David Beumee on mon 23 aug 04
Ivor wrote:
Looking back on those works of your own that you still retain because
> > they excite you, are there any where you regard them carefully and
> > wonder "How did I achieve that?".
I am one who is and has been constantly excited about trying to achieve new colors, new variations of color and new glazing and decorating techniques at cone 10 in reduction. Because of this I long ago developed a numbering and recording system that may seem over the top to many. On greenware I band the bottom inside of the foot and sgraffito through last name, year and sequential number of the pot, and write down on a page what decorating technique, which glazes, what count of dip etc.If I get a racer I can look back and find out what I did. For one who is experimenting constantly I know of no other way to remember what was done, and years down the road for a pot I kept because of some special beauty I can still look up the number and year and say oh yes, that's what glazes were used, that's how I achieved that.
David Beumee
Earth Alchemy Pottery
Lafayette, CO
> > Looking back on those works of your own that you still retain because
> > they excite you, are there any where you regard them carefully and
> > wonder "How did I achieve that?".
> > Does this apply to Mel, Vince and the others who have been making
> > lucid and informative comments in response to Mel' original prompt.
>
> Ivor -
> This is an interesting question, and I hope others will respond. Without
> going all the way back to undergraduate school in the early 70s, I cannot
> think of any specific examples of my own work where I am unclear how I
> achieved a certain effect. That shouldn't be surprising, because I tend to
> do my work in a very methodical way, especially in the colored clay work I
> have done over the last 20 years, and I try to fire in a very controlled
> fashion in order to avoid obscuring the colored clay patterns. I expect
> that the potters who do a lot of glaze experimentations, especially with
> glaze layering or multiple firings are more likely to look back at their
> earlier work and wonder how a particular effect was achieved.
> - Vince
>
> Vince Pitelka
> Appalachian Center for Craft, Tennessee Technological University
> Smithville TN 37166, 615/597-6801 x111
> vpitelka@dtccom.net, wpitelka@tntech.edu
> http://iweb.tntech.edu/wpitelka/
> http://www.tntech.edu/craftcenter/
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at melpots@pclink.com.
Ivor and Olive Lewis on tue 24 aug 04
Dear David Beumee,
Nothing wrong with having a comprehensive system of records for
reference to past trials. But in having that resource, is there a
possibility that you exclude the potential for making a work so
awesome that you wonder, long after the event , "How did I achieve
that?". Yes, your records will tell you what you did. But do they tell
you what the fire contributed. Can you command again that rainy day
when you fired that cherished piece?
Consider Mel's new work. Look at what he shows and recall how he says
he is awed by what is produced.
Perhaps this sense of awe will diminish as more and more control is
exercised over a kiln by employing electronic technology.
Best regards,
Ivor Lewis.
Redhill,
S. Australia.
----- Original Message -----
From: "David Beumee"
To:
Sent: Monday, 23 August 2004 11:49
Subject: Re: big questions/art/Vince
> Ivor wrote:
> Looking back on those works of your own that you still retain
because
> > > they excite you, are there any where you regard them carefully
and
> > > wonder "How did I achieve that?".
>
> I am one who is and has been constantly excited about trying to
achieve new colors, new variations of color and new glazing and
decorating techniques at cone 10 in reduction. Because of this I long
ago developed a numbering and recording system that may seem over the
top to many. On greenware I band the bottom inside of the foot and
sgraffito through last name, year and sequential number of the pot,
and write down on a page what decorating technique, which glazes, what
count of dip etc.If I get a racer I can look back and find out what I
did. For one who is experimenting constantly I know of no other way to
remember what was done, and years down the road for a pot I kept
because of some special beauty I can still look up the number and year
and say oh yes, that's what glazes were used, that's how I achieved
that.
>
> David Beumee
> Earth Alchemy Pottery
> Lafayette, CO
>
>
> > > Looking back on those works of your own that you still retain
because
> > > they excite you, are there any where you regard them carefully
and
> > > wonder "How did I achieve that?".
> > > Does this apply to Mel, Vince and the others who have been
making
> > > lucid and informative comments in response to Mel' original
prompt.
> >
> > Ivor -
> > This is an interesting question, and I hope others will respond.
Without
> > going all the way back to undergraduate school in the early 70s, I
cannot
> > think of any specific examples of my own work where I am unclear
how I
> > achieved a certain effect. That shouldn't be surprising, because
I tend to
> > do my work in a very methodical way, especially in the colored
clay work I
> > have done over the last 20 years, and I try to fire in a very
controlled
> > fashion in order to avoid obscuring the colored clay patterns. I
expect
> > that the potters who do a lot of glaze experimentations,
especially with
> > glaze layering or multiple firings are more likely to look back at
their
> > earlier work and wonder how a particular effect was achieved.
> > - Vince
> >
> > Vince Pitelka
> > Appalachian Center for Craft, Tennessee Technological University
> > Smithville TN 37166, 615/597-6801 x111
> > vpitelka@dtccom.net, wpitelka@tntech.edu
> > http://iweb.tntech.edu/wpitelka/
> > http://www.tntech.edu/craftcenter/
> >
> >
______________________________________________________________________
________
> > Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
> >
> > You may look at the archives for the list or change your
subscription
> > settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
> >
> > Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
>
>
______________________________________________________________________
________
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your
subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
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