Martin Howard on tue 16 jan 01
Diane, if you at 51 can bear the thought of being lectured to by youngsters
half you age,
who often know less about the subject than you have learnt by experience,
who often fail to communicate clearly, the list could go on ....
then, dear friend, you cannot be 51.
At 61 I have just been to University again, but stayed at home. For the last
two years I just read all I could find about clay, glazes, throwing methods,
etc.
I set the curriculum, the exam papers, the reading list, all as homework.
Clayart was my peer group, the kiln my examiner, the public my critics, my
wife my personal advisor.
And all for free.
Now I am producing some good ware and proud of it.
I can also help others, just as you do.
But if you find a course that suits you, please let us know, so we can all
book up.
Better still, just put it all on-line as a thread of Clayart.
Martin Howard
Webb's Cottage Pottery
Woolpits Road, Great Saling
BRAINTREE, Essex CM7 5DZ
England
martin@webbscottage.co.uk
Thom Mead on tue 16 jan 01
Dear Martin:
I agree with the idea of "self-taught, best-taught."
For some strange reason, I do want the protected time of the structured s=
tudio so that
life cannot interfere so much with my work. (And I think I mean I do not =
want to be breadwinner and grad student simultaneously.)
In the perfect world (where nobody asked me to do things for them all the=
time
and the flower bed never needed weeding) i would prefer to do it your way=
..
I will make sure to tell the tale of the best profs I find (know of some =
I have heard great things)
diane in GA
----- Original Message -----
From: Martin Howard
Sent: Tuesday, January 16, 2001 9:46 PM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Re: Grad School at 51?
Diane, if you at 51 can bear the thought of being lectured to by youngste=
rs
half you age,
who often know less about the subject than you have learnt by experience,
who often fail to communicate clearly, the list could go on ....
then, dear friend, you cannot be 51.
At 61 I have just been to University again, but stayed at home. For the l=
ast
two years I just read all I could find about clay, glazes, throwing metho=
ds,
etc.
I set the curriculum, the exam papers, the reading list, all as homework.
Clayart was my peer group, the kiln my examiner, the public my critics, m=
y
wife my personal advisor.
And all for free.
Now I am producing some good ware and proud of it.
I can also help others, just as you do.
But if you find a course that suits you, please let us know, so we can al=
l
book up.
Better still, just put it all on-line as a thread of Clayart.
Martin Howard
Webb's Cottage Pottery
Woolpits Road, Great Saling
BRAINTREE, Essex CM7 5DZ
England
martin@webbscottage.co.uk
Get your FREE download of MS=
N Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com=
Martin Howard on wed 17 jan 01
Agreed, Diane.
Actually, I was writing with tongue a little in cheek.
I often think of going to a course on something very dear to my heart.
But the thought of leaving the dear Pottery, and the cats, ... er and my
wife, for longer than a week makes me think it out again. And I have a
lovely corner of the sitting room to read in comfort, with an armchair with
a beautiful brass adjustable book stand fixed into the arm. Ah! Couldn't
find that at uni.
For 40 years I had to put up with other Town Planners lecturing me on this
and that, but IMHO(or not so humble) they knew nothing other than about
boats, golf, cars and beer.
The best was an architect, but an expert on bees.
But good luck to you and keep us all informed.
Martin Howard
Webb's Cottage Pottery
Woolpits Road, Great Saling
BRAINTREE, Essex CM7 5DZ
England
martin@webbscottage.co.uk
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