotten three chapters of =
=3D
my "A Potter's Primer" written, I can't yet point you to a place to =3D
purchase it. However, I did get a few words written about learning to =3D
throw and herewith commend them to your daughter. As I point out, only =3D
one student(to my knowledge) has actually followed my counsel, but he =3D
did so with spectacular results, learning to throw very competently in =3D
one Summer, throwing the same 500#'s of clay over and over and never =3D
saving any 'pots'. The startling success when he began saving things for =
=3D
the fire in the Fall was both testimony and reward for his diligence. =3D
His name was Cory Levins, and he went on to study at Alfred University.
"While the wheel is a more demanding tool, working in series is =3D
essential here too. What I have always suggested to those eager to =3D
learn, is to prepare a several hundred pounds of good throwing clay. =3D
Divide 25 or so pounds of it into 1 pound balls unless your hands are =3D
large....... then use a bit more. Keep these in a plastic bowl covered =3D
by a damp towel to prevent early drying while you work. =
=3D
=
=3D
(drawing)
"I recommend a kickwheel for learning, as it focuses the mind better on =3D
just what speed is required as the momentum runs down. Slap the first =3D
ball down without wetting the wheelhead and center the ball quickly, =3D
bracing your forearms on your thighs and don=3D92t release the clay =3D
abruptly, as that will leave a mark. Let the clay conform to your hands =3D
as the wheel turns, and soon you=3D92ll be centered. =
=3D
(drawing)
"Then open the ball with your thumbs, leaving around half an inch in the =
=3D
bottom. Hook the finger of your right hand over the rim and pull the =3D
bottom straight out level with the wheel-head. Now try to pull the clay =3D
up into a short cylinder........ oops! It will likely be a bit wobbly, =3D
and one minute or so will have elapsed. Here is where it gets tricky, =3D
because you must cut this piece off with a twisted wire before going any =
=3D
further! (drawing)
"Why? You ask. The mistakes you made in the first minute of this =3D
exercise are why the piece is wobbly, so you must repeat this action =3D
many times before going forward. The beginner=3D92s tendency is to =3D
continue with a flawed piece until it collapses on the wheel head from =3D
too much work and water. Avoid this trap by allowing yourself one minute =
=3D
to 90 seconds only per piece. In this way, you will improve your ability =
=3D
very fast indeed, and the pile of failed efforts will grow larger until =3D
the original 25 pounds is stacked up in front of you. Let it sit on the =3D
table until it can be wedged up into another lump and prepare another 25 =
=3D
pounds to repeat this exercise. After you have completed 100 balls of =3D
clay with the time limitation, you will have accomplished something =3D
that only one student in my memory has done; avoiding the trap of =3D
finishing, and getting much better in the course of those hundred balls =3D
of clay. Believe me...... it works!
"Of course, your hands will adjust to each requirement of the work as =3D
you proceed, but a note or two on this is not amiss..... the clay will =3D
move in the direction of the last surface that touches it, as it turns =3D
under your hands. So observe this to see if I am right. If the outside =3D
hand/fingers touch it last, the clay will move to the middle and get =3D
taller. If the inside hand/fingers touch it last as it rotates under =3D
them, the clay will tend towards a bowl and be shorter. Try this as you =3D
work and confirm it for yourself..... you are becoming your own teacher =3D
now, along with the clay itself."
Look across to your page, to see a wonderful poem about this:
FRAME
=3D93Gentlemen, set your frames.
This here dance starts simple
and gets tricky real fast.
Your lady cannot do
the necessary turns and
flourishes if you do not
give her frame.
But if you got
steady shoulders,
rock-like arms,
sure footing,
then there she goes,
swirling, double-timing,
knowing she can count on you
for balance. Give way
when she swings out,
when she=3D92s off balance___
her swing will take her down.
Then you got one bruised and
limping little lady, don=3D92t you know?=3D94
You ask what I need from you
as I rescript my life, ending what
I thought it was and spinning into
what it may actually be. No actions,
no words are needed, only frame,
only the pinpoint touch of your
solid presence, only the still point
without which there is no dance,
and we know there is only the dance.
Ann Medlock, from =3D93Arias, Riffs, & Whispers=3D94, www.annmedlock.com
In my opinion, no better words have been written about throwing clay or =3D
wooing one's Love.........
Cheers, and good luck to your daughter, let us know how it goes.
Hank in Eugene=3D
ivor and olive lewis on sat 9 apr 11
Dear Drake Ash,
You ask .....
"hi--can anyone recommend a straight forward and effective book about
teaching adult beginners to throw? my 24 year old daughter will be home thi=
s
summer,and would like to try clay. I feel a bit at a loss about how I would
go... "
It is my belief that humans are hard wired to teach. Those who need to do
things are hard wired to learn. If you have the ability to throw at the
potter's wheel then you should be able to introduce your daughter to the
elementary skills of making plain mugs and bowls.
Books are no substitute for practical instruction and demonstration. They
may augment instruction but they fail to deliver one the most important
functions of a teacher or instructor. They offer no critical feedback. DVD'=
s
may have greater value but even these only offer the ways of the person
exploiting the medium.
Have faith in what you know and can do.
I hope you have a happy time together.
Sincere regards,
Ivor Lewis,
REDHILL,
South Australia
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