vince pitelka on sat 11 may 02
>In college I learned how to roll the "perfect" coil, I wonder if anyone
else
>has similar tricks?
Fortunately, there is no such thing as the perfect coil. The beauty of coil
construction is that it is done with imperfect coils, and the resulting
forms are NEVER mechanically perfect, and therefore show organic movement
and expression and the personality of the maker. That does not mean that the
forms are necessarily asymmetrical, although that is fine. It means that no
matter how good we are at making them symmetrical (if that is our objective)
they are never perfect, and the human eye can detect that. It makes them so
much more alive.
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/
If it were possible to make perfect coils, then it would be a waste of time
to do so, because you could simply extrude them instead. I do not approve
of extruded coils for coil-built pots. It seems to contradict the process.
And any good coil builder can roll coils as fast as anyone can extrude them.
Janet Kaiser on sun 12 may 02
Oh, but there is! That is the die with the round holes for the
extruder! Sorry, Vince, but I cannot help teasing you once in a while!
My method or technique of rolling semi-round coils depends more on
watching pressure from finger tips through to ball of hand. Keeping
pressure equal throughout each roll is the key for me. Took a bit of
time to learn, although I would use the square coils I first produced
if making these days. Having watched many people coil, I have come to
the more mature conclusion that it is not the coils themselves which
are important, it is the method and skill building the pot.
Janet Kaiser
The Chapel of Art / Capel Celfyddyd
Home of The International Potters' Path
8 Marine Crescent : Criccieth : GB-Wales
URL: http://www.the-coa.org.uk
postbox@the-coa.org.uk
----- Original Message -----
> Fortunately, there is no such thing as the perfect coil.
Longtin, Jeff on mon 13 may 02
>Fortunately, there is no such thing as the perfect coil.
Totally agree Vince!
My comment was intended not so much for those of us who can work with a coil
regardless but rather the students out there who may be struggling to create
"the perfect coil".
I'm working on some slab plates these days and having to throw feet from
coils and I was reminded how much easier it is to throw a foot from a fairly
UNIFORM coil rather than a lumpy UNEVEN coil.
(Haven't been around students for awhile but recall its one of those simple
things that can frustrate them quite a bit.)
Take care
Jeff Longtin
-----Original Message-----
From: vince pitelka [mailto:vpitelka@DTCCOM.NET]
Sent: Saturday, May 11, 2002 8:37 PM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Re: THE PERFECT COIL - no such thing
>In college I learned how to roll the "perfect" coil, I wonder if anyone
else
>has similar tricks?
Fortunately, there is no such thing as the perfect coil. The beauty of coil
construction is that it is done with imperfect coils, and the resulting
forms are NEVER mechanically perfect, and therefore show organic movement
and expression and the personality of the maker. That does not mean that the
forms are necessarily asymmetrical, although that is fine. It means that no
matter how good we are at making them symmetrical (if that is our objective)
they are never perfect, and the human eye can detect that. It makes them so
much more alive.
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/
If it were possible to make perfect coils, then it would be a waste of time
to do so, because you could simply extrude them instead. I do not approve
of extruded coils for coil-built pots. It seems to contradict the process.
And any good coil builder can roll coils as fast as anyone can extrude them.
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vince pitelka on mon 13 may 02
> I'm working on some slab plates these days and having to throw feet from
> coils and I was reminded how much easier it is to throw a foot from a
fairly
> UNIFORM coil rather than a lumpy UNEVEN coil.
Jeff -
I used to do a lot of colored clay platters which were slumped face-down on
a big domed plaster bat. I put the bat on the wheel, added a coil and threw
the foot. I did not worry about getting the coil particularly even. I just
used a fairly thick coil, with the contact surface on the back of the
platter very well scored and slurried, apply the coil and smush (technical
terminology) into place, paddle lightly to make sure it is very well
attached, and then moisten with slurry and throw the coil to raise it into a
vertical ridge. With a coil that is thicker than necessary, you end up with
a foot which is uneven in height, but taller than you need, so it is a very
simple matter to cut off the excess with a needle tool, producing a
perfectly level foot. Then it doesn't matter at all if the coil is
initially a bit uneven in thickness.
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/
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