Mel Jacobson on sat 18 apr 98
at no time ,in my opinion, is the creative quest damaged by understanding
the modern technology of art/craft.
those crafts people that spend the extra time to understand science, how
things work, and how the tools of their trade are built to assist them,
seem to make a better, quality work.
we all seek advice, help and conversation from others, but the final
line is still you have to do it yourself...you must be accountable.
we are the architects, general contractors, and crafts people of our
own work....it is almost impossible to blame others when things go
wrong.
but, is that not the reason that we love the crafts/arts/ ? we get all the
glory when things go well, and accept the problems when things go
poorly.
knowledge, wisdom and training all come with time. and the more time
we spend, the smarter we get.
take the extra time, read the new ideas, ask questions, build and re/build
your kilns....and do not be afraid to spend some money on
good tools and equipment........it always pays great dividends.
over the years i have always taken a good percentage of my prophets from
the sale of pots and have put it back into tools and equipment, buildings,
and brick.....it has doubled my income, and given me a place to be for the
rest of my life. i planned my retirement years ago...
it reminds me of the story of the woman that was in my painting class that
always painted on paper...never canvas...i asked her one day..
`why don't you use the best possible materials, your art work is
wonderful?`............she replied `it is too expensive`.
i told her to sell her $150 tennis shoes, and $45,000 car, and get
some decent materials.`... she did not.
very silly. she remained an amateur, and she had the talent and
intelligence to be a terrific painter. we all must pay the price to be
good, and sometimes the price is very high.
mel/mn
http://www.pclink.com/melpots
Cameron Harman on sun 19 apr 98
The comments made by Mel Jacobson are well put. I have tried to
think of a clear way to comment on the subject, but I cannot state
it any better than Mel has.
Most of my contacts are with industrial people who would do well
to heed the same advise. It never hurts to understand the
technology you are working with and it always pays to use good
quality tools. The companies that I have seen make the most
profits were the ones that used the high quality equipment, tools
and personnel that the other companies could not afford. Needless
to say, the other companies eventually disappear from the scene.
That is not to say that the use of clever home made tools is wrong
if they serve you well. The point is, a conscious decision to use
cheaper stuff because it is cheaper is usually poor choice.
Cameron Harman
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Cameron G. Harman, Jr. President Ceramic Services, Inc.
215-245-4040 fax 215-638-1812 visit us http://www.@kilnman.com
1060 Park Ave. Bensalem, PA 19020
THE place to go for answers to all YOUR kiln and dryer questions
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Eleanor on mon 8 sep 03
>At 12:00 AM -0400 9/8/03, Susan Setley wrote:
>If I could afford a machine that would wedge my clay for me, I would probably
>use that too. Technology is like anything else: take the best, leave the rest.
Well said. When I first began learning clay, I was taught to wedge,
remove from the wheel and tap center.
As a dabbler, I don't recycle enough clay to justify a wedging
machine; anyway, wedging is good exercise.
I can still tap center and do so but more and more I'm using my new
Giffen Grip.
As for getting a pot off the wheelhead, I could never learn to do it
without distorting the pot, and I certainly tried. I could do it only
if the bottom was thick and the clay somewhat stiff.
Pot Lifters are one of the best inventions since....
Eleanor Kohler
Centerport NY
I bake and cook the old-fashioned way: from scratch, and I don't buy
processed foods. But I use an electric mixer with a dough hook and
cook some things in a microwave. Nothing wrong with progress, I agree.
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