Susan Setley on wed 29 oct 03
In a message dated 10/29/03 9:08:51 PM, vpitelka@DTCCOM.NET writes:
<< To me, glazing between the footrings gives a
beautiful continuity to the glazed surfaces, and makes the foot rings stand
out as beautiful decorative as well as functional elements, whereas an
expanse of unglazed bare clay across the bottom might not be attractive, and
depending on the claybody, can be distinctly unattractive and rough to the
touch. >>
I really like a beautiful foot on a piece. I recently made the absolute best
thing I have ever made -- a small horsehaired vase. It has a foot, but most of
the foot is the bottom of the piece. Doesn't matter; it works. I also like
deep feet on bowls, if the foot fits the piece. I like to make plates/shallow
bowls that I decorate with coils, to hang on the wall. Even when you don't see
the foot, a good foot gives the piece "lift" off the wall.
I have one piece that has no foot, a large platter. It is very earthy and
functional, and the look fits the piece. But I tend to use deeper than average
feet. I just ... like them. :)
mel jacobson on wed 29 oct 03
old time potters will always tell you that you
know more about a potter from footrings and bottoms
than from the top and the glaze.
clean, well defined footrings are a mark of the
craftsman.
half sized, almost footrings are the sign of
a person that is not sure of themselves.
young, immature potters will often make
psuedopods. sorta half a ring. false feet.
if you are going to take the time to ring a pot,
make it bold and a part of the design.
i always tell my students to make a footring that
you can grab hold of while glazing...in fact i tell
people...`it is the only reason a potter makes a footring..
it is a handle for glazing.`
the reason i use 50 gallon drums for glaze is that
i can dip a platter in the glaze bucket and get glaze
all the way to the footring. i do not glaze inside of
any of my rings. too much waxing, and it looks often
as it does on commercial dishes.
i want a different look.
mel
From:
Minnetonka, Minnesota, U.S.A.
web site: my.pclink.com/~melpots
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Susan Setley on wed 29 oct 03
In a message dated 10/29/03 8:09:48 AM, melpots@PCLINK.COM writes:
<< old time potters will always tell you that you
know more about a potter from footrings and bottoms
than from the top and the glaze.
clean, well defined footrings are a mark of the
craftsman.
half sized, almost footrings are the sign of
a person that is not sure of themselves. >>
But then -- what about the large platter I have that has no footring at all?
It took considerable skill to throw this large platter and not have it warp.
Vince Pitelka on wed 29 oct 03
> i do not glaze inside of
> any of my rings. too much waxing, and it looks often
> as it does on commercial dishes.
> i want a different look.
Dear Mel -
I'm having some trouble with this. There are plenty of ways to get a
"different look" and it doesn't seem to me that it has anything to do with
whether or not you glaze inside the footrings. Too much waxing? A good
banding wheel, a good wax brush and a steady hand, and you can wax your foot
rings in a few seconds. To me, glazing between the footrings gives a
beautiful continuity to the glazed surfaces, and makes the foot rings stand
out as beautiful decorative as well as functional elements, whereas an
expanse of unglazed bare clay across the bottom might not be attractive, and
depending on the claybody, can be distinctly unattractive and rough to the
touch.
Best wishes -
- Vince
Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Craft
Tennessee Technological University
1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
Home - vpitelka@dtccom.net
615/597-5376
Office - wpitelka@tntech.edu
615/597-6801 x111, FAX 615/597-6803
http://iweb.tntech.edu/wpitelka/
Lee Love on thu 30 oct 03
----- Original Message -----
From: "Vince Pitelka"
> I'm having some trouble with this. There are plenty of ways to get a
> "different look" and it doesn't seem to me that it has anything to do with
> whether or not you glaze inside the footrings. Too much waxing?
At my teacher's workshop, we did not wax. We did glaze about 2/3rds
of the way down the foot. We just sponged the glaze off on the nami jiro
(an ash glaze at that.) With the Nuka, it dries fast and hard. We
used a piece of hacksaw blade, smooth side, to scrape the foot before
sponging. The Nuka moves a little more, so we only glazed 1/2 way down the
foot.
These small tolerances, especially where ash glazes are concerned,
require a precise thickness of glaze application.
--
Lee In Mashiko, Japan
http://Mashiko.org
Web Log (click on recent date):
http://www.livejournal.com/users/togeika/calendar
David Beumee on thu 30 oct 03
There are plenty of ways to get a
> "different look" and it doesn't seem to me that it has anything to do with
> whether or not you glaze inside the footrings.
I remember back in '88 at the K.C. NCECA when I saw a Victor Babu snake
platter for the first time. When I walked around back, he had brushed some
iron stain on the bottom between the footrings. The extra attention really
livened the surface and kept the back of the (porcelain) platter from having a
"dead" look.
David Beumee
Earth Alchemy Pottery
Lafayette, CO
> > i do not glaze inside of
> > any of my rings. too much waxing, and it looks often
> > as it does on commercial dishes.
> > i want a different look.
>
> Dear Mel -
> I'm having some trouble with this. There are plenty of ways to get a
> "different look" and it doesn't seem to me that it has anything to do with
> whether or not you glaze inside the footrings. Too much waxing? A good
> banding wheel, a good wax brush and a steady hand, and you can wax your foot
> rings in a few seconds. To me, glazing between the footrings gives a
> beautiful continuity to the glazed surfaces, and makes the foot rings stand
> out as beautiful decorative as well as functional elements, whereas an
> expanse of unglazed bare clay across the bottom might not be attractive, and
> depending on the claybody, can be distinctly unattractive and rough to the
> touch.
> Best wishes -
> - Vince
>
> Vince Pitelka
> Appalachian Center for Craft
> Tennessee Technological University
> 1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
> Home - vpitelka@dtccom.net
> 615/597-5376
> Office - wpitelka@tntech.edu
> 615/597-6801 x111, FAX 615/597-6803
> http://iweb.tntech.edu/wpitelka/
>
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