mel jacobson on wed 15 aug 01
one of the elements that ron mentioned, and needs
review to those not aware:
negative space is critical in handle making. it is the
hole that is formed by the handle that defines its shape.
when you observe a handle, it is a positive shape that
should fit the shape of the mug or pitcher. often the
potter makes up a shape or curve without regard to the
curve of the pot. when that happens, the two forms
become at odds. the potter must look at the hole, not
the handle. it is hard to do...you must concentrate.
(i realize for some of you..impossible.)
first, look at the curve of the pot.
or, perhaps it does not have a curve...it is straight.
well, what shape or curve is going to look good
next to it.
when you swing the handle down and attach it...try a variety
of slight changes in the curve of the handle...don't just accept
the first one.
try several...then, if you are visual, and thinking, one of them
will look very good, or, at least better than others.
if you are making a flat sided mug, why not flatten the
curve of the mug a bit to match it?
one of the first real art theories that my students became aware
of when making pots was `negative space`....when it hit them,
they were delighted.
negative space is a thing that we all innately understand, but do
not have a clue about it verbally. it just happens.
drawing people are very aware of the concept of negative space...painters
live in a world of negative space.
in fact...i believe that space is the primary element in painting..at
least the most critical.
it is too, in pottery.
mel
it is why potters have flat foreheads, no matter what you tell
them, they smack their foreheads and say, `shit, i didn't know that`.
From:
Minnetonka, Minnesota, U.S.A.
web site: http://www.pclink.com/melpots
Paul and Susie Watkins on wed 22 aug 01
Excellent advice and extremely significant to ALL of the ARTS.... just as in
throwing a bowl and knowing you are throwing the SPACE inside the clay skin
that holds the space, the same is true in lettering and calligraphy... when
making the letter 'O', you visualize the letter and then outline the space
with your lettering pen... the negative space is what you are seeing and
that is what Mel is talking about relative to the space inside the handle...
the shape of the hole is the important element... and it definitely must
relate to the shape of the form of the mug it is attached to in order for
there to be a UNITY in the total design. Same is true in music with regard
to rhythm and the negative space between notes in a song... and with the
verbal delivery of a line in a stage play ... it all relates for the
emphasis of concept that you are designing and composing in your work. Paul
Watkins
--
Paul Watkins Pottery at Red Shed
http://web.utk.edu/~watkins/redshed.html
----------
>From: mel jacobson
>To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
>Subject: handles, negative space
>Date: Wed, Aug 15, 2001, 8:07 AM
>
> one of the elements that ron mentioned, and needs
> review to those not aware:
>
> negative space is critical in handle making. it is the
> hole that is formed by the handle that defines its shape.
>
> when you observe a handle, it is a positive shape that
> should fit the shape of the mug or pitcher. often the
> potter makes up a shape or curve without regard to the
> curve of the pot. when that happens, the two forms
> become at odds. the potter must look at the hole, not
> the handle. it is hard to do...you must concentrate.
> (i realize for some of you..impossible.)
>
> first, look at the curve of the pot.
> or, perhaps it does not have a curve...it is straight.
> well, what shape or curve is going to look good
> next to it.
>
> when you swing the handle down and attach it...try a variety
> of slight changes in the curve of the handle...don't just accept
> the first one.
> try several...then, if you are visual, and thinking, one of them
> will look very good, or, at least better than others.
>
> if you are making a flat sided mug, why not flatten the
> curve of the mug a bit to match it?
>
> one of the first real art theories that my students became aware
> of when making pots was `negative space`....when it hit them,
> they were delighted.
>
> negative space is a thing that we all innately understand, but do
> not have a clue about it verbally. it just happens.
> drawing people are very aware of the concept of negative space...painters
> live in a world of negative space.
> in fact...i believe that space is the primary element in painting..at
> least the most critical.
> it is too, in pottery.
> mel
> it is why potters have flat foreheads, no matter what you tell
> them, they smack their foreheads and say, `shit, i didn't know that`.
> From:
> Minnetonka, Minnesota, U.S.A.
> web site: http://www.pclink.com/melpots
>
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