Tommy Humphries on wed 11 jul 01
Great points there Mr. Mayor...got me thinkin bout how I pull when working
over 20 pounds.
I kinda hunker down over the clay bracing my right elbow down to my
side...tight. My right knee is slightly bent. As I begin to do a knuckle
pull I straighten up..slowly at first, arm still tight, but that knee is
pushing the clay up...my whole upper body is rigid, but that leg is pushin
up. Once the clay is movin good then the arm can begin to work for itself. I
often end up on my tip-toes at the end of a big pull.
You would not believe how many potters I have seen who couldn't pull a pot
over 15", but kept their throwin water sparklin clean. That water don't get
good till the sponge floats half above the water!
Tommy
----- Original Message -----
From: "mel jacobson"
To:
Sent: Wednesday, July 11, 2001 7:32 PM
Subject: throwin big
> just been thinking about throwing big pots. doing some writing
> just today on `throwin big`.
>
> tommy mentioned that a sit down wheel is not
> as good for throwing large pieces.
> tommy knows his stuff...throws many, many pots, of all
> sizes.
>
> but:
>
> the really sad part about sit down wheels is that
> so many folks do not use their legs.
>
> if the legs are used as braces, the arms and legs are used
> together, big pots are a snap.
>
> most potters that sit are using the arms only. not a good way
> to use the sit down wheel.
>
> if i use my legs with the arms braced, i can lift the wheel nearly
> off the ground. for sure, when i throw big, i can scoot the
> wheel across the room. my old skutt dc-1 is bolted to the floor
> for that very reason. a brent model c will move like mad.
>
> as has been said, working slow, very slow, softer clay, well wedged
> and groged, and above all, don't flood the pot with water...use
> slip and keep the pot slippery. it is so much about control of the
> materials, easy lifting, and making shapes that are conducive to
> large forms. simple, direct. and, without doubt, get after it...don't
> mess for 40 minutes. many will set the pot aside for a couple of
> hours, then get back when the moisture is gone.
>
> you all should have seen mr. nagata in kyoto, 30 lb. ball of
> clay...he made a perfect sphere. big. just sat in the lotus position...
> good clay, slow speed...once he started, he did not stop....perfect
> circle...then he made another one just like it, then another, just like
> it. then another. mr. uchida liked those pots. mr. nagata would
> smile. he was the best thrower i have ever seen...ever.
> any size, any number, always perfect.
> i felt like a total klutz...all the time.
> even when my work was good, well done....it was like
> crap next to mr. nagata. i sat four feet away from him for
> a year. all day. the one thing that mr. uchida would do for
> me...he would say, `get off your wheel, go watch mr. nagata.`
> visual learning. can't beat it.
>
> mr. nagata would have me stand behind him, looking down into
> the pot...that is how you learn..not looking in the mirror.
>
> legs....use them.
> that is where your strength is.
> mel
> From:
> Minnetonka, Minnesota, U.S.A.
> web site: http://www.pclink.com/melpots
>
>
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>
mel jacobson on wed 11 jul 01
just been thinking about throwing big pots. doing some writing
just today on `throwin big`.
tommy mentioned that a sit down wheel is not
as good for throwing large pieces.
tommy knows his stuff...throws many, many pots, of all
sizes.
but:
the really sad part about sit down wheels is that
so many folks do not use their legs.
if the legs are used as braces, the arms and legs are used
together, big pots are a snap.
most potters that sit are using the arms only. not a good way
to use the sit down wheel.
if i use my legs with the arms braced, i can lift the wheel nearly
off the ground. for sure, when i throw big, i can scoot the
wheel across the room. my old skutt dc-1 is bolted to the floor
for that very reason. a brent model c will move like mad.
as has been said, working slow, very slow, softer clay, well wedged
and groged, and above all, don't flood the pot with water...use
slip and keep the pot slippery. it is so much about control of the
materials, easy lifting, and making shapes that are conducive to
large forms. simple, direct. and, without doubt, get after it...don't
mess for 40 minutes. many will set the pot aside for a couple of
hours, then get back when the moisture is gone.
you all should have seen mr. nagata in kyoto, 30 lb. ball of
clay...he made a perfect sphere. big. just sat in the lotus position...
good clay, slow speed...once he started, he did not stop....perfect
circle...then he made another one just like it, then another, just like
it. then another. mr. uchida liked those pots. mr. nagata would
smile. he was the best thrower i have ever seen...ever.
any size, any number, always perfect.
i felt like a total klutz...all the time.
even when my work was good, well done....it was like
crap next to mr. nagata. i sat four feet away from him for
a year. all day. the one thing that mr. uchida would do for
me...he would say, `get off your wheel, go watch mr. nagata.`
visual learning. can't beat it.
mr. nagata would have me stand behind him, looking down into
the pot...that is how you learn..not looking in the mirror.
legs....use them.
that is where your strength is.
mel
From:
Minnetonka, Minnesota, U.S.A.
web site: http://www.pclink.com/melpots
Lee Love on thu 12 jul 01
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tommy Humphries"
> You would not believe how many potters I have seen who couldn't pull a pot
> over 15", but kept their throwin water sparklin clean. That water don't get
> good till the sponge floats half above the water!
Soft clay doesn't require much lubrication. Nobody uses any splash
pans at the workshop and nobody gets very muddy.
Mitsuyan, the Forman and head throwers for years, wears sweaters and dress
slacks to work. If he should happen to get a speck of mud on his slacks, he
stops and dabs it off. He is as spottless at the end of the day as he is in
the begining.
He is the same way when he glazes, unless some unfortunate Deshi happens to
spill some glaze on him.
When I coil and throw, I use metal ribs to keep the amount of water
needed to a minimum. Lets you keep putting the coils on for a longer time,
before needing to stop to allow the clay to stiffen.
--
Lee Love
Mashiko JAPAN Ikiru@kami.com
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