Joyce Lee on sun 25 feb 01
I wanted to add that I can't continue the experiment with the shallow
bowls until I THROW some more.... and, like you, I have mugs and bowls
to complete for NCECA ... AND covered jars for doorprizes for our Art
League Wearable Art Fashion Show, since I don't make wearable art.
Many of you could throw all of those this afternoon...... not I, drat
it.
I'm attempting to throw more loosely ... a major problem for me... seems
I want to hang onto that clay and yank and force it up. A mug sometimes
can still take me 20 minutes or more, which I know is ridiculous. I've
decided that the MAIN reason my pots are often lopsided is that I
contort them with my labored throwing ... not as labored as it once was,
that's true... and I do throw nice pots on occasion.
Maybe Mel's last post is about me, also ... I always think those posts
are about the REST OF YOU, not about me.... problem of being an
optimist... reward of being an optimist, also. Thing is that I am a
rather loose person, as I see it .... who CAN be compressed and
organized if need be ... wonder if it's something about clay and art
that tightens my grip.....???
Joyce
In the Mojave inspired and intrigued by Marta's work as shown on
Russel's page ....
Ian Currie on tue 27 feb 01
Hi Joyce
I see you have had some good advice already about loose throwing. I hope
I'm not duplicating here, but for what it is worth, a few hints that might
help.
Clay: Tony's comments are right on. The clay is really important. I know
some few potters can throw beautiful loose pots with tight clay like
porcelain, but for the rest of us mortals it is MUCH easier if we use a
sandy or groggy clay. If I am after this kind of result I knead 10 - 20%
white clean sand (40 to 50 mesh, measured by volume) into my usual fine
clay. Wet the sand before kneading it in. You will probably then have to
dry out the clay a few hours before throwing.
Throwing: Throw more thickly than you usually do. The wheel should spin
slowly. Do NOT speed up the wheel.... if you have a kick wheel use that.
There is a difference. One of the "loosest" throwers I saw in Japan made
Shino and Oribe style pots throwing on a wheel from a motor cycle... just
the wheel including the tyre, spinning as a potters wheel usually does on
one of its bearings, with no flywheel at all, constantly being kicked by his
feet on the tyre while he sat level with the wheel. It is the most
difficult wheel I've ever seen, but he could do loose. He could not do
otherwise! He DID use a bat or wheelhead of some sort. :)
Attitude: One of my Japanese pottery teachers said he would get well stoked
on sake (Japanese rice wine) before trying to make tea bowls! I think this
is the AA branch of Zen here. I take no responsibility! Lawyers take note.
Loose throwing!
Ian
http://ian.currie.to/
>I'm attempting to throw more loosely ... a major problem for me... seems
>I want to hang onto that clay and yank and force it up. A mug sometimes
>can still take me 20 minutes or more, which I know is ridiculous. I've
>decided that the MAIN reason my pots are often lopsided is that I
>contort them with my labored throwing ... not as labored as it once was,
>that's true... and I do throw nice pots on occasion.
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