iandol on fri 4 jan 02
Dear Kate Johnson,
A person who is deliberately designing their own unique forms may have =
no alternative than to use the method you describe. Some years ago, an =
associate of mine who was freshly graduated gave a demonstration soon =
after his appointment to our community collage. He used massive amounts =
of clay, threw thick walled pots, then turned them to get the precise =
profiles he required. Great original works.
I see no difference between following the way of your teacher and using =
knives to carve facets across the face of a pot. The principle is the =
same, manipulate the clay in whatever way is required to exercise your =
own creative voice.
Best regards,
Ivor Lewis.
Kate Johnson on fri 4 jan 02
Good morning Ivor!
>A person who is deliberately designing their own unique forms may have no
alternative than to use the method you describe.
Agreed. It's much like using a lathe, with wood. My teacher's stuff is
GORGEOUS.
>Some years ago, an associate of mine who was freshly graduated gave a
demonstration soon after his appointment to our community collage. He used
massive amounts of clay, threw thick walled pots, then turned them to get
the precise profiles he required. Great original works.
I'm afraid it's the "massive amounts of clay" that bothers my snug little
sensibilities a bit, but I save the scraps for slip, etc.
I center a strange way, too...I guess in a way it's similar to the trimming
process. I have enough physical challenges that it makes normal centering
process difficult for me, sometimes moreso than others, so my pottery guru's
wife showed me how _she_does it, and it works well for me, even on those
days when my hands or elbow or shoulder are hurting. I get the clay
_mostly_ centered, by slapping it as close as I can to the center, then
patting and shaping it before ever turning the wheel. Then do what I can
the normal way--my teacher suggested jamming my elbow against my ribcage for
support...well, might work for GUYS, but... So I try to support my elbow
against my thigh, as much as possible.
Then if I am still not centered, I take a short length of wood, a tool or a
wooden ruler, hold it next to the spinning clay, hold tight, and let it take
off whatever isn't centered. I do the top and upper edge the same way...it
wastes clay, too, but it WORKS when nothing else does.
>I see no difference between following the way of your teacher and using
knives to carve facets across the face of a pot. The principle is the same,
manipulate the clay in whatever way is required to exercise your own
creative voice.
Exactly! And I do facet, using those techniques, as well...sometimes throw
and trim the base and the upper lip of my form, leaving the middle much
thicker, then facet with a wire, length of yarn, or a cheese cutter (I've
just bought faceting tools, but haven't had a chance to use them yet...)
Anyway, it is VERY effective and uniquely beautiful. Sometimes I texture
the facets with slip and contrast them with the smooth lip and base. Yum...
Best--
Kate
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