Hendrix, Taylor J. on thu 19 jun 03
Howdy all:
I hate to make mistakes--really frosts me. You can imagine the arctic
front that moved in when Tuesday I took an hour and a half (Yes, David,
I know that wasn't long enough) to do some throwing before the wife came
home for lunch. Newbie thought he would throw bottles. Newbie, being
the self-taught newbie that he is, commenced by wedging some balls of
clay--three for bottles and two for mugs (I'm gonna trade with a clay
bud). Right. First ball: the centering was no problem. Opening and
pulling up (don't knuckle much anymore) were also no problem. In fact,
on the first bottle, all was great until I did some trimming prior to
wiring off. Beautiful thing just sat down on its haunches. Droop,
droop, droop. Ever notice that when you're on a voo doo
role, it just gets worse the more you try to break the spell? Second
ball: centered, opened, and pulled. Whew. Collar, pull, collar,
pull..wait...twist..fold... Third ball: centered
(quickly), opened (same), and pulled...rip..., ,
. What the .
Not a single bottle. Threw
two simple mugs and left to set up for handles when I got off work.
I'll let you know in a day or two if I need any more angle brackets and
a fist full of sage for the garage/newbio (not yet a studio).
Taylor, in Waco
jnybravo2 on fri 20 jun 03
Taylor, I think collaring is the hardest thing I have had to learn,
(Still trying to learn), worse even than centering. I just can't get
it right. Keep throwin'! From one newbie to another.
John in Saxapahaw, North Carolina, where it has finally quit raining.
At least for a few days.
http://www.PawPawsPottery.freeservers.com
Lois Ruben Aronow on fri 20 jun 03
=46irst of all - cherish your mistakes. It's how you learn. No
mistakes, no learning. A simple rule that is true for all of life.
All of us have days where something just doesn't happen. If I sit
down to throw and I screw up pot after pot, I stop. Simple. Saves me
from getting irritated. If your head's not there it's not going to
happen. Wait till tomorrow. Do something else around the studio or
go have a beer. or something. =20
It's true with glazing too. There are days I just find it difficult to
do it well. can't get my head around it. And of course, it shows in
the results.
It just happens. Don't let it piss you off, just go on the next
thing. =20
************
www.loisaronow.com
=46ine Craft Porcelain and Pottery
***************************************
Lois Ruben Aronow
Modern Porcelain and Tableware
http://www.loisaronow.com=20
Elca Branman on sat 21 jun 03
On Fri, 20 Jun 2003 16:42:36 -0400 Lois Ruben Aronow
writes:
> =46irst of all - cherish your mistakes. It's how you learn. No
> mistakes, no learning. A simple rule that is true for all of life.
>
>
As Buckminster Fuller used to say,. "Its trial and learning."
>
>
Elca Branman
http://elcabranman.com
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Geoffrey Gaskell on sat 21 jun 03
I've been throwing for about 4 months and have just started reaching the
stage of consistantly achieving symmetry and even wall thickness with a good
end weight. The disasters I still get are screwed up and twisted into
"Ceramic Forms" that I shall decorate and attach price tags thereto,
demanding "A Fistful of Dollars" ($500.00) and occasionally these might be
available "For a Few Dollars More".
So far I have discovered that my best results have been achieved after a
period of deep thought and quiet contemplation of the required actions
before sitting down at the wheel and, beyond deciding what type of object I
intend to make, not having any preconcieved idea of the exact shape, but
making decisions as I go (in other words I tend to "go with the flow"). I
have also discovered that the use of tools (other than a trimming needle)
tend to be more of a hinderance than a help, so I tend to rely solely on my
hands and fingers for shaping.
I tend to use the "warp engines" only while centering. I take these offline
and rely upon "one quarter impulse power" thereafter (I often hear an
authoratative inner voice, sounding remarkably like Patrick Stewart,
exhorting me to "Make it so!"). I find the important points to remember as I
work are:
1. After centering, slow down.
2. Four o'clock and eight o'clock hand positions.
3. Move the hands slowly and smoothly from bottom to top and once committed,
see it through to the bitter end before starting again at the bottom. At
some point, slow the wheel right down and use the trimming needle
immediately afterwards if need be.
4. Don't slavishly imitate other people's hand positioning or shaping, but
adopt comfortable ones of your own that seem to do what is required.
5. Be bold and decisive, but also gentle, especially when collaring.
6. Be bold and decisive in knowing when to stop fidgeting with the form.
I apologise for being tedious company for those who have been doing this
sort of thing for many years and don't need some whipper snapper, upstart
newbie telling them how to "reinvent the wheel", so to speak.
Geoffrey Gaskell
Geoffrey Gaskell on sun 22 jun 03
Another helpful habit that I have adopted for throwing is to simply grab
various sized lumps of clay and throw these (with no intention of keeping
the end results - unless, of course, they meet an unexpectedly high
standard). These little "etudes" are rather like red-shirted guest stars in
the original Star Trek series ("He's dead, Jim"). I then feel free to
experiment with the clay and take Great Risks. It teaches me just how far I
can push my luck, so I can concentrate on safety first when I do intend to
make something.
Geoffrey Gaskell
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