Sammy Shuford on sat 9 sep 00
Will someone please recommend a good "starter" book.
What I want to learn is:
1) Terms like "reduction" and "Raku"
2) Glazes, how they work, and how to formulate
3) And how to progress from a low fire slip caster to a potter.
If a good book comes to mind, please take time to email me,
starship@cchat.com or via this list!
In reference to number 3, is slip casting Stoneware a good step to take?
Thanks
Sammy J Shuford
Starship@cchat.com
Jeff Lawrence on sun 10 sep 00
Sammy Shuford was asking about book recommendations to become a potter from
a low-fire slip-caster.
Hello Sammy,
In the USA there is a book (now out of print) by Kenny which is widely
available in used book stores (I think a lot of pottery classes used it as
textbook). This book is a very good overview of the state of the art in 1970
or so. For basics, many things remain current.
Taking a course at a local continuing ed center or community college might
not be a bad place to start, but meet the teacher first. There is a wide
range in ability in people who teach clay, ranging from protean
uebermenschen to egomaniacal cretins. It goes without saying that any clay
teachers reading this are members of the former.
My progress has been from unknowingly ignorant (but cocky!) potter to a
competent low-fire slip caster. Clay and glazes continue to fascinate me in
every temperature and firing process. Kind of like a favorite actor or
actress -- you still want to see how they act no matter the script or role.
Jeff Lawrence ph. 505-753-5913
Sun Dagger Design fx. 505-753-8074
18496 US HWY 285/84 jml@sundagger.com
Espanola, NM 87532 www.sundagger.com
Nina Jones on mon 11 sep 00
Hi, Sammy! Good books:
Spirit of Clay by Robert Piepenburg,
The Craft and Art of Clay by Susan Peterson,
Hands in Clay by Speight/Toki,
Functional Pottery by Robin Hopper,
The Ceramic Spectrum by Robin Hopper,
and Raku-A Practical Approach by Steve Branfman
If you have to start with just one, I would recommend Spirit of Clay
by Robert Piepenburg. It's a good all-around book and Piepenburg is
so passionate-- his love of the medium gives this book a uniquely
personal approach, almost like learning from a mentor.
I came from a background of "hobby" ceramics, dealing exclusively
with slipcast ware. Learning on a military post, we learned how to
pour and maintain molds, as the staff was only there to teach and
fire, not do the work for us. Had a brief experience with the wheel
in the beginning, but the instructor, plus the impatience of youth,
pushed me to slip-casting and away from the wheel. It took me ten
years to make my way back.
When I found that I NEEDED to be more deeply involved, needed to make
that transition from slipcast work to actual "pottery," I had to go
out and get some clay. I started with a 12 pound log. Played with
it, smushed it around, handbuilt some little pots, little people, etc.
Clay play. Fell SO in love. That is the best step. You can't make
the transition from slipcasting by changing the type of slip you cast
with. You have to put the molds and the bucket of slip down (at least
temporarily) and pick up that log of clay. Find what you like doing:
figurative modeling, slab work, coil building, throwing on a potter's
wheel, etc.
Taking a class at a community college or art center, if possible, is
a really excellent way to find your way as well. If not possible,
there are videos available that will at least give you a visual
demonstration of the techniques you read about.
The books I listed above are really excellent. Throwing is my
passion, but re-reading these books keeps me open to all the forming
techniques and creative possibilities with clay.
I'm sure you'll get lots of help and advice from the list. Let me
know if I can be of any help.
FYI: ROUGHLY, reduction means drawing oxygen from the kiln
environment by manipulation of the fire, or by introducing flamables,
which "reduces" the amount of oxygen circulating throughout the kiln.
Mainly achieved in fuel-burning kilns (gas, wood), but can, under
carefully monitored circumstances and at the expense of your kiln
elements, be done in an electric kiln (with an excellent ventillation
system, preferably in an area open to the outside).
And VERY briefly: Raku is a firing technique that is usually done in
a raku kiln, but can also be done in a regular kiln. The glazed ware
is fired to a certain temperature (usually low-temp), pulled from the
kiln as soon as it reaches that temp and plunged into a "post-fire
reduction container" filled with some type of flamable material
(sawdust, leaves, paper). Sometimes the piece is then "quenched" is a
container of water, or by spraying water on the piece. The clay used
to form these pieces has to be able to withstand the thermal shock of
this technique, so one would either create such a clay body, or
purchase commercially available "raku" clay (Great Lakes Clay in
Carpentersville, IL is GREAT. So many clay bodies, so little time
(:>)).
Nina D. Jones
Southside Chicago
@ njones@winston.com
>>> Sammy Shuford 09/09/00 05:05PM >>>
Will someone please recommend a good "starter" book.
What I want to learn is:
1) Terms like "reduction" and "Raku"
2) Glazes, how they work, and how to formulate
3) And how to progress from a low fire slip caster to a potter.
If a good book comes to mind, please take time to email me,
starship@cchat.com or via this list!
In reference to number 3, is slip casting Stoneware a good step to
take?
Thanks
Sammy J Shuford
Starship@cchat.com
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Howard Scoggins on tue 21 aug 01
A few weeks back Helen posted Victor Bryant's Potter Tutorial webbsite. =
I've gone over the first three and , in my opinion, they are first rate =
-- writting, depth of coverage, refferences, etc. I've learned a lot and =
anyone else can do the same.
In Tutorial #3 Bryant recommends a book that i got from my local library =
(inter Lib loan):
Minerals, Metals, Glazing and Man, by John Dayton; Harrap, London, 1978.
If you have not seen it you should. Lots of up-to-date information on =
the evolution of our favorite subjects, pots, glazing and man. Big, =
dense book. Lots of technical information and pictures and =
drawings--best book of its kind i've ever seen.
Thanks again Helen, you are a Great Resource, and a generous lady.
Howard Scoggins
claybair on fri 3 may 02
Now you've done it Don, your posting inspired another one of my "fabulous"
ideas.
Our first collective Clayart exhibit could be golems.
Now just think about this......
We could make them, fire them, give them life then send them on their merry
way to a central location. From there they would travel the globe. We
wouldn't have to worry about packing, setting up or protecting them from the
elements. They wouldn't have to be shipped.... they would just walk the
bottom of the oceans.
Logos, price tags and signatures would be optional.
Gayle Bair - no I don't have too much time on my hands...... I have 3 shows
this week......maybe this bright idea was
exhaustion inspired!->
Bainbridge Island, WA
http://claybair.com
-----Original Message-----
Of Don Goodrich
In the never-ending quest for clay-related reading matter, I'd like to
make a recommendation for the science fiction readers among us.
I just finished reading David Brin's new book, Kiln People. It starts
from
the premise that the making of clay golems* is an established fact in a
future American society, and that everyone can have a few to do their menial
tasks. This premise allows the reader to follow the main character in
several
situations simultaneously. It's also a detective novel with a suitably
twisty
plot. I had fun keeping track of the parallel storylines, as the protagonist
and his clay duplicates unravel an intricate puzzle. The author evidently
had
fun writing it too, as evidenced by numerous ceramic puns. At the same time,
the story invites serious consideration of the nature of the soul and the
value of work.
It's been noted on this list a few times how rare clay fiction is. If
you're in need of a good read with fresh ideas, I recommend this one.
*if you need to know what a golem is, try here:
http://golem.plush.org/success/
Cheers,
Don Goodrich
goodrichdn@aol.com
http://members.aol.com/goodrichdn
____________________________________________________________________________
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You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
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Orchard Valley Ceramics Arts Guild on wed 23 oct 02
Many of our customers here would like to learn
more about clay and ceramics. I'd love to recommend
a good book about collecting contemporary pottery and
ceramic art. Something that would explain different
types of pottery, firing techniques, glazes, as well as
what to look for when buying and collecting.
Does anyone have suggestions?
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