Sue Beach on tue 30 nov 99
I am a relative newcomer to clay work; I have been throwing for about 1 1/2
years. I have gotten intermittent tips from an acquaintance, but have had
no formal lessons. I am not in a position right now to take classes or
attend workshops. I can center fine, throw an okay bowl and manage
cylinders up to about 7 inches. I find when I sit down to throw, I have no
real direction and just throw whatever happens.
I feel the need for some "lessons" or "assignments" in order to move my
skills beyond the beginner level. Can any of you recommend some "course of
study" or series of assignments that I could assign myself? Thanks for any
help.
Sue Beach
Sue Beach
Muncie, IN
sbeach@iquest.net
http://members.iquest.net/~sbeach/index.html
http://bsuvc.bsu.edu/~00sdbeach/index.html
Chris Schafale on wed 1 dec 99
Sue,
Get your hands on a book by Clary Illian called A Potter's
Workbook. It's got some wonderful assignments that help build your
sense of form as well as giving you some direction for your practice.
The Potter's Shop has it, I know.
Chris
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> I am a relative newcomer to clay work; I have been throwing for about 1 1/2
> years. I have gotten intermittent tips from an acquaintance, but have had
> no formal lessons. I am not in a position right now to take classes or
> attend workshops. I can center fine, throw an okay bowl and manage
> cylinders up to about 7 inches. I find when I sit down to throw, I have no
> real direction and just throw whatever happens.
>
> I feel the need for some "lessons" or "assignments" in order to move my
> skills beyond the beginner level. Can any of you recommend some "course of
> study" or series of assignments that I could assign myself? Thanks for any
> help.
>
> Sue Beach
>
> Sue Beach
> Muncie, IN
> sbeach@iquest.net
> http://members.iquest.net/~sbeach/index.html
> http://bsuvc.bsu.edu/~00sdbeach/index.html
>
>
Light One Candle Pottery
Fuquay-Varina, NC
candle@intrex.net
Martin Howard on wed 1 dec 99
Sue, I know just how you feel as I was there also, not so long ago.
The way through that feeling, for me, was the idea that we should hold in
the mind not only the final form of the pot, but also its decoration and
glaze, before throwing.
Thinking that there was something of god within the clay, wanting
expression, was also a help.
Now, I have a list of things to make; the amounts of clay needed for those
ware items; and idea of the glaze needed and the simple decoration which
works with the form and the glaze.
But, then, next year I will become a student again. I am 60 year young!. I
will go to another potter, in Devon, England, for a week of repetition
throwing. He will set me what is required and how many of them. At the end
of the week I expect to be very tired, but hope to be able to repeat forms
ad infinitum by eye. I do not know what my relationship will be with this
potter friend will be:-) with the lash marks about my shoulders still
smarting. But perhaps the Chinese potters had similar tuition and feelings.
Sometimes our own incentive is not strong enough and we need an outside
force to take hold of us.
Perhaps your master potter is here, somewhere on ClayArt!! but physically
close to you?
Martin Howard
Webbs Cottage Pottery
Woolpits Road
Great Saling
BRAINTREE
Essex CM7 5DZ
martin@webbscottage.co.uk
Cindy Strnad on wed 1 dec 99
Sue,
I found Stephen Jepson's beginning and advanced tapes very helpful. You can
buy them from Aftosa or many other catalogs. I like getting things from
Aftosa because anything in excess of $50 is shipped free. It's also possible
you could get them on inter-library loan. Robin Hopper has a series I'd like
to see, as well, but have only had the chance to look over his
glazing/decorating series. That was very informative, and I'm sure the
throwing videos are equally as helpful.
Cindy Strnad
Earthen Vessels Pottery
Custer, SD
Jeff Campana on wed 1 dec 99
Sue,
It sounds like you would benefit greatly from a good book on how to throw, and
I know just the book! I forget the author presently, but i can get it. (maybe
her last name starts with a c?) Anyways, it is called The Potter's Workbook.
It is very new, released a few months ago maybe. It is availible from The
potter's shop and im sure many other ceramic book suppliers, bookstores.
This book is perfect for the home learning potter. It is project based,
giving very sound fundimentals as well as things i found very helpful, and i
have been in 10 back to back semesters of ceramics classes. It gives lessons
on form, has 100s of examples of fresh thrown pots by the author, including
bowls, mugs, teapots, cylenders, vases, lidded forms....etc. Not to sound too
much like an advertisement, but i was truly impressed by this book, and
recommend it to all potters everywhere, even those with years of experience.
Hope this helps,
Jeff Campana
P.S.
Not to sound again like an advertisement, but here's potters shop adress, in
case you want to look at their catalog. To dispel any spamming complaints,
I'm not affiliated with anything in any way, I was just impressed by these
guys, too :)
Potters shop
31 Thorpe Road
Needham Heights, MA 02494
Sue Beach wrote:
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> I am a relative newcomer to clay work; I have been throwing for about 1 1/2
> years. I have gotten intermittent tips from an acquaintance, but have had
> no formal lessons. I am not in a position right now to take classes or
> attend workshops. I can center fine, throw an okay bowl and manage
> cylinders up to about 7 inches. I find when I sit down to throw, I have no
> real direction and just throw whatever happens.
>
> I feel the need for some "lessons" or "assignments" in order to move my
> skills beyond the beginner level. Can any of you recommend some "course of
> study" or series of assignments that I could assign myself? Thanks for any
> help.
>
> Sue Beach
>
> Sue Beach
> Muncie, IN
> sbeach@iquest.net
> http://members.iquest.net/~sbeach/index.html
> http://bsuvc.bsu.edu/~00sdbeach/index.html
Tom Wirt on wed 1 dec 99
From: Sue Beach
Subject: Lesson Plan Suggestions for a Beginner?
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> I am a relative newcomer to clay work; I have been throwing for about 1
1/2
> years.
> I feel the need for some "lessons" or "assignments" in order to move my
> skills beyond the beginner level. Can any of you recommend some "course
of
> study" or series of assignments that I could assign myself? Thanks for
any
> help.
>
> Sue Beach
Hi Sue,
The discipline to throw is tough. It's too easy to wander off in clay.
While I'm a production potter, I find that when I have taken a class, I lose
interest after a few pots, because there's no specific direction. I think I
remember that when I first started, I even made up throwing lists to give my
self targets. You might try the same.
Just a simple list noting what you're to throw and how many. This means
that you'll be doing series of forms....one of the best, and maybe only way
to really sharpen up your skills. I use multiples of 25 lbs....6- 4 lb.s
bowls, 8- 3 lb. vases, 12-2 lb salad plates. That way it's easy to cut up a
standard U.S. pug. As you get comfortable with each form and size, move up
to the next weight.
While you're doing all this, then break the pots down into their constituent
parts....feet, bellies, necks, rims, etc. Then for one series focus on
developing rims. Next one the belly curve. Try to define which forms you
like best. Chuck the rest. Slowly you'll find yourself refining form and
eliminating those things which you don't like. This skill building thing is
not quick like firing :-)
When I first started production work 6-1/2 years ago, everyone said it will
take constant throwing for 6 or 7 years to begin to get the skills together
and develop "your" style. I'm finding that number was about dead on. Louis
Katz also once said that you have to throw a given form 3,000 or more times
before it's really yours. I'm finding that to be true too.
The final step in this is that when things go wrong.....the vase slumps, the
plate rim drops....stop and think about what you were doing, how the clay
gets its structural strength. John Heck once told me..."Look at the clay.
It will tell you what you did wrong."
A daunting task perhaps, especially in this world of see it want it gotta
have it NOW! Mel's recent rant (beating a dead horse) really summed it
up. There is no way to be a really great potter without paying your dues.
It just doesn't happen, and I don't read that you're hunting for that.
Which means you're one of the ones that will probably make it. And then
there's some mysterious thing that happens around 20 years. I'll just have
to wait for that one. Or maybe one of the old guys or girls will tell us
what it is.
Ever since I became aware of this "get your skills first, then make art"
concept, I've been noticing quotes in all of the arts that say the same
thing....over and over.
A friend who is an architect gave me this one last weekend:
"Architecture is a profession in which talent matures slowly. It is a
discipline which requires many years of thoughtful observation, of testing
principals, of sensing space, and experiencing the many moods necessary for
seasoning and nurturing. Wunderkind in architecture are extremely rare. The
array of abilities that permit an architect to work with a sure hand and
achieve the intended result allows for no shortcuts. An architect who would
be the best he can be must serve a lifetime apprenticeship, well beyond
that required for official licensing. He must know human behavior,
understand structures and materials, and hope to shape forms and spaces to
serve intended purposes in inspired and original ways." --Aldo Rossi, 1990
You could take this quote and replace "architect" with "potter' and it still
reads true.
So make that list, check it twice and use it to discipline yourself into
learning.
Get back to work and quit wasting time with this Clayart nonsense.
Tom Wirt
John Lockett on thu 2 dec 99
On Tue 30 Nov, Sue Beach wrote:
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> I am a relative newcomer to clay work; I have been throwing for about 1 1/2
> years. I have gotten intermittent tips from an acquaintance, but have had
> no formal lessons. I am not in a position right now to take classes or
> attend workshops. I can center fine, throw an okay bowl and manage
> cylinders up to about 7 inches. I find when I sit down to throw, I have no
> real direction and just throw whatever happens.
>
> I feel the need for some "lessons" or "assignments" in order to move my
> skills beyond the beginner level. Can any of you recommend some "course of
> study" or series of assignments that I could assign myself? Thanks for any
> help.
>
> Sue Beach
>
> Sue Beach
> Muncie, IN
> sbeach@iquest.net
> http://members.iquest.net/~sbeach/index.html
> http://bsuvc.bsu.edu/~00sdbeach/index.html
>
>
>
Hi Sue
There is a book which may help
"The Potters Project Book" by Peter Cosentino
Published by Blitz Editions in 1992
ISBN 1 85605 126 9
The book may be out of print now but I'm sure it is available
through some of the specialist book shops.
Regards
John
--
John and Ann Lockett - Here in Birmingham UK at http://www.ninedud.u-net.com/hom
Interested in Ceramics?
Visit http://www.ninedud.u-net.com/pottery/midpotters/mpa.htm
Interested in Dogs? Visit http://www.ninedud.u-net.com/bsc
Pamala Browne on thu 2 dec 99
Dear Sue Beach-- I am not a teacher but the first thing I would suggest is
to throw more cylinders..If 7 " is your height , then throw 20 of them.
Even thickness--straight walls ( really straight walls ) This will help your
control like nuttin else! When you've done that , make sure you have enough
clay left at the top to make some nice strong necks,shoulders and lips.
These two exercises are the most important , I believe , and am very
thankful for the emphasis placed on them when i was beginning .
pamalab
----- Original Message -----
From: Sue Beach
To:
Sent: Tuesday, November 30, 1999 7:39 AM
Subject: Lesson Plan Suggestions for a Beginner?
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> I am a relative newcomer to clay work; I have been throwing for about 1
1/2
> years. I have gotten intermittent tips from an acquaintance, but have had
> no formal lessons. I am not in a position right now to take classes or
> attend workshops. I can center fine, throw an okay bowl and manage
> cylinders up to about 7 inches. I find when I sit down to throw, I have
no
> real direction and just throw whatever happens.
>
> I feel the need for some "lessons" or "assignments" in order to move my
> skills beyond the beginner level. Can any of you recommend some "course
of
> study" or series of assignments that I could assign myself? Thanks for
any
> help.
>
> Sue Beach
>
> Sue Beach
> Muncie, IN
> sbeach@iquest.net
> http://members.iquest.net/~sbeach/index.html
> http://bsuvc.bsu.edu/~00sdbeach/index.html
>
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