Ivor and Olive Lewis on sun 2 may 04
Dear Friends,
In my opinion there are sound technical reasons for using a smooth
slip developed from a clay body as it is being thrown rather than
using uncontaminated water.
Once the grog and grit and sludge has settled you are left with almost
pure clay mineral, that stuff which is made up of those little flat
crystals which have the ability, when there is sufficient water to
allow it, to slide past each other. So thin slips behave like Graphite
and Moly Disulphide Lubricants. But in addition, those crystals do not
like to let go of their water. So clay being thrown does not adsorb
water and start to relax, to soften and to slump. Which means you can
throw higher, thinner, wider and lighter
As part of his instruction in Zen and the Art of Pottery, Kenneth
Beittel tells his acolytes to use slip when throwing, not from the pot
or the splash pan but from their hands, freshened with a few drops of
water (p 53).
I hope this enlightens those who are pondering on this topic.
Best regards,
Ivor Lewis. Redhill, South Australia
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jaqartstudio"
To:
Sent: Saturday, 1 May 2004 12:38
Subject: Re: Clean throwing water
> Hi Dolita:
>
> There are the techs and the doers and the tech/dous.....on this
> list. I'm a doer. I see no relevance to clay saturation of your
thowing water to the product of mugs. I generally prefer muddy slick
clay saturated water, and then....maybe no water at all, and then
maybe only a squirt from the vinegar spray bottle and then, maybe the
piece will sit for 30 minutes or so and then I may do all of three or
nothing to it as I work it on the wheel
> again........Then again, I don't do mugs. Kathy Forer
> is the only living Clayarter to get a mug from me.......(formal
> exchange)......
>
> Nevertheless, I gentley suggest.....focus on the clay on the wheel
and not the water in the bucket. We've got plenty of slurry flying
around with Mayor Jake back intown.
>
> Peace,
> Pamela
> ~jaq
>
> Gene and Dolita Dohrman wrote:
> Me, again...I have made a bit of an observation. It has been my
understanding from reading a number of posts that 'thicker' throwing
water is better than plain clean water. While throwing many mugs in a
row I have discovered that as the water develops a higher clay
content, the mugs are more difficult to shape and often collapse.
Decided to change the water and start fresh. Did not have the same
problem. I was originally taught that clean water will 'slip' over the
clay as one is throwing, rather than bond with it or soak in. As the
clay content of the water gets higher, it has more of a tendency to
bond with the clay and cause the clay to get wetter. Is my observation
correct or does my problem lie elsewhere?
> Dolita
>
> dohrman@insightbb.com
> Louisville, KY
>
>
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Gary Navarre on sun 2 may 04
> Dear Friends,
> ., those crystals do not
> like to let go of their water. So clay being thrown does not adsorb
> water and start to relax, to soften and to slump. Which means you can
> throw higher, thinner, wider and lighter
> As part of his instruction in Zen and the Art of Pottery, Kenneth
> Beittel tells his acolytes to use slip when throwing, not from the pot
> or the splash pan but from their hands, freshened with a few drops of
> water (p 53).
> I hope this enlightens those who are pondering on this topic.
> Best regards,
> Ivor Lewis. Redhill, South Australia
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jaqartstudio"
> To:
> Sent: Saturday, 1 May 2004 12:38
> Subject: Re: Clean throwing water
>
>Hay Crew,G. in da U.P.,
I didn't know somebody wrote a book 'bout what just just come naturaly
to me cause thats what I've done for some time. Kind of look like an
obssive-compulsive doin' it but that works for me.
Gary Navarre
Navarre Pottery
Norway, Michigan
John Kudlacek on sun 2 may 04
Dear Ivor,
I had Ken Beittel as an instructor back in the early,very early sixties
and I don't remember his mentioning slip as a throwing medium, but then I
was ,perhaps, a not too attentive student. I guess I will have to check
out his book. Thanks.
John Kudlacek
Ivor and Olive Lewis on mon 3 may 04
Dear Gary,
Do I take it that you are a self taught potter who has never received
instruction of any form?
If you are I can sympathise. It was several years after first throwing
clay that I received any instruction in the art and craft of the
process.
Best regards,
Ivor Lewis. Redhill, South Australia
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