Unrouted Mail on tue 3 aug 04
Is it true that anyone who puts a blue glaze on 90% of their work, is more
concerned with making money than with advancing this art form? In my opinion
the simple answer is 'yes'
If we all sold out to blue then every work that Rodin did would be blue,
like reclining blue, blue figure in desperation, blue anomaly. Can you
imagine the colorists Hans Hoffman, Paul Klee etc. abandoning the beauty of
the relationships of colour for fast selling blue paintings? Some have
worked in blue for a long time but even they came to their senses ;)
As a potter and a potter that has been at it for enough years now to know
the in's and out's of galleries, craft fairs etc. My experience is this
those that glaze their pots blue also traditionally have prices that are
20,30,and 40 percent cheaper than those that are actually taking into
consideration the form before they slap on a blue glaze. Those pots are
selling well for more than one reason!
These potters are almost always looked at in disparaging ways. These potters
always resort to the, "well people are bitter because I'm getting all the
sales." That is their defense; however much it lacks in ethics, it is often
filled with enough rhetoric bound up in self gratifying reasoning that it
almost sounds like truth.
Sure it is true that other potters are pissed because they have difficulty
competing. These self-proclaimed artists try to say things like, "well maybe
if you did some blue" your sales would increase, etc. It is true that reason
can often supercede truth. There are a 1000 reasons why we should do
something and there are a 1000 reasons why we shouldn't - all of them
probably true. But truth found via reason is often a very difficulty beast
to sort out. Reason can often cloud the issue and supercede fact and common
sense.
I know of at least two craft shows now here in Vancouver that will not allow
cobalt blue potters into their shows. I thank god for that! They know that
if they continue to allow so many blue potters into their shows that many of
the non-blue potters will quit attending. Simple. I told one show two years
ago when they had 3 or 4 really pitiful potters that had shelves filled like
Wal-Mart with blue pots that myself and a couple other would probably not be
returning. Last year there was only one blue potter in the show - down from
several! The potters that replaced these blue potters though not as
experienced- the work was fresh and interesting.
If all you do is blue how can you possibly be interested in form? Blue looks
awful on many forms. Also whether the blue folks like to realize it or not
but if you look at well known caterers etc. you will see little if any blue
dinner ware. Why? Simple - blue is not a complimentary colour to any food.
Don't believe me do a search on the internet with this search "meaning of"
AND "blue" OR "color" OR "colour."
Didn't Confusious say, "A wise man knows what is right a fool only knows
what sells"
The taste of the general public needs to be educated not just catered to.
How else can this art form ever be taken more seriously? If everyone said
well if the only way that I will survive as a potter is to do cobalt blue I
don't think we would see many more gallery openings would we? I think that
it is quite honest to say if you look for historical examples of
"INDIVIDUAL" potters working in blue you will find very few (if any) that
have stood the test of time.
I personally thank god that Bodil Manz decided not to sell out and take the
easy route and do cobalt blue pots. If he did we would be missing some
extraordinary pots! I can't recall many blue Luci Rie pots? I think if you
do mostly blue you are destined to be an unknown production potter. Because
your invited to do a few work shops and everyone on ClayArt knows you
doesn't mean your famous it means a few people know you! You may find me
rude to state that so glibly but I say the proof is in the text books. I'm
currently an unknown potter and perhaps I always will be but that being said
it will not be without lack of trying to further my understanding of the
relationships of form and colour, etc.
I sometimes see posts on Clay Art where some whom feel they have a captive
audience seem to forget that clayart as wonderful as it is, is a mere
microcosm in the greater scheme of things. Many of the biggest names in the
ceramic art world do not take part in this list. Why? Probably because it is
very hard to continually develop new work and remain fresh and exciting -
there simply isn't any time. Some may say that is selfish I think it is just
a simple reality.
You know one of my favorite potters on this list is Vince (he doesn't know
it we had a run in a few years ago) and if he did cobalt blue we wouldn't
see his absolutely wonderful laminated work, etc. Vince's work does really
speak for it's self. I think we all should aim to be as artistically,
esthetically and technically proficient as Vince. If we were - blue would
for the most part through natural selection; be whittled down to numbers
that could be effectivly dealt with through education and vaccination. ;)
That being said - if your at school and thinking of making pots a life long
occupation there are many things to take into consideration.
One is do you want to do blue pots for the rest of your life? I have seen a
few letters here that say, "well I just don't do blue but at the end of a
show I don't have any blue left and my XYZ, XAB, etc glazes are left
unsold." Well they may say that they just don't do blue but when they get
back to the studio what works need to be replaced? How much attention is
being put towards new interesting work and how much is going towards
replacing those under priced blue pots?
If you sell a coffee mug for $5.00 and tell me your making good money from
it I say "Bullshit" - You can B.S those that have been taking pottery
lessons from you at your studio. etc but you can't B.S the rest of us. If
you want to run loss leaders like Home Depot I guess that's your business.
Though please don't make those of us that are REALLY trying to advance this
art form struggle when you have a wife or a husband supporting you thereby
financing those chunky hideous blue mugs. Also don't say that it is only a
few - I have seen some supposed better known potters with poorly thrown blue
glazed mugs. They were at least trying to get $15.00 for them because THEY
made them but in the end the result is still the same.
As Tony C says anyone who says Shino doesn't sell either has too many blue
pots on their table beside their shino or their shinos are hideous. My
shinos have sold so well that I was worried that it was becoming to easy and
started working on a new line of work this year. I have never had a blue pot
on my table and I have done just fine.
New lines of work! There is another nail in the coffin of blue potters work.
They can spit, yell and get angry about what other potters say about blue,
but you know here in Vancouver when I look at the blue potters work one
thing that strikes me often is that not only does the glaze never change but
neither do the forms. Year after year after year, I wonder how can they
stand to unload a kiln? It must get painfully boring! I would rather work on
an assembly line for Dodge- at least the car model would change once in
awhile.
So if you don't like blue glaze bashing quit pouting - Bernard Leach
complained about it 70 years ago and if he complained about it- well so can
I! If people quit complaining about it the "BLUE GLAZE" people would
probably take over the pottery world. These are the ones that you see just
taking money and not talking to customers - what is there to talk about?
Those of us that have taken a higher road have to work a little harder and
explain "WHY" blue isn't always best.
I tell people I don't do blue and have had enough over the years say, "Thank
God" to stay encouraged and follow my heart.
So you go ahead and clap yourself on the back for your 80% of blue stock.
Slowly but surely over the years I have developed a clientele that has a
little bit higher standards - it can be done. At least this way when I'm in
the studio I know that every day will be different. If all you do is glaze
all your pots blue then surely it would make more sense to just jigger all
your flatware and cast everything else; do tell us what art is left? You may
as well just cast and jigger. Give us a URL to your striking cobalt blue
work and change our minds!
What point is there in throwing anything anymore. How can you honestly say
you are expressing any esthetic other than "I throw and glaze what sells" If
that is what you are going to do at least be honest about it. Don't hide
behind some puffed up ego and be afraid to admit the truth - "You sold out."
You tried but not hard enough and in the end just did what the mass public
wanted and not what you wanted. There can be a profitable balance many
amazing potters have proved that to be just so.
Some want to produce a good scotch and others are content to produce no-name
apple juice!
One way is going to be very, very hard the other significantly easier. I'm
not saying easy - just easier!
If you can name 5 potters that have gained international recognition for
their work in the past 50 years that worked almost exclusively in blue I'll
send you $50.00.
Flame me - but do it to me via PVT email so as not to clog up ClayArt. Send
any flames to;
SmaashEmBeforeTheyMultipy@redironstudios.ca
We can go from there. The email address will really work! So Flame away!
Everything is Possible,
Rod
P.S
I do like very subtle celadon blue ;)
Ivor and Olive Lewis on wed 4 aug 04
Dear Rod,
Great Rant.
I challenge your assertion that there are no foods with hues which are
complementary to blue.
The first one I really like, Queensland BLUE Pumpkin, a vegetable with
brilliant orange flesh. Second would be Mango. Third, how about some
members of the Melon family.
Now I know that the aficionados of Herr Goethe will roast me on this,
since he speaks of RedYellow and ignores the humble Orange as being
part of Light but I like to thing of Orange and Blue as supporting
each other.
Best regards,
Ivor... Blue Eyes... Lewis.
Redhill, South Australia
may be reached at melpots@pclink.com.
Ivor and Olive Lewis on wed 4 aug 04
I recall reading Picasso had a "Blue" period.
but then, he seemed to have everything !
Best regards,
Ivor Lewis.
Redhill,
S. Australia.
Jacobson who may be reached at melpots@pclink.com.
alabark@netzero.net on wed 4 aug 04
I can't thank you enough for putting into words my thoughts after reading this thread. From one who is trying desperatly to stay true to my heart and make what really reflects me and who I am, I thank you for stating so consisely and intelligently what I so totally agree with.
I am so thankful there are people like you that will speak the truth as you see it. Thanks again, Lisa
Anne Webb on thu 5 aug 04
dont forget granny smith apples.. they look awesome in a blue bowl
>From: Ivor and Olive Lewis
.
>I challenge your assertion that there are no foods with hues which are
>complementary to blue.
>The first one I really like, Queensland BLUE Pumpkin, a vegetable with
>brilliant orange flesh. Second would be Mango. Third, how about some
>members of the Melon family.
>Now I know that the aficionados of Herr Goethe will roast me on this,
>since he speaks of RedYellow and ignores the humble Orange as being
>part of Light but I like to thing of Orange and Blue as supporting
>each other.
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