JULENE on sun 28 sep 03
Throwing competitions are something that I could never understand. Must
also be a male thing. If one has made pots for a while, one finds that a
pot needs to be a certain weight to hold up to the use it will receive. It
may be my artistic statement that I only make functional pots and believe
that the process is only compete when the pot is used. I do not like to
have a piece go out that will not be used for its intented purpose or worse;
not used at all. Or maybe, this is selfish on my part as I know I can only
improve my work by getting feedback from those that use and give homes to my
work. It would be nice to hear more from those of you that do use pots.
Your likes and dislikes. What you like to use and the sizes that you
prefer?
When I first made bowls I tried to throw as thin a possible and found that
these bowls did not function as I wanted. My friends and family used them,
but they did not last like some of the old pottery that I admire. An
electric beater can be an implement of torture to a bowl.
Now I try more to have the weight fit the pot and its functionality. My
favorite exercise for determining this is doing a scale or octave. Lee
mentioned something about scales and I wondered if it was similar.
My kindest and most generous mentor was a talented musician, who endeavored
for years to teach me to express myself with a saxaphone. He was my patient
guide from when I was about nine until I went out to explore the bigger
world. It was always my sadness that I did not have the musical talent
worthy of his efforts and so my scales are dedicated to him.
To do my scales, I will take 25 pounds of clay and divide it into 8
graduating balls of clay. As I do not do big for big sake and like throwing
about 6 pounds at a time, I will form a six pound ball and go down from
there. I have certain forms that I like and have worked upon and will chose
one of these to throw in the different weights. Usually, the balls are
prepared the day before I know that I will have some time to throw them all.
As with all my work, it must be fit in between my daily chores and
responsibilities. This exercise is the best way that I know for a potter to
learn the correct weight that one needs for their own work. It is also
another way to study a form as the same form will have a different presense
when it is 6 pounds as compared to a half a pound.
Julene, sad to think about taking down my summer studio/screenhouse ( 12
foot by 14 foot) for the winter. It was bought at the local Walmart for
under fifty dollars and set up in the garden, where it could be anchored to
4 strong trees. Did I mention I like trees? My garden, too, is full of
them. I wanted to be able to set up my old farm kick wheel and have a place
to glaze outside. The wheel is the German type, made with wood and
machinery parts from my Grandpa's farm. It had been in the garage, where I
could use it for wedging and preparing clay, but I do not like to actually
throw in there. This wheel works well for throwing mugs, bowls and such.
Larger pieces that I throw for my husbands raku is done on the RK2. I threw
the last of my work for the United Way this week while the cold wind whipped
around me. The warmth of the house will do for the winter and I will have
another reason to look forward to spring.
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