Sharon Merriam on sun 9 oct 11
Favourite form ... you want me to choose one? Mugs no simple cylinders for =
me. Beaker shaped, sort of, or better yet waisted with a full curve holding=
in the heat at the bottom and then flaring out in an equally sensuous V to=
cool the tea you are nursing before starting your day. The first reason I =
fell in love with clay. No cold china cups for me I want a mug that I can c=
uddle.
Bowls: not with the flat bottom and the curving sides but a bowl that is a =
bowl from the inside out, made to be a bowl from the very beginning. A bowl=
that contains, restrains, plays with centrifical force. One that is open g=
enerous or curving back on itself with a delft touch in the center and at t=
he rim to make a place for the glazes to play now that's a bowl. I have bee=
n exploring medium sized bowls all year. My favourite a colander with coppe=
r slip here and there under a semimatt glaze coloured with rutile; differen=
t sized openings going in different directions, some very small that don't =
go all the way through with a high cut foot. It takes the drudgery out of m=
eal preparation at our house.
Plates; Western or Eastern style. They both have their place but aesthetica=
lly I prefer the Eastern style where the clay just keeps moving on out then=
soars up into what I suppose might be considered a shallow bowl. A form th=
at creates its' own wonderful line between two complimentary glazes. My onl=
y decisions the width, placement of the overlap and whether to have a wave =
or a ripple in the glaze bucket interrupt the line at the junction, overlap=
of the glazes.
It is Thanksgiving here tomorrow. I am thankful for form, without it we cou=
ld not exist. I love form, all form and what I am enjoying most about my pa=
rt time clay process is seeing the forces of nature, the physics of the uni=
verse revealed on a scale that is accessible. It all starts with form for m=
e and my choice keeps changing but always I go for the elegant. My elegant =
is probably not yours, which is why there are so many wonderful pots of all=
forms out there to learn from and be thankful for. Let me not forget to be=
thankful for all of you generous Potters and the help and support you give=
to Folks like me who are part time but passionate about their clay practic=
e.
Sharon Merriam, Dartmouth NS
smerriam@accesscable.net
David Woof on mon 10 oct 11
Hi Sharon=3D2C Hi Everyone=3D2C
What wonderful poetic prose regarding the sensous qualities of clay and pot=
=3D
tery form. Folks it is one of those must read again posts!!! I'm going to h=
=3D
and it out to my classes.
Without getting personal=3D3B this is the activity of lovers.=3DA0 And if w=
e lo=3D
ve clay as many profess=3D2C we will make love with the clay.=3DA0 (note I =
said=3D
"with" and not "to" the clay) because one must relax and be responsive to =
=3D
the clay as well=3D2C rather than simply applying techniques known to produ=
ce=3D
a predictable result.
I remember a student 25 years ago who was struggling with refining his form=
=3D
s.=3DA0 I suggested he give his girl friend a massage=3D2C paying attention=
tha=3D
t there would be nowhere on the human form that our hand would not fit in a=
=3D
comfortable and pleasing way and then to apply this information to the pot=
=3D
tery forms he was making. I also mentioned spending time in study of her fo=
=3D
rm and appreciating the relationships of the parts to the whole.=3DA0 What =
yo=3D
ung man or woman couldn't benefit from such an assignment?
This young man got it! He also eventually married the young woman and he is=
=3D
teaching the art of setting up conditions where art may happen for himself=
=3D
and others at a University in the western Midwest.=3D20
Loved your post=3D2C=3DA0 It speaks to and carries the yearning burning app=
reci=3D
ation of so much of that mysterious place from where art comes into being.
David Woof.....Clarkdale=3D2C Arizona
_____________________________________________________
5. Form the hands want to make
Posted by: "Sharon Merriam" smerriam@ACCESSCABLE.NET=3D20
Date: Sun Oct 9=3D2C 2011 12:33 pm ((PDT))
=3D20
Favourite
form ... you want me to choose one? Mugs no simple cylinders for me.=3D20
Beaker shaped=3D2C sort of=3D2C or better yet waisted with a full curve hol=
ding=3D
=3D20
in the heat at the bottom and then flaring out in an equally sensuous V=3D2=
0
to cool the tea you are nursing before starting your day. The first=3D20
reason I fell in love with clay. No cold china cups for me I want a mug=3D2=
0
that I can cuddle.
Bowls: not with the flat bottom and the curving=3D20
sides but a bowl that is a bowl from the inside out=3D2C made to be a bowl=
=3D20
from the very beginning. A bowl that contains=3D2C restrains=3D2C plays wit=
h=3D20
centrifical force. One that is open generous or curving back on itself=3D20
with a delft touch in the center and at the rim to make a place for the=3D2=
0
glazes to play now that's a bowl. I have been exploring medium sized=3D20
bowls all year. My favourite a colander with copper slip here and there=3D2=
0
under a semimatt glaze coloured with rutile=3D3B different sized openings=
=3D20
going in different directions=3D2C some very small that don't go all the wa=
y
through with a high cut foot. It takes the drudgery out of meal=3D20
preparation at our house.
Plates=3D3B Western or Eastern style. They both
have their place but aesthetically I prefer the Eastern style where the
clay just keeps moving on out then soars up into what I suppose might=3D20
be considered a shallow bowl. A form that creates its' own wonderful=3D20
line between two complimentary glazes. My only decisions the width=3D2C=3D2=
0
placement of the overlap and whether to have a wave or a ripple in the=3D20
glaze bucket interrupt the line at the junction=3D2C overlap of the glazes.
It
is Thanksgiving here tomorrow. I am thankful for form=3D2C without it we=
=3D20
could not exist. I love form=3D2C all form and what I am enjoying most abou=
t
my part time clay process is seeing the forces of nature=3D2C the physics=
=3D20
of the universe revealed on a scale that is accessible. It all starts=3D20
with form for me and my choice keeps changing but always I go for the=3D20
elegant. My elegant is probably not yours=3D2C which is why there are so=3D=
20
many wonderful pots of all forms out there to learn from and be thankful
for. Let me not forget to be thankful for all of you generous Potters=3D20
and the help and support you give to Folks like me who are part time but
passionate about their clay practice.
=3D20
Sharon Merriam=3D2C Dartmouth NS
smerriam@accesscable.net
=3DA0=3DA0=3DA0=3D20
=3D
Sharon Merriam on tue 11 oct 11
Thank you David.
I think too much is made of intention. You have to start with that to learn=
the craft, but the really great forms are a dance between the clay and the=
maker. I think that the same applies to any art form or indeed any human a=
ctivity.
I am better with words than clay having used them much much longer. That y=
ou think my words worthy to inspire students, there is no higher honour. Ho=
w lucky that young man was! Figure drawing is another route to the same ah =
ha moment. When you are lucky enough to have a good model and are really at=
tending to the form in front of you, you realize that all human forms have =
their own intrinsic elegance.
Sharon
smerriam@accesscable.net
Date: Mon, 10 Oct 2011 10:16:23 -0600
From: David Woof
Subject: Re: Form the hands want to make
Hi Sharon=3D2C Hi Everyone=3D2C
What wonderful poetic prose regarding the sensuous qualities of clay and po=
t=3D
tery form. Folks it is one of those must read again posts!!! I'm going to h=
=3D
and it out to my classes.
Without getting personal=3D3B this is the activity of lovers.=3DA0 And if w=
e lo=3D
ve clay as many profess=3D2C we will make love with the clay.=3DA0 (note I =
said=3D
"with" and not "to" the clay) because one must relax and be responsive to =
=3D
the clay as well=3D2C rather than simply applying techniques known to produ=
ce=3D
a predictable result.
I remember a student 25 years ago who was struggling with refining his form=
=3D
s.=3DA0 I suggested he give his girl friend a massage=3D2C paying attention=
tha=3D
t there would be nowhere on the human form that our hand would not fit in a=
=3D
comfortable and pleasing way and then to apply this information to the pot=
=3D
tery forms he was making. I also mentioned spending time in study of her fo=
=3D
rm and appreciating the relationships of the parts to the whole.=3DA0 What =
yo=3D
ung man or woman couldn't benefit from such an assignment?
This young man got it! He also eventually married the young woman and he is=
=3D
teaching the art of setting up conditions where art may happen for himself=
=3D
and others at a University in the western Midwest.=3D20
Loved your post=3D2C=3DA0 It speaks to and carries the yearning burning app=
reci=3D
ation of so much of that mysterious place from where art comes into being.
David Woof.....Clarkdale=3D2C Arizona
_____________________________________________________
5. Form the hands want to make
Posted by: "Sharon Merriam" smerriam@ACCESSCABLE.NET=3D20
Date: Sun Oct 9=3D2C 2011 12:33 pm ((PDT))
=3D20
Favourite
form ... you want me to choose one? Mugs no simple cylinders for me.=3D20
Beaker shaped=3D2C sort of=3D2C or better yet waisted with a full curve hol=
ding=3D
=3D20
in the heat at the bottom and then flaring out in an equally sensuous V=3D2=
0
to cool the tea you are nursing before starting your day. The first=3D20
reason I fell in love with clay. No cold china cups for me I want a mug=3D2=
0
that I can cuddle.
Bowls: not with the flat bottom and the curving=3D20
sides but a bowl that is a bowl from the inside out=3D2C made to be a bowl=
=3D20
from the very beginning. A bowl that contains=3D2C restrains=3D2C plays wit=
h=3D20
centrifical force. One that is open generous or curving back on itself=3D20
with a delft touch in the center and at the rim to make a place for the=3D2=
0
glazes to play now that's a bowl. I have been exploring medium sized=3D20
bowls all year. My favourite a colander with copper slip here and there=3D2=
0
under a semimatt glaze coloured with rutile=3D3B different sized openings=
=3D20
going in different directions=3D2C some very small that don't go all the wa=
y
through with a high cut foot. It takes the drudgery out of meal=3D20
preparation at our house.
Plates=3D3B Western or Eastern style. They both
have their place but aesthetically I prefer the Eastern style where the
clay just keeps moving on out then soars up into what I suppose might=3D20
be considered a shallow bowl. A form that creates its' own wonderful=3D20
line between two complimentary glazes. My only decisions the width=3D2C=3D2=
0
placement of the overlap and whether to have a wave or a ripple in the=3D20
glaze bucket interrupt the line at the junction=3D2C overlap of the glazes.
It
is Thanksgiving here tomorrow. I am thankful for form=3D2C without it we=
=3D20
could not exist. I love form=3D2C all form and what I am enjoying most abou=
t
my part time clay process is seeing the forces of nature=3D2C the physics=
=3D20
of the universe revealed on a scale that is accessible. It all starts=3D20
with form for me and my choice keeps changing but always I go for the=3D20
elegant. My elegant is probably not yours=3D2C which is why there are so=3D=
20
many wonderful pots of all forms out there to learn from and be thankful
for. Let me not forget to be thankful for all of you generous Potters=3D20
and the help and support you give to Folks like me who are part time but
passionate about their clay practice.
=3D20
Sharon Merriam=3D2C Dartmouth NS
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