Rhonda Oldland on tue 31 jul 01
First off I would never worry about others thoughts...they are theirs and
only serve to help or hinder you. Unfortunately,my experience in pottery
has been some folks tend to hinder more than help. Some of the potter's
that I have come in contact with tend to have large ego's and will only
teach you what they wish to share. Empowerment is not a word in their
vocabulary. (nothing personal intended to anyone on list. )
I started learning to throw in 1989 alone. I went to Barnes and Noble and
got a wonderful book The Craft of the Potter by Michael Casson. I struggled
alot alone but was determined it would not get the best of me after a
couple of months I got the hang of that book and moved on to many,many
others. It wasn't until 1999 that I had the pleasure of meeting Lori, Vince
and Elizebeth and a very few others who helped me clean up my act. But
books and homeschooling have always been the avenue best for me. I close
myself up and work, practice and work some more. I throw some away,sell
some and teach some. I am always listening ,reading and watching. If you
haven't been to Seagroves you should take a visit...I grew up watching
potter's in that area and they are all some of the most open and sharing
folks I have ever met. Although some of them will bark at you if they are
busy.....just bark back and they come around.
Tools and ribs our little helpers.
Ribs give you form, remove slurry, when used in throwing to compress the
clay you can achieve thinner walls,used on the outside while fingers are on
the inside the form can be changed and controlled, while used in making
bowls you can define your inner curve.
I use mine to compress the bottom to avoid s cracks. I find scraps and
modify ribs to fit my hands and needs. They also serve me as an extension
of my fingers and spare me alot of wear and tear.
Start with a good book and then go practice...best Rhonda S.C.
>I'm fairly worried now- and you are all going to roll your eyes and
>hit delete when you see this.
>
>I've never heard of this Toombo, or of the technique of relying so
>much on ribs and wood. I'm self taught from the beginning (bought the
>wheel for my wife, actually). I'm really good with my hands, so pretty
>much started throwing *decent* vases and bowls my first time- nothing
>spectacular, but passing for pottery. I've only had one class at a
>local art museum- and that from a woman who was a water color artist
>who'd been throwing for about 4 years. She told me there was nothing
>she could teach me because she really wasn't that good. She mentioned
>nothing about throwing with ribs on the inside (or out). I learned
>that it was all done with your hands, so that you can feel the clay.
>(I really need to get to a good class/workshop/school).
>
>*Throwing Background:
>I can consistantly bring a cylinder up in almost any width with half a
>centimeter or less thickness, flat compressed bottom as high as the
>clay will last- and can actually do so with so little slip that I
>don't need a splash pan (I read in the archives about "throwing dry").
>My sister went to Alfred (Photography, but she took some ceramics),
>and she said I should practice cylinders as high, straight and thin as
>possible- so now I've got consistant 10-20cm high cylinders that (best
>way I can put it) "fall" into whatever shape they want, regardless of
>what I have pictured in my head- in fact, it seems like if I try to
>make a specific shape, the clay starts to buckle (I bring the
>cylinders up in 4-5 passes- I can do it in 2-3, but I often leave a
>spiralled "ridge" that I have to smooth out). I'm assuming I should
>use a rib to get the final shape, not to pull up the cylinder, right?
>Reckon I've got more research to do.
>
>Regarding Mel's suggestion to find a potter to critique me. I'd love
>to find a mentor, and would work as a slave just to get some hints,
>but I wouldn't even know where to ask. There are potters locally, but
>I don't know enough to judge whether someone is *really* good, or just
>a hack like me. I can't judge merely from what's on the work shelves.
>Hell, doing that, I could say that I'm am a pretty damn good potter-
>even though my shapes are all luck and not skill. I'd like to meet
>potters who have solid technique and skill. How does one really judge
>between- to use another's phrase- an artist and a craftsman?
>
>Alternatively, names of good potters around Charleston, SC would be
>nice.
>
>Thanks for all the help. You all are really great.
>
>-Jonathan
>(recovering geologist :-)
>
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>
>
Jonathan Pennington on tue 31 jul 01
I'm fairly worried now- and you are all going to roll your eyes and
hit delete when you see this.
I've never heard of this Toombo, or of the technique of relying so
much on ribs and wood. I'm self taught from the beginning (bought the
wheel for my wife, actually). I'm really good with my hands, so pretty
much started throwing *decent* vases and bowls my first time- nothing
spectacular, but passing for pottery. I've only had one class at a
local art museum- and that from a woman who was a water color artist
who'd been throwing for about 4 years. She told me there was nothing
she could teach me because she really wasn't that good. She mentioned
nothing about throwing with ribs on the inside (or out). I learned
that it was all done with your hands, so that you can feel the clay.
(I really need to get to a good class/workshop/school).
*Throwing Background:
I can consistantly bring a cylinder up in almost any width with half a
centimeter or less thickness, flat compressed bottom as high as the
clay will last- and can actually do so with so little slip that I
don't need a splash pan (I read in the archives about "throwing dry").
My sister went to Alfred (Photography, but she took some ceramics),
and she said I should practice cylinders as high, straight and thin as
possible- so now I've got consistant 10-20cm high cylinders that (best
way I can put it) "fall" into whatever shape they want, regardless of
what I have pictured in my head- in fact, it seems like if I try to
make a specific shape, the clay starts to buckle (I bring the
cylinders up in 4-5 passes- I can do it in 2-3, but I often leave a
spiralled "ridge" that I have to smooth out). I'm assuming I should
use a rib to get the final shape, not to pull up the cylinder, right?
Reckon I've got more research to do.
Regarding Mel's suggestion to find a potter to critique me. I'd love
to find a mentor, and would work as a slave just to get some hints,
but I wouldn't even know where to ask. There are potters locally, but
I don't know enough to judge whether someone is *really* good, or just
a hack like me. I can't judge merely from what's on the work shelves.
Hell, doing that, I could say that I'm am a pretty damn good potter-
even though my shapes are all luck and not skill. I'd like to meet
potters who have solid technique and skill. How does one really judge
between- to use another's phrase- an artist and a craftsman?
Alternatively, names of good potters around Charleston, SC would be
nice.
Thanks for all the help. You all are really great.
-Jonathan
(recovering geologist :-)
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