Lily Krakowski on wed 9 oct 02
Over half a century ago--literally-- I spent some time at an institution of
higher learning, whose dean was a sculptor. He lectured endlessly about
the thought that all our design notions come from nature. Needless to say
that in his sexist way he went on about the female breast, but he also
pointed out that stemmed wine glasses are reminiscent of a well-turned male
calf (of the leg, you sillies, not little bulls!!!!)
He had a point--or why in my slide shows I have so many slides of natural
objects as design ideas.
I would sit that student down and say: Look buddy. In selecting clothes
you choose pants that go with the jacket that goes with the shoes and so on.
When you are attracted to a potential lover you see proportions--lovely
eyebrows arching over deep set eyes; a nose that is neither too big nor too
small.... Depending on your boldness and the person's orientation you can
proceed to other body parts.
Forget the pots. MAKE THAT PERSON SEE WHY WHY WHY SOME THINGS ATTRACT
VISUALLY AND MAKE ONE FEEL HARMONIOUS AND OTHERS PUT ONE'S TEETH ON EDGE.
Even cars. Why does model A please, model B not. Make him cut out pictures
from ads and such and bring them in and tell you why he likes this one and
not that one.(I liked th VW Beetle, dislike the revised one, love that funny
retro Chrysler)
The problem is most people do not see consciously.
Good luck
L. P. Skeen writes:
> I have a student who is fairly advanced (has been throwing off & on since high school, very dedicated.) Problem is, his design sense is just really bad, and he seems to have NO sense of proportion. Invariably, he will have a nice body for the teapot or pitcher and stick some short squatty spout or lip on it.
>
> I try to tell him; hey, that spout is too short for the fatness of this teapot body, or, those lugs are too skinny for the fatness of that teapot body, or, that handle is too skinny for the pitcher you're putting it on. Once or twice, he has changed the offending appendage according to my direction, but mostly he just leaves 'em.
>
> He studies the work in the gallery, don't know if he's doing any reading at all (he's a PhD, teaches at a U here so he may not have time.) How can I get the point across? Is it POSSIBLE for me to help him have better design sense? I have tried to explain the functions of spouts and handles, why these things need to be such and such a size, but no joy.
> Any ideas out there?
>
> L
>
>
>
> L. P. Skeen www.living-tree.net
> the Viscountess Standing Turtle
> Living Tree Studios, Summerfield, NC
> "Who was the first person to see a cow
> and say, "Hmmm...I think I"ll squeeze
> these dangly things here and drink
> whatever comes out." ?"
>
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Lili Krakowski
P.O. Box #1
Constableville, N.Y.
(315) 942-5916/ 397-2389
Be of good courage....
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