Martin Howard on mon 29 jul 02
One reason for trying to get a copper red is so that I can throw plates for
those who are not yet vegetarian or vegan. So the glaze matches the meat.
The veggies and vegans go for various shades of green:-)
I certainly agree we should get away from white for our dinner ware.
Except for those who still eat white veal, of course.
Martin Howard
Webbs Cottage Pottery
Woolpits Road, Great Saling
BRAINTREE, Essex CM7 5DZ
01371 850 423
martin@webbscottage.co.uk
http://www.webbscottage.co.uk
Updated 6th July 2002
Steve Dalton on mon 29 jul 02
Greetings,
Have you ever looked at your food sitting on a plate or dish you made or
maybe someone else's? Did you think it looked pleasing? A nice thick juicy
steak, medium rare...A-1 steak sauce and Tabasco drizzled all over. What
color of plate would look the best? Pure white? Over used and over
rated...in my opinion. Temmoko? Blue? How about one of the many shino
glazes?
How about homemade hashbrowns with fried onions and diced kielbasa? I
personally feel it looks great on a Temmoko plate. The steak though, is
hard to see until you slice into it.
The other day I had taken some of my pottery into a class I teach...yes I am
allowed to teach...and started to think of what would look great in the pots
I had. I had a large baking dish (glazed with temmoko only on the inside
and the outer was a nice toasty color), a pie dish with a shino glaze(glazed
the same way as the baking dish) and a large 6 cup teapot glazed all in
temmoko with a simple rutile decoration.
For the baking dish, I envisioned a roasted hen(chicken, game, duck, etc)
with a sage dressing. The pie dish, an apple rhubarb pie with homemade crust
and some of the juices slightly oozing out. And the teapot, a big pot of
steaming Earl Grey tea! You guessed it, by the time I was done, my class
was hungry.
Yes, as you can see I love to cook and I always try to get a feel of what
would look good in or on the pots I make. Not just for me, but for the
customers.
Try this with pyrex or metal pans...does it look appealing? Did it make
your mouth water?
--
Steve Dalton
Clear Creek Pottery
Snohomish, Wa
sdpotter@gte.net
Dwiggins, Sandra (NCI) on mon 29 jul 02
Dear Steve--
When Betty Woodman was making a "production line" of things many moons ago,
she glazed her pieces to accompany the foods she envisioned in them...and
named the pieces accordingly, i.e. all her ravioli dishes were this
beautiful shade of cobalt that would look gorgeous with red sauces and
offwhite ravioli in them.
I think it's a great idea. I'll bet if you had photos of pieces and food
being served in them, it might add a little pizzaz to the sales.
Sandy
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Steve Dalton [mailto:sdpotter@GTE.NET]
> Sent: Monday, July 29, 2002 3:23 PM
> To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
> Subject: Steak, eggs and homemade hashbrowns
>
>
> Greetings,
>
> Have you ever looked at your food sitting on a plate or dish
> you made or
> maybe someone else's? Did you think it looked pleasing? A
> nice thick juicy
> steak, medium rare...A-1 steak sauce and Tabasco drizzled all
> over. What
> color of plate would look the best? Pure white? Over used and over
> rated...in my opinion. Temmoko? Blue? How about one of the
> many shino
> glazes?
>
> How about homemade hashbrowns with fried onions and diced kielbasa? I
> personally feel it looks great on a Temmoko plate. The steak
> though, is
> hard to see until you slice into it.
>
> The other day I had taken some of my pottery into a class I
> teach...yes I am
> allowed to teach...and started to think of what would look
> great in the pots
> I had. I had a large baking dish (glazed with temmoko only
> on the inside
> and the outer was a nice toasty color), a pie dish with a
> shino glaze(glazed
> the same way as the baking dish) and a large 6 cup teapot
> glazed all in
> temmoko with a simple rutile decoration.
>
> For the baking dish, I envisioned a roasted hen(chicken,
> game, duck, etc)
> with a sage dressing. The pie dish, an apple rhubarb pie with
> homemade crust
> and some of the juices slightly oozing out. And the teapot,
> a big pot of
> steaming Earl Grey tea! You guessed it, by the time I was
> done, my class
> was hungry.
>
> Yes, as you can see I love to cook and I always try to get a
> feel of what
> would look good in or on the pots I make. Not just for me,
> but for the
> customers.
>
> Try this with pyrex or metal pans...does it look appealing?
> Did it make
> your mouth water?
> --
> Steve Dalton
> Clear Creek Pottery
> Snohomish, Wa
> sdpotter@gte.net
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> ________________
> 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.
>
Earl Brunner on tue 30 jul 02
On the other hand Martin, cooked meat can be any shade between grey- brown. If
grilled it can have black highlights. If "white" meat like chicken, then more to
the white-through brown range. Unless you like "rare: meat, then you can go for
the reds. Perhaps you could pole your omnivore customers?
Martin Howard wrote:
> One reason for trying to get a copper red is so that I can throw plates for
> those who are not yet vegetarian or vegan. So the glaze matches the meat.
>
> The veggies and vegans go for various shades of green:-)
>
> I certainly agree we should get away from white for our dinner ware.
> Except for those who still eat white veal, of course.
>
> Martin Howard
> Webbs Cottage Pottery
> Woolpits Road, Great Saling
> BRAINTREE, Essex CM7 5DZ
> 01371 850 423
> martin@webbscottage.co.uk
> http://www.webbscottage.co.uk
> Updated 6th July 2002
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> 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.
--
Earl Brunner
http://coyote.accessnv.com/bruec
mailto:bruec@anv.net
Cheryl Hoffman on tue 30 jul 02
In a message dated 7/29/02 11:37:19 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
sdpotter@GTE.NET writes:
> Have you ever looked at your food sitting on a plate or dish you made or
> maybe someone else's?
Hi All,
Doesn't everyone throw their pieces with an end vision in their mind?
A while back there was some discussion about what motivates us, where our
thoughts go while we throw. It seems to me that this subject should tie into
that thread.
My throwing skills do not yet allow me (nor would I want to) to sit
down and throw a dozen bowls exactly the same. I really enjoy the freedom
(financial and creative) to sit down in front of a lump of clay and let it
speak to me about what it wants to be when it grows up. Of course, like
children, you must set some parameters...heavy grogged orangestone will never
be a swan-necked vase.
If I'm making bowls, I keep in mind the steaming batch of buttery
mashed potatoes that will mound over the top...so I make that one deep,
closed rim and heavy bottomed to keep the potatoes warm. Or if I'm thinking
salad, I strive for graceful, open form, wide bottom...you don't want to pack
down those tender greens.
As far as color, look in your refrigerator. IMHO, green is the most
neutral when it comes to table service...like a bed of kale under your food.
Green also fits in very well with most family holiday gathering
decor...leaves of harvest time, Christmas. Although I do agree, pasta looks
terrific in a deep blue bowl, as do apples.
Along this same thought, I'm curious about opinions out there about
merchandising your booth at craft fairs. I've only been in a few fairs, but
it seems that the pieces that I sold first were the ones that I had placed
props in...shiny red apples (real) in a big cobalt bowl, three delicate silk
peapods on a fruit platter, purple and white eggplant in a sage green bowl.
Does anyone else make the supermarket the last stop before going to a craft
fair?
Does giving the potential customer a visual on what the piece is used
for help eliminate one of the decisions he/she must make...can I afford it,
would I use it, how would I use it, etc.?
What about display table set up? I'd like to dress my tables the same
way I would set up my dining room table, using my best tablecloths and
scarves. I have a beautiful turquoise and gold silk Sari that I drape around
cobalt bowls that are elevated on various height Plexiglas pedestals. Am I
overthinking this? Should the bowl stand alone? What say you all?
Cher Hoffman...eagerly awaiting the arrival of my strong-as-an-ox 13 year old
slave...uh, I mean grandson, for a week-long visit.
Pottery by Dai on tue 30 jul 02
For visual POW! try oranges in a purple bowl....awesome!
I always try to have a few pieces (mostly small) in my display, and they
always sell out. One-eyed, one-horned, flying purple-loving people have a
hard time finding their favorite colour in pottery, apparently.
Dai in Armstrong, BC
nightfire@telus.net
www.potterybydai.com
Take your work seriously---take yourself lightly. Unknown
Christena Schafale on tue 30 jul 02
Actually, red meat on a red plate sounds awful to me. I hope you were
kidding, Martin. I find that a black or dark brown is very attractive for
most foods, sometimes quite spectacular, though blue sells better .
Chris
>Martin Howard wrote:
>
> > One reason for trying to get a copper red is so that I can throw plates for
> > those who are not yet vegetarian or vegan. So the glaze matches the meat.
> >
> > The veggies and vegans go for various shades of green:-)
> >
> > I certainly agree we should get away from white for our dinner ware.
> > Except for those who still eat white veal, of course.
> >
Light One Candle Pottery
209 N Woodrow St
Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526
(919) 567-1098
candle@intrex.net
www.lightonecandle.com
Glenn Allenspach on tue 30 jul 02
Yes, white is overdone, but there's agood reason. It does go with lots of
colors. Personally, I make a pretty nice deep blue/black that looks great
with most foods.
Glenn
Carole Rishel on tue 30 jul 02
I used to watch Caprial's cafe when it was on PBS. Her father is Patrick=
Horsley and he made all the serving plates and dishes for her show. Tha=
t was the main reason I use to watch. There were black square plates for=
oriental type dishes, some blues, greens and reds. It seems that most o=
f the serving pieces she used were odd shaped - not the ordinary round. =20
Carole Rishel
kallahcee@msn.com
Smithville, TX
=20
----- Original Message -----
From: Earl Brunner
Sent: Tuesday, July 30, 2002 9:51 AM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Re: Steak, eggs and homemade hashbrowns
=20
On the other hand Martin, cooked meat can be any shade between grey- brow=
n. If
grilled it can have black highlights. If "white" meat like chicken, then=
more to
the white-through brown range. Unless you like "rare: meat, then you can=
go for
the reds. Perhaps you could pole your omnivore customers?
Martin Howard wrote:
> One reason for trying to get a copper red is so that I can throw plates=
for
> those who are not yet vegetarian or vegan. So the glaze matches the mea=
t.
>
> The veggies and vegans go for various shades of green:-)
>
> I certainly agree we should get away from white for our dinner ware.
> Except for those who still eat white veal, of course.
>
Earl Brunner on tue 30 jul 02
When I took violin lessons, I was expected to practice for 1/2 hour
minimum per day; if I wanted to go any place with it at all much, much
more. Why is that?
I would respectfully suggest to you that the idea of sitting down and
letting the clay "speak" to you and have it tell you what it wants to be
"when it grows up" is an excuse or rationalization of many less skilled
potters for not being able to make similar pots.
To be skillful at something requires disciple and practice and effort.
It is a struggle. If one can not and does not chose to pay the price,
that's fine. Just don't make excuses. Everyone does not have to buy
into the same ethic on this.
Earl Brunner
mailto:bruec@anv.net
http://coyote.accessnv.com/bruec
-----Original Message-----
From: Ceramic Arts Discussion List [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On
Behalf Of Cheryl Hoffman
sdpotter@GTE.NET writes:
My throwing skills do not yet allow me (nor would I want to) to
sit
down and throw a dozen bowls exactly the same. I really enjoy the
freedom
(financial and creative) to sit down in front of a lump of clay and let
it
speak to me about what it wants to be when it grows up. Of course, like
children, you must set some parameters...heavy grogged orangestone will
never be a swan-necked vase.
Earl Brunner on wed 31 jul 02
OK, so maybe I am having a bad day...... It's the last two weeks of school, the
kids are crazy (and so are the teachers) it's over 100 degrees and the air
conditioning "almost" works. At 10:00 last night I was throwing pots (it was still
nearly 100 degrees) in my dead-air garage and felt like I was in a sauna. It's
7:45pm and 105 degrees and I'm going to bed. I might sound grouchy, and I might
sound mean and I might come off as rude and insensitive, but "most" people that
know me say that I'm not really like that (but then again, what else would they
tell me to my face?).
> Original Message:
> -----------------
> From: Cindi Anderson cindi@CINDI-ANDERSON.COM
> Date: Wed, 31 Jul 2002 12:17:59 -0700
> To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
> Subject: Re: Steak, eggs and homemade hashbrowns
>
> I'm not in the habit of defending people, but lighten up! I read Cheryl's
> post and nowhere was she trying to "make excuses." She admitted her skills
> were not quite there yet, and also that at this point in time she prefers to
> work another way. Your advice is wise but as far as the delivery... you
> must be having a bad day!
>
> Cindi in Fremont
--
Earl Brunner
http://coyote.accessnv.com/bruec
mailto:bruec@anv.net
Earl Brunner on wed 31 jul 02
Good for you, I'm glad you have enough gumption to hang in there with me and defend
yourself. I have no problem with your approach, I guess I just got hung up on that
one or two sentences. I seriously did not mean it as a personal attack.
I have to tell you, my twenty seven year old son has recently begun to show an
interest and experiment with clay. I don't know if it is all the throwing I did
when he was little and watching or what, but he really caught on fast. I gave him
a 20 minute basics demo one morning and went off to work. I came home and he had 6
nice little reasonably well thrown pots. I forgot just how amazing that was and
just picked up right where he was at and singled out one of them and pointed out
what I didn't like about the shape. My wife looked at me in amazement, went into
the house and came back out with this pot from my first year of throwing. The
shape was identical. She held it up and said, "Now, what were you saying?"
sheesh, a wife will do that to you every time.
My first year was essentially self taught, hang in there. I will repeat this
though, for shear skill development and rapid improvement, NOTHING beats repetitive
throwing. Mel has talked in the past about his training in Japan and I think he
would agree.
Cheryl Hoffman wrote:
> In a message dated 7/31/02 2:03:11 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
> cindi@CINDI-ANDERSON.COM writes:
>
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Earl Brunner"
> > > I would respectfully suggest to you that the idea of sitting down and
> > > letting the clay "speak" to you and have it tell you what it wants to be
> > > "when it grows up" is an excuse or rationalization of many less skilled
> > > potters for not being able to make similar pots.
> > >
> > > To be skillful at something requires disciple and practice and effort.
> > > It is a struggle. If one can not and does not chose to pay the price,
> > > that's fine. Just don't make excuses. Everyone does not have to buy
> > > into the same ethic on this.
> >
> >
>
> Gee Earl, You really know how to encourage the creative juices in a newbie
> potter. I'm not making excuses -- I stated right off that my skills were not
> there yet. And I do pay the price...I'm out in my studio all day, every day,
> 98 degrees in my makeshift studio...I'm paying my dues. I'm mostly self
> taught, aside from a few C.C. classes.
--
Earl Brunner
http://coyote.accessnv.com/bruec
mailto:bruec@anv.net
Martin Howard on wed 31 jul 02
kidding, Martin. >
Not at all. Just trying to cause them to change and stop polluting the world
with extra unneeded CO2 and methane. See chicken chat for figures on my web
site.
Martin Howard
Webbs Cottage Pottery
Woolpits Road, Great Saling
BRAINTREE, Essex CM7 5DZ
01371 850 423
martin@webbscottage.co.uk
http://www.webbscottage.co.uk
Updated 6th July 2002
Cindi Anderson on wed 31 jul 02
I'm not in the habit of defending people, but lighten up! I read Cheryl's
post and nowhere was she trying to "make excuses." She admitted her skills
were not quite there yet, and also that at this point in time she prefers to
work another way. Your advice is wise but as far as the delivery... you
must be having a bad day!
Cindi in Fremont
----- Original Message -----
From: "Earl Brunner"
> I would respectfully suggest to you that the idea of sitting down and
> letting the clay "speak" to you and have it tell you what it wants to be
> "when it grows up" is an excuse or rationalization of many less skilled
> potters for not being able to make similar pots.
>
> To be skillful at something requires disciple and practice and effort.
> It is a struggle. If one can not and does not chose to pay the price,
> that's fine. Just don't make excuses. Everyone does not have to buy
> into the same ethic on this.
bruec@anv.net on wed 31 jul 02
What I wrote was certainly not meant as a put down, and I didn't think it
came across that way=2E I stated that I "respectfully" disagreed and state=
d
why, I also said that I didn't expect everyone to want or desire to
approach clay in this way=2E We don't have to hold everyone to the same
standard=2E We also don't have to always be touchy-feely=2E
But the notion that the clay "knows" what it wants to be is patently
ridiculous=2E What it wants to be is dirt=2E The potter is the schoolmas=
ter
teaching it it's potential=2E But in general terms (within the limits of =
the
formula-most clay is not "natural" anymore) the potential is the potential=
of the potter, not the clay=2E Give the same lump of clay to 100 differen=
t
potters of varying skill and you will get 100 different pots=2E Who is do=
ing
the speaking? If we were listening to the clay why wouldn't they all be
the same?
My issue is with the excuse and whether you agree with me or not, I think
that when you say that you are letting the clay decide what it wants to be=
,
you are making an excuse=2E When you say I don't want to make pots that lo=
ok
alike, instead of acknowledging that it is a skill or motivation issue (an=
d
that's OK), then I think that it is an excuse=2E If it's a less than perfe=
ct
pot, it's the clay's fault=2E Perhaps it is the mood you were in when y=
ou
read it, not the mood I was in when I wrote it=2E=2E=2E=2E
Original Message:
-----------------
From: Cindi Anderson cindi@CINDI-ANDERSON=2ECOM
Date: Wed, 31 Jul 2002 12:17:59 -0700
To: CLAYART@LSV=2ECERAMICS=2EORG
Subject: Re: Steak, eggs and homemade hashbrowns
I'm not in the habit of defending people, but lighten up! I read Cheryl's=
post and nowhere was she trying to "make excuses=2E" She admitted her ski=
lls
were not quite there yet, and also that at this point in time she prefers =
to
work another way=2E Your advice is wise but as far as the delivery=2E=2E=2E=
you
must be having a bad day!
Cindi in Fremont
----- Original Message -----
From: "Earl Brunner"
> I would respectfully suggest to you that the idea of sitting down and
> letting the clay "speak" to you and have it tell you what it wants to be=
> "when it grows up" is an excuse or rationalization of many less skilled
> potters for not being able to make similar pots=2E
>
> To be skillful at something requires disciple and practice and effort=2E=
> It is a struggle=2E If one can not and does not chose to pay the price,=
> that's fine=2E Just don't make excuses=2E Everyone does not have to bu=
y
> into the same ethic on this=2E
--------------------------------------------------------------------
mail2web - Check your email from the web at
http://mail2web=2Ecom/ =2E
Cheryl Hoffman on wed 31 jul 02
In a message dated 7/31/02 2:03:11 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
cindi@CINDI-ANDERSON.COM writes:
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Earl Brunner"
> > I would respectfully suggest to you that the idea of sitting down and
> > letting the clay "speak" to you and have it tell you what it wants to be
> > "when it grows up" is an excuse or rationalization of many less skilled
> > potters for not being able to make similar pots.
> >
> > To be skillful at something requires disciple and practice and effort.
> > It is a struggle. If one can not and does not chose to pay the price,
> > that's fine. Just don't make excuses. Everyone does not have to buy
> > into the same ethic on this.
>
>
Gee Earl, You really know how to encourage the creative juices in a newbie
potter. I'm not making excuses -- I stated right off that my skills were not
there yet. And I do pay the price...I'm out in my studio all day, every day,
98 degrees in my makeshift studio...I'm paying my dues. I'm mostly self
taught, aside from a few C.C. classes. The first electric kiln firing I ever
saw was my own, by myself, scared to death. But I did it. No, I can't sit
down and throw twenty bowls the same yet. Could you when you first started
out? I don't know what my style is yet, so I experiment a lot. Is that a
crime? Some days I concentrate on a particular skill, like bottoms on
different forms. Some days I concentrate on speed. Some days I just enjoy
the clay and play. Sounds like you need to lighted up and play a little.
Cher Hoffman
Cheryl Hoffman on thu 1 aug 02
In a message dated 8/1/02 3:29:42 AM Pacific Daylight Time, bruec@ANV.NET
writes:
> OK, so maybe I am having a bad day...... It's the last two weeks of school,
> the
> kids are crazy (and so are the teachers) it's over 100 degrees and the air
> conditioning "almost" works. At 10:00 last night I was throwing pots (it
> was still
> nearly 100 degrees) in my dead-air garage and felt like I was in a sauna.
> It's
> 7:45pm and 105 degrees and I'm going to bed. I might sound grouchy, and I
> might
> sound mean and I might come off as rude and insensitive, but "most" people
> that
> know me say that I'm not really like that (but then again, what else would
> they
> tell me to my face?).
>
OK, Earl. I know what the heat can do to you. It makes me grouchy, too. We
can agree to disagree. I stand by my statement that I sometimes let the clay
guide me...gentle cataclysm. I'm experimenting with a bunch of different
clay bodies and they do respond differently. I find the weather plays into
how the clay acts in my hands. Sometimes the blasting inferno here dries my
pots as I'm working on them, causing them to pull off the plaster bat while
I'm finishing the bottom...some of us don't even have poorly working A/C,
Earl. And sometimes, it rains so hard for so long that my studio is like a
steam box, which effects the amount of water I can use.
You have to remember that I'm a newbie...I'm still infatuated with clay.
Maybe I do talk like I have on rose-colored glasses. I hope I never lose
that. The clay still excites me because I don't fully understand it's
limitations yet. I love this battle with gravity and mass, the way porcelain
can tease you into thinking you almost have it conquered. I delivered babies
in peoples homes for 20 years. Saw a miracle every time I went to work. I
never thought that I'd find another love so intense, so consuming. I
consider myself very fortunate for the pleasure clay gives me. I hope that
feeling of love shows in my pots...I think it does.
As far as me being too "touchy-feely"...well, I think you need a hug, Earl.
Have a great day,
Cher Hoffman, off to have a serious discussion with that obstinate Helios
clay.
Valerie Hawkins on thu 1 aug 02
Earl may have been a little brusque about it, but he had a valuable point to
make. My throwing skills improved allot once I stopped 'winging it' and
started sitting down at the wheel with a purpose. If the clay wasn't doing
what I wanted too, it got scraped and rewedged until it did.
I'm no expert, by any means. But, if I had been content to wing it, I'm
pretty sure that's where I would still be. When the clay kept telling me to
just needle a little more off the top. It apparently only wanted to be
ashtrays.
Valerie
Charlotte
-----Original Message-----
From: Ceramic Arts Discussion List [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG]On
Behalf Of Earl Brunner
Sent: Wednesday, July 31, 2002 10:44 PM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Re: Steak, eggs and homemade hashbrowns
OK, so maybe I am having a bad day...... It's the last two weeks of school,
the
kids are crazy (and so are the teachers) it's over 100 degrees and the air
conditioning "almost" works. At 10:00 last night I was throwing pots (it
was still
nearly 100 degrees) in my dead-air garage and felt like I was in a sauna.
It's
7:45pm and 105 degrees and I'm going to bed. I might sound grouchy, and I
might
sound mean and I might come off as rude and insensitive, but "most" people
that
know me say that I'm not really like that (but then again, what else would
they
tell me to my face?).
> Original Message:
> -----------------
> From: Cindi Anderson cindi@CINDI-ANDERSON.COM
> Date: Wed, 31 Jul 2002 12:17:59 -0700
> To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
> Subject: Re: Steak, eggs and homemade hashbrowns
>
> I'm not in the habit of defending people, but lighten up! I read Cheryl's
> post and nowhere was she trying to "make excuses." She admitted her
skills
> were not quite there yet, and also that at this point in time she prefers
to
> work another way. Your advice is wise but as far as the delivery... you
> must be having a bad day!
>
> Cindi in Fremont
--
Earl Brunner
http://coyote.accessnv.com/bruec
mailto:bruec@anv.net
____________________________________________________________________________
__
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.
Earl Brunner on thu 1 aug 02
Cheryl Hoffman wrote:
> Sometimes the blasting inferno here dries my
> pots as I'm working on them, causing them to pull off the plaster bat while
> I'm finishing the bottom...some of us don't even have poorly working A/C,
> Earl. And sometimes, it rains so hard for so long that my studio is like a
> steam box, which effects the amount of water I can use.
>
Pottery in the garage, no air conditioning. The day job has the so-so air. Tried
getting up at 3:00 this morning to throw, it was almost tolerable. The steak, eggs
and hash browns in the header could be cooked on my sidewalk. Rain? What is rain?
>
> As far as me being too "touchy-feely"...well, I think you need a hug, Earl.
>
Now see, that's what I was talking about!!!!!
:)
> Have a great day,
> Cher Hoffman, off to have a serious discussion with that obstinate Helios
> clay.
>
--
Earl Brunner
http://coyote.accessnv.com/bruec
mailto:bruec@anv.net
Geoff Walker on fri 2 aug 02
I think you're dead right, Valerie,
Like every other "trade", there are skills that must be learned and
repetition is the ONLY way to learn them. I've been a very strict teacher
over the years and have hundreds of capable ex-students to prove that
emphasising the importance of the acquisition of skills and taking control
paves the way to full development in clay. Not to say that learning and
continued experimentation are not constant companions, but that there are
basic techniques that must be learned. To me, allowing the clay to dictate
results in sloppy, pointless work.
All clays have some limitations and in that respect they'll dicate, but
working within these limits - even stretching them - will allow and even
encourage exciting work. Maybe even work that is innovative can result.
Until one is "sitting down at the wheel with a purpose", throwing is just a
time filler (or waster). Do it as if you MEAN it! Don't throw one, throw 10
and keep only the best one or two. Repeat the exercise until you get it
"right". Ten cylindrical shapes, ten hemispherical bowls, ten narrow-necked,
spherical shapes and ten plates. That kind of routine and discipline - an
hour a day, minimum, for a year - and there won't be ANYTHING you can't
throw. You won't even THINK about throwing - it will be as natural as
speaking.
Geoff - stepping down again. ;-)
> Earl may have been a little brusque about it, but he had a valuable point
to
> make. My throwing skills improved allot once I stopped 'winging it' and
> started sitting down at the wheel with a purpose. If the clay wasn't
doing
> what I wanted too, it got scraped and rewedged until it did.
>
> I'm no expert, by any means. But, if I had been content to wing it, I'm
> pretty sure that's where I would still be. When the clay kept telling me
to
> just needle a little more off the top. It apparently only wanted to be
> ashtrays.
>
> Valerie
> Charlotte
=?iso-8859-1?B?R+lyYXJkIENhcnJp6HJl?= on sun 4 aug 02
Have not read every contribution on the subject but years ago I heard twi=
ce
on CBC, I believe, that studies conducted on colour and eating seemed to
suggest that a table loaded too heavily with dark blue or dark mauve ten=
ded
to make food less attractive. When I tell this to clients, about 80 %
say: --Good, it will help me cut on eating.-- But what if the meal was an
excellent meal, balanced to prevent excessive weight gain, and that you
enjoy it less and even leave part of it. Then middle of the afternoon, yo=
u
seek pleasure by eating junk food. Now, can someone tell me if there is a=
ny
truth in this theory about colour, since I have avoided to make solid dar=
k
blue dishes and I have suggested to avoid also dark blue tablecloths. I
remember also hearing about restaurants decorated in dark blue going
bankrupt because of clients finding the atmosphere too cold or the food l=
ess
appetizing. In fact, two such restaurants did cease to exist in one town
where I lived. Most people seem to think it makes sense. Puzzled? Is it a=
ll
urban myth? I do not think so, but would appreciate details and results o=
f
solid research. G=E9rard
----- Original Message -----
From: Earl Brunner
To:
Sent: Wednesday, July 31, 2002 8:03 PM
Subject: Re: Steak, eggs and homemade hashbrowns
> Good for you, I'm glad you have enough gumption to hang in there with m=
e
and defend
> yourself. I have no problem with your approach, I guess I just got hun=
g
up on that
> one or two sentences. I seriously did not mean it as a personal attack.
>
> I have to tell you, my twenty seven year old son has recently begun to
show an
> interest and experiment with clay. I don't know if it is all the throw=
ing
I did
> when he was little and watching or what, but he really caught on fast. =
I
gave him
> a 20 minute basics demo one morning and went off to work. I came home =
and
he had 6
> nice little reasonably well thrown pots. I forgot just how amazing tha=
t
was and
> just picked up right where he was at and singled out one of them and
pointed out
> what I didn't like about the shape. My wife looked at me in amazement,
went into
> the house and came back out with this pot from my first year of throwin=
g.
The
> shape was identical. She held it up and said, "Now, what were you
saying?"
> sheesh, a wife will do that to you every time.
>
> My first year was essentially self taught, hang in there. I will repea=
t
this
> though, for shear skill development and rapid improvement, NOTHING beat=
s
repetitive
> throwing. Mel has talked in the past about his training in Japan and I
think he
> would agree.
>
> Cheryl Hoffman wrote:
>
> > In a message dated 7/31/02 2:03:11 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
> > cindi@CINDI-ANDERSON.COM writes:
> >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "Earl Brunner"
> > > > I would respectfully suggest to you that the idea of sitting down
and
> > > > letting the clay "speak" to you and have it tell you what it want=
s
to be
> > > > "when it grows up" is an excuse or rationalization of many less
skilled
> > > > potters for not being able to make similar pots.
> > > >
> > > > To be skillful at something requires disciple and practice and
effort.
> > > > It is a struggle. If one can not and does not chose to pay the
price,
> > > > that's fine. Just don't make excuses. Everyone does not have to
buy
> > > > into the same ethic on this.
> > >
> > >
> >
> > Gee Earl, You really know how to encourage the creative juices in a
newbie
> > potter. I'm not making excuses -- I stated right off that my skills
were not
> > there yet. And I do pay the price...I'm out in my studio all day, ev=
ery
day,
> > 98 degrees in my makeshift studio...I'm paying my dues. I'm mostly s=
elf
> > taught, aside from a few C.C. classes.
>
> --
> Earl Brunner
> http://coyote.accessnv.com/bruec
> mailto:bruec@anv.net
>
>
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