BVCuma on thu 13 jun 02
>>All the cylinder shapes I throw are almost always about as wide as =
they are high.<<
>>and my opening seems fine with a good donut shape before raising.<<
____________________
Hi Martin,
These two statements lead me to believe...
that your base is too wide to begin with.
Your centered piece of clay should, in my experience,=20
be close to but slighly wider than your desired finished base width.
A small centered piece of clay may be only 2.5 inches across.
"A good donut shape" will naturally lead to a form about as high as =
wide.
Opening is best achieved with a slightly depressed top,
allowing a puddle of slip to form so as to provide plenty of lube
for the full drive to the desired bottom thickness of aprox 1/4 inch.
Try holding your right hand thumb down vertical and off axis at twelve =
o'clock
supported by your left hand thumb horizontal at seven o'clock
running the center of the right thumb from top to bottom as you drive =
down.
Keeping the working thumb off axis is important to eliminate any suction
or "sealed plug" popping effect problems upon withdrawal.=20
Having this initial opening, put the two thumbs together at 3 and 9 =
o'clock
and go down till "touching" the bottom of single thumb hole...
refine desired depth at this time.
This opening should allow you, depending on amount of clay and desired
form, to choose your required opened width either for a finger or =
knuckle if less
or a "clawing" with both hands, to open to the size you wish, for more.
Assuming for sake of ease that you are going for a smaller size.
Use your left hand first or second finger...
probably the shorter one first pull and the middle or longest
to reach the bottom for the much deeper second pull.
At this point your ability to reach the bottom for a tall narrow form
maybe hampered by your upper hand at the top of the opened and pulled =
clay.
A tactful search for the best hand position will only find which it is.
I find that with confidence I am able to "force" my left hand into the =
clay
even though it may stretch and distort the upper clay area.
As I pull and shape the form while exiting the clay..it will re affirm =
its centrifically induced round circumference with ease.
Have no fear..
Good luck
Bruce
ps this is a somewhat generalized description..
for the sake of clarity subtler options and nuances
have been set aside
pps show us some of your raw (and glazed) forms
at your web site...it would be of interest
not only to hear but see your intention and direction.
Liz Lauter on thu 13 jun 02
What beautiful writing about the process!
I could visualize, follow and imagine the feelings as I read your
description of opening up for that mug.
Liz Lauter
>From: BVCuma
>Reply-To: Ceramic Arts Discussion List
>To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
>Subject: Re; looking for a tip (making a mug)
>Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2002 09:52:48 +0520
>
> >>All the cylinder shapes I throw are almost always about as wide as they
>are high.<<
> >>and my opening seems fine with a good donut shape before raising.<<
>____________________
>
>Hi Martin,
>These two statements lead me to believe...
>that your base is too wide to begin with.
>Your centered piece of clay should, in my experience,
>be close to but slighly wider than your desired finished base width.
>A small centered piece of clay may be only 2.5 inches across.
>"A good donut shape" will naturally lead to a form about as high as wide.
>
>Opening is best achieved with a slightly depressed top,
>allowing a puddle of slip to form so as to provide plenty of lube
>for the full drive to the desired bottom thickness of aprox 1/4 inch.
>Try holding your right hand thumb down vertical and off axis at twelve
>o'clock
>supported by your left hand thumb horizontal at seven o'clock
>running the center of the right thumb from top to bottom as you drive down.
>Keeping the working thumb off axis is important to eliminate any suction
>or "sealed plug" popping effect problems upon withdrawal.
>Having this initial opening, put the two thumbs together at 3 and 9 o'clock
>and go down till "touching" the bottom of single thumb hole...
>refine desired depth at this time.
>This opening should allow you, depending on amount of clay and desired
>form, to choose your required opened width either for a finger or knuckle
>if less
>or a "clawing" with both hands, to open to the size you wish, for more.
>Assuming for sake of ease that you are going for a smaller size.
>Use your left hand first or second finger...
>probably the shorter one first pull and the middle or longest
>to reach the bottom for the much deeper second pull.
>At this point your ability to reach the bottom for a tall narrow form
>maybe hampered by your upper hand at the top of the opened and pulled clay.
>A tactful search for the best hand position will only find which it is.
>I find that with confidence I am able to "force" my left hand into the clay
>even though it may stretch and distort the upper clay area.
>As I pull and shape the form while exiting the clay..it will re affirm its
>centrifically induced round circumference with ease.
>Have no fear..
>Good luck
>Bruce
>
>ps this is a somewhat generalized description..
> for the sake of clarity subtler options and nuances
> have been set aside
>
>pps show us some of your raw (and glazed) forms
> at your web site...it would be of interest
> not only to hear but see your intention and direction.
>
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>
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