Pat Colyar on wed 21 nov 01
Starting in January I'll be teaching a class at Seward Park Art
Studio, a non-profit clay school, called "Throwing for Speed and
Control", and I'd be interested in hearing about people's
favorite, most helpful exercises to improve their throwing
skills.
I've taught for about 15 years, throwing, handbuilding,
decorating, various other things, usually 10-week, non-graded
classes for adults. I have a class plan, and do lots of
demonstrations, but the students are usually people doing it as a
hobby, in their spare time, and all of the assignments are
"suggested".
This quarter I'm planning on a much more structured class
with some required, timed exercises during each weekly session,
aimed at getting intermediate /advanced students to loosen up,
speed up, get those pots beyond what I call the "precious
survivor" stage, so that they can learn more, feel more
confident. Not to necessarily turn them into production potters,
but to get their skill level up so the whole process is less
traumatic for them (and me!). I want them to have more joy in the
making.
I'm just tired of watching people agonize over a few pieces a
week, scared to take any chances at the decorating stage because
they don't want to "ruin" their few pots. It's one thing to tell
them that they have to make a lot of pots to get good at throwing
and decorating, but I want to get really specific for at least
one hour out of their three hour class, and with their
"homework".
I do have several specific ideas, otherwise I wouldn't have
listed the class, but this group has such a wide range of
experience, I'm sure there are some gems out there (and yes, of
course I've scanned the archives as well, I'm looking for
anything that help YOU make a breakthrough in any aspect of
centering or trimming). Keep it short, please....
Thanks! Pat Colyar, in very wet Gold Bar, WA
claybair on thu 22 nov 01
Pat,
Years ago I took a class at Arvada Arts Center in CO. with Robin Furuta.
The first class the instructor had a number of mugs on the table. We were
each instructed to take one. Each week we were given an assignment. the
first was to make 10 duplicates to be critiqued by everyone the next week.
Various exercises followed:
Make same shape with different rims, feet, handles etc.
I picked a mug I didn't like which I found to be a wonderful exercise. By
the time I was done the class I had a lot of respect for the mug and it's
maker. It was a great class and my skills really improved.
When I got over my precious pot syndrome as a new student of clay I found I
enjoyed making cylinders and slicing them in half to see the thickness &
evenness of the walls. That exercise helped me greatly. It was especially
helpful to slice a pot that I had taken too far... even to the point of
collapse.
Perhaps if you start by telling your students they are not going to keep the
first
20 or so pieces they will be more willing to let go of that " precious
survivor" stage.
If after your class demo you have the students work on what you just
demonstrated you can immediately monitor their progress and help them .
When I did workshops or ran classes I frequently asked the students what
areas they had trouble with or wanted to emphasize. That really personalized
the class and kept interest from waning.
Anyone in or around Denver I highly recommend Arvada Center.... great
instructors, great studio, great classes.
Gayle Bair
Bainbridge Island, WA
http://claybair.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Ceramic Arts Discussion List [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG]On
Behalf Of Pat Colyar
Sent: Wednesday, November 21, 2001 8:53 AM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: throwing exercises
Starting in January I'll be teaching a class at Seward Park Art
Studio, a non-profit clay school, called "Throwing for Speed and
Control", and I'd be interested in hearing about people's
favorite, most helpful exercises to improve their throwing
skills.
I've taught for about 15 years, throwing, handbuilding,
decorating, various other things, usually 10-week, non-graded
classes for adults. I have a class plan, and do lots of
demonstrations, but the students are usually people doing it as a
hobby, in their spare time, and all of the assignments are
"suggested".
This quarter I'm planning on a much more structured class
with some required, timed exercises during each weekly session,
aimed at getting intermediate /advanced students to loosen up,
speed up, get those pots beyond what I call the "precious
survivor" stage, so that they can learn more, feel more
confident. Not to necessarily turn them into production potters,
but to get their skill level up so the whole process is less
traumatic for them (and me!). I want them to have more joy in the
making.
I'm just tired of watching people agonize over a few pieces a
week, scared to take any chances at the decorating stage because
they don't want to "ruin" their few pots. It's one thing to tell
them that they have to make a lot of pots to get good at throwing
and decorating, but I want to get really specific for at least
one hour out of their three hour class, and with their
"homework".
I do have several specific ideas, otherwise I wouldn't have
listed the class, but this group has such a wide range of
experience, I'm sure there are some gems out there (and yes, of
course I've scanned the archives as well, I'm looking for
anything that help YOU make a breakthrough in any aspect of
centering or trimming). Keep it short, please....
Thanks! Pat Colyar, in very wet Gold Bar, WA
____________________________________________________________________________
__
Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
vince pitelka on thu 22 nov 01
Pat -
It is apparent from the title of your class that you are working with people
who already have some experience on the wheel. One of the most valuable
exercises I have used in class for development of speed and control is timed
throwing. This is best repeatedly through the series of classes, using
different forms each time. In each case I sit down at the wheel with the
whole group of students and work with them on this exercise. We start out
making cup/mug forms, and each of us prepares thirty balls of clay just
under a pound each. We start out at 3 or 4 minutes per pot, after a few we
reduce the time to two minutes, and make four or five more, and then we cut
the time down to one minute per pot, and finish off the rest of the balls of
clay.
We do the same thing throwing tea bowls or tumblers off the hump, starting
with a hump of twelve or fifteen pounds of clay. We also do this with
pitcher or vase shapes using 2.5 or 3 pounds of clay, once the students are
comfortable with the cup forms.
These are not just mindless speed-throwing marathons. It is imperative that
the students think about design, wall thickness, etc. on each pot. They
must be thinking about how inside shape determines outside form. Initially
after every pot, and later after every three or four pots it is a good idea
to stop and quickly critique the strengths and weakness, so that the student
will know where to go from there.
I have seen amazing things happen during these exercises. Remarkably often,
this is when the student begins to really feel comfortable at the wheel.
Best wishes -
- Vince
Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Crafts
Tennessee Technological University
1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
Home - vpitelka@dtccom.net
615/597-5376
Work - wpitelka@tntech.edu
615/597-6801 ext. 111, fax 615/597-6803
http://www.craftcenter.tntech.edu/
Paul Taylor on thu 22 nov 01
dear Pat
I did the precious pot thing in art collage so I had to 'blag' my way into
a job . The foreman said I could start with fifty of 'those' (barrel shaped
cylinders) for the bosses wife to decorate.
I was given the height and width. Through fear of failure and desperation
I did it - by the skin of my teeth.
So that's the best lessons I have learned that I could do it when I had
to and it's amazing what you can't do when you don't have to :).
from that I reckon you will have to set realistic goals and accept no
failures . You will have to create an atmosphere in which non of your
students could ever excuse not making the target amount of pots. "Couldn't
get it together" means that you are not up to it - so out. I would also put
other artistic considerations apart from craftsmanship aside and set very
simple shapes then hope that the students can get to understand that simple
shapes are ironically the most challenging and ultimately the most
interesting.
keep the basics of repetition throwing in the mind of the student .
Firstly that you go for the height before you start on the shape (with in
reason). and repetition throwing is economy of repeated hand action .
I know that's very old fashioned but freedom comes to do what ever you
want latter - when you can. The big promise is that after getting the
discipline the student will never be under threat of failure - he can now
make any thing with ease.
For the general benefit of the pottery establishment teach some of the
different stiles of throwing and attachment making that are out there. We
have a throwing course in this country it is excellent, except that the
students have such a rigid style because they are exposed to no other.
These styles are a matter of techniques . if you want direct experience
of what i am saying pull a jug lip with the fingers pulling from the inside
and then from the outside look at the difference in shape and feeling that
the two actions give. It took me years to train myself out of some of the
stylistic habits of the first pottery I worked in. Not that they were bad
but they restricted my own style eg sometimes the pots deserve a different
style of handle to a ribbed one.
Also while you are at it explain that the choice of clay and wheel speed
have a lot to do with the style of a pot and the style of throwing should
be in harmony with the clay unless making some meaningful point.
hope this is of some help
Regards from Paul Taylor
http://www.anu.ie/westportpottery
Alchemy is the proof that economics is not a science.
> From: Pat Colyar
> Organization: Pat Colyar Pottery, Seward Park Art Studio
> Reply-To: Ceramic Arts Discussion List
> Date: Wed, 21 Nov 2001 08:53:23 -0800
> To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
> Subject: throwing exercises
>
> Starting in January I'll be teaching a class at Seward Park Art
> Studio, a non-profit clay school, called "Throwing for Speed and
> Control", and I'd be interested in hearing about people's
> favorite, most helpful exercises to improve their throwing
> skills.
> I've taught for about 15 years, throwing, handbuilding,
> decorating, various other things, usually 10-week, non-graded
> classes for adults. I have a class plan, and do lots of
> demonstrations, but the students are usually people doing it as a
> hobby, in their spare time, and all of the assignments are
> "suggested".
> This quarter I'm planning on a much more structured class
> with some required, timed exercises during each weekly session,
> aimed at getting intermediate /advanced students to loosen up,
> speed up, get those pots beyond what I call the "precious
> survivor" stage, so that they can learn more, feel more
> confident. Not to necessarily turn them into production potters,
> but to get their skill level up so the whole process is less
> traumatic for them (and me!). I want them to have more joy in the
> making.
> I'm just tired of watching people agonize over a few pieces a
> week, scared to take any chances at the decorating stage because
> they don't want to "ruin" their few pots. It's one thing to tell
> them that they have to make a lot of pots to get good at throwing
> and decorating, but I want to get really specific for at least
> one hour out of their three hour class, and with their
> "homework".
> I do have several specific ideas, otherwise I wouldn't have
> listed the class, but this group has such a wide range of
> experience, I'm sure there are some gems out there (and yes, of
> course I've scanned the archives as well, I'm looking for
> anything that help YOU make a breakthrough in any aspect of
> centering or trimming). Keep it short, please....
> Thanks! Pat Colyar, in very wet Gold Bar, WA
Pat Colyar on tue 27 nov 01
Thank you SO much to all who responded to my question...some of
these exercises were what I had in mind, others were new
information, and I have a better idea now of what works at other
facilities.
Of course if somebody has an fresh idea anytime, I'd love to
hear it, feel free to email me directly. Thanks again!
Pat Colyar, in chilly, soggy, Gold Bar, WA, heading out
to stoke the fire in my studio stove....and the young coonhound
has gotten used to the coho salmon spawing in the stream right
next to the house, has stopped barking at them.
chris clarke on tue 27 nov 01
I'm not sure what your original post was and I'm kind'a late on the uptake
here. But I like to take a good size ball of clay (5lbs.) and throw it into
as many shapes as I can. First a cylinder then a bottle, bowl, vase,
whatever I can think of. Throw it till it collapses. Shows you how much
your clay can take, how thin, and how to salvage a piece that has gone
wonkey. It's a good warm up too.
chris
temecula, california
chris@ccpots.com
www.ccpots.com
| |
|
