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tools/expensive

updated thu 14 nov 02

 

mel jacobson on mon 11 nov 02


just want to tag on this theme with a tiny story.

my wife and i went to visit ann hechle, one of the
world's finest calligraphers. she lives in bath, england.

she is a friend, and had invited us for lunch. when we
got there, of course we asked to see her studio.

she took us upstairs to her bedroom. there was
nothing there except a small school table with a
few quills and a jar of ink....and, maybe 10 tubes
of paint.

from under the bed she took a drawing board with
a manuscript half finished. she propped it against
the table....and showed sharlene the work.

that was it. a bedroom a table a jar of ink.

the magic was ann, not tools.
it was a major reminder lesson.

i have seen 50,000 dollar studios loaded with
pug mill, kilns, wheels...and terrible pots.

i have sat in a home in mata ortiz, on the bedroom bed...with
grandpa sleeping. the pots knocked my socks off.

simple, wonderful, skill.
it is always the work, never the studio or equipment.

but, then i say, good tools, in the hands of a good potter..man or woman,
and you will usually get good pots.
mel

From:
Minnetonka, Minnesota, U.S.A.
web site: my.pclink.com/~melpots
or try: http://www.pclink.com/melpots

Millie Carpenter on tue 12 nov 02


There is something to be said for the wannabe artists/craftspeople who
buy a lot of expensive equipment. and then loose interest after a few
month or a few years. they sell these wonderful
tools (and lots of other things) for a dime on the dollar. And over the
years I have had the good
fortune of equipping my studio (and several other peoples) through the
want ads, yard sales, and
word of mouth.

but you are right that good tools don't make good art or craft by
themselves.

Millie in Md, waiting for a break in the rain so I can go in to the
Baltimore and photograph/document my daughter while she finishes a
mirror & stained glass mosaic that she is doing a a tiny brick lined
alley between buildings.

Ilene Mahler on wed 13 nov 02


e-mail me I am in workshop Malcom Davis....Everyone Southwest is offering
low faires to convention now I am going to book after the 20th $94 each way
without taxes from cONN to San Diego...Ilene in Conn
----- Original Message -----
From: Millie Carpenter
To:
Sent: Tuesday, November 12, 2002 11:39 AM
Subject: Re: tools/expensive


> There is something to be said for the wannabe artists/craftspeople who
> buy a lot of expensive equipment. and then loose interest after a few
> month or a few years. they sell these wonderful
> tools (and lots of other things) for a dime on the dollar. And over the
> years I have had the good
> fortune of equipping my studio (and several other peoples) through the
> want ads, yard sales, and
> word of mouth.
>
> but you are right that good tools don't make good art or craft by
> themselves.
>
> Millie in Md, waiting for a break in the rain so I can go in to the
> Baltimore and photograph/document my daughter while she finishes a
> mirror & stained glass mosaic that she is doing a a tiny brick lined
> alley between buildings.
>
>
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