Cyberpotter@AOL.COM on wed 29 aug 01
Congratulations on your return to school, Kelly! I'm a relatively new potter
(3-4 yrs?) so don't claim to have mastered ANY form (except maybe the sign-up
form) and at the beginning of this year I set myself the goal of throwing
bowls until I felt I understood the form. Other than 4 mugs I threw one day
because the porcelain was being sooo good and they come in handly for gifties
and a handful of simple slab pieces I made to use as glaze test tiles, I have
thrown nothing but bowls since January, I haven't gotten bored yet, and I
have waaaay better control of my bowls now. ;-) Also, I now have plenty of
extras to donate to our local Empty Bowls event this fall!
But if you want to do something with more "wow factor", how 'bout
double-walled bowls?
Nancy in Cincinnati
primalmommy@IVILLAGE.COM on wed 29 aug 01
Yesterday was the first day of school-- not for my little homeschoolers, but for ME. After 12 years out of college I'm taking some independent study hours in ceramics at u of toledo/toledo museum of art. What a nerve wracking thing to wander into a vast studio, 40 years old and pretty confident as a potter, and have college kids talk to me like I'm clueless... I mixed up a big storage tub of white stoneware. What a lot of clay! Unlike Mel's sensei, these folks clearly have no policy about wasting clay on dorks.
Now I have to come up with a proposal for what I'll work on this semester.
My first impulse is to do what I'm best at so I can "wow" 'em... but common sense says I should focus on what I am lousy at so I can learn, despite the fact that it will not enhance my status in the eyes of eye-rolling youngsters. (I was tempted to say something crotchety like "I used to teach at this college, y'know...")
The prof would like me to make a series on the wheel, first of one form, then another, but has left it up to me what form that should be. So here's my question: If it were you, what form would you choose to start with and repeat ad nauseum/ad perfection? A simple cylinder? a bowl? something with various lids? The point is to have the form evolve... I am currently a competent thrower but have no real artistry in design, and could learn to go thinner... trim less...
I feel like a kid in a candy store, looking at bins of glaze ingredients, and can't wait to start trying out some of the glaze recipes I have lusted after (restrained by the cost of materials and shipping). Anybody know of a glaze called "mouse brown"?
So far half the work on the shelves makes me feel like a clumsy beginner (including the work of some of the "kids") and the other half makes me feel pretty talented in comparison. I have been the lone potter for so long, I think I will like having a context of other work to compare to...
So? Opinions welcome. What shape makes sense to start with, throwing a series?
Yours, Kelly in Ohio
Neutiquam Erro
(Thanks by the way to those who offered latin phrases and sites.)
(And to the folks who said nice things about my busy schedule: I am not unique. I bet there are a lot of moms (and dads) doing the same juggling routine. It helps that my mom once said, "When I look back at my life, the time with little children was just a blink..." it reminds me to be here now, and that there will be time for the rest later...)
(And to the potter who hung in there for the Unitarians. As a member of several UU committees, I can attest to the fact that church committees can generate lots of ideas, inspiration and enthusiasm, which doesn't necessarily translate to hard cash, signed paperwork and final results. Of course, the same could be said of university or government bureaucracies... grass roots coalitions... environmental groups... all worthy pursuits, in principle, and worth the investment, IMO. )
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Gayle Bair on wed 29 aug 01
Hi Kelly,
Congrats on your first day of school!
I would suggest a form you have always admired but have had little success
with or time to explore. In lieu of that I would suggest a large closed
sphere...It would provide maximum surface for decoration could have optional
handles, lid, attachments and would be a great surface for decorating. You
could throw it thick and carve it or thin and paint it. What am I saying..
you could do that on any form you choose to work with!
What a great opportunity.... Have a ball!
Gayle Bair
Bainbridge Island, WA
http://claybair.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Ceramic Arts Discussion List [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG]On
Behalf Of primalmommy@IVILLAGE.COM
Sent: Wednesday, August 29, 2001 8:17 AM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: first day of school
Yesterday was the first day of school-- not for my little homeschoolers, but
for ME. After 12 years out of college I'm taking some independent study
hours in ceramics at u of toledo/toledo museum of art. What a nerve
wracking thing to wander into a vast studio, 40 years old and pretty
confident as a potter, and have college kids talk to me like I'm clueless..
I mixed up a big storage tub of white stoneware. What a lot of clay! Unlike
Mel's sensei, these folks clearly have no policy about wasting clay on
dorks.
Now I have to come up with a proposal for what I'll work on this semester.
My first impulse is to do what I'm best at so I can "wow" 'em... but common
sense says I should focus on what I am lousy at so I can learn, despite the
fact that it will not enhance my status in the eyes of eye-rolling
youngsters. (I was tempted to say something crotchety like "I used to teach
at this college, y'know...")
The prof would like me to make a series on the wheel, first of one form,
then another, but has left it up to me what form that should be. So here's
my question: If it were you, what form would you choose to start with and
repeat ad nauseum/ad perfection? A simple cylinder? a bowl? something with
various lids? The point is to have the form evolve... I am currently a
competent thrower but have no real artistry in design, and could learn to go
thinner... trim less...
I feel like a kid in a candy store, looking at bins of glaze ingredients,
and can't wait to start trying out some of the glaze recipes I have lusted
after (restrained by the cost of materials and shipping). Anybody know of a
glaze called "mouse brown"?
So far half the work on the shelves makes me feel like a clumsy beginner
(including the work of some of the "kids") and the other half makes me feel
pretty talented in comparison. I have been the lone potter for so long, I
think I will like having a context of other work to compare to...
So? Opinions welcome. What shape makes sense to start with, throwing a
series?
Yours, Kelly in Ohio
Neutiquam Erro
(Thanks by the way to those who offered latin phrases and sites.)
(And to the folks who said nice things about my busy schedule: I am not
unique. I bet there are a lot of moms (and dads) doing the same juggling
routine. It helps that my mom once said, "When I look back at my life, the
time with little children was just a blink..." it reminds me to be here now,
and that there will be time for the rest later...)
(And to the potter who hung in there for the Unitarians. As a member of
several UU committees, I can attest to the fact that church committees can
generate lots of ideas, inspiration and enthusiasm, which doesn't
necessarily translate to hard cash, signed paperwork and final results. Of
course, the same could be said of university or government bureaucracies..
grass roots coalitions... environmental groups... all worthy pursuits, in
principle, and worth the investment, IMO. )
_________________________________________________________________
iVillage.com: Solutions for Your Life
Check out the most exciting women's community on the Web
http://www.ivillage.com
____________________________________________________________________________
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Dannon Rhudy on wed 29 aug 01
> Now I have to come up with a proposal for what I'll work on this semester.
>....... common sense says I should focus on what I am lousy at .... what
form would you choose to start with and repeat ad nauseum/ad perfection? ....
Kelly, don't worry about the "kids" or anyone else. It will
be good for you to have some time in a studio other than
your own, and levels of accomplishment sort themselves out
quickly. And it's better not to be the best technician in
there, because you'll learn from the students at least as
much as you learn from the teacher(s).
As to what "forms" to focus on - what gives you the most
trouble? Start with that. When you do it hour after hour,
especially with some help as you go, you'll progress quickly.
As the technical part becomes easier for you, you'll find
yourself exploring/pushing the form in many ways.
I think you won't be bored.
A cylindar is a LOT of different things. So is a bowl.
Have a great time with this uninterrupted (mostly)
opportunity.
regards
Dannon Rhudy
Diane Echlin on wed 29 aug 01
Hi kelly,
Good for you for going back to school! never mind the kids who roll
their eyes at you: I suspect that in a few weeks they will be at you
feet in supplication over your time management skills! ;-)
As for the form I would choose, it would have to be either a casserole
or a tea pot. Composite forms I think present a greater challenge for
developing skills, and also allow for a great degree of variation or
evolution.
Whatever you choose, be daring! Wow yourself, not them!
Diane in CT
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