Lili Krakowski on thu 2 dec 04
The other day a Clayarter wrote off list that Clayarter considered me =
"crabby" which I took as a GREAT compliment in the context.
I am very crabby right now because a very nice friend took up One of the =
Crafts two years ago. It is one that lends itself to kits (they make =
sense in the context--the materials are both costly and cumbersome) and =
started "producing" a lot. Great enthusiasm great fun. She sold a lot, =
and was a happy camper.....Then the interest waned. There was "nothing =
else" to do....
She is on to some thing else, may or may not go back....
The reason I write this is that we have a constant Instant Satisfaction =
Stream! ' Look I just started! I need a glaze! "; "My glaze does bad =
things!" ;"My kiln overfired! " "My kiln underfired...." "My clay is =
not as nice as X's clay..."
For many of us clay is a way of life. When I say "way of life" I do =
not mean that we make ourselves eunuchs for the sake of Heaven, but that =
it is a focal, a prime, an essential part of our lives. It is analogous =
to parenthood. If you just want to coo and gurgle and tickle and like =
that, volunteer at a hospital..they always are looking for people =
willing to "nurture" poor little people who are very ill, or whatever. =
If you want to Raise Children, then, (Kelly, chime in here, please) you =
make a decision, you dedicate yourself, you make sacrifices--all because =
this is what you chose to do.
If you are serious about clay then study all you can. Get the books, =
read them , learn how to do formulas, schedule your firings so you are =
in the studio, or darn near it, all the time. Spend the money on proper =
wiring, get the materials, buy a dozen (if need be) packages of clay =
to try till you find what you really want. Make a decision, dedicate =
yourself, make sacrifices.
This is not a reproach to anyone. Consider this an observation. Many =
dog books have an intro that says: this is what you should know before =
you get a puppy.
Well, I wish clay books were like that: . "This is what you should know =
before you take up clay." If you do not have time, space, money, then =
take classes. When I was at Greenwich House ages ago there were a bunch =
of people who could not set up studios and went there religiously, =
taking "classes" three times a week for years. When I was at Lee =
Center some years back, same thing. If you do not have a reasonable =
amount of patience and curiosity, clay may not be for you. The fun is =
in the exploration....And by all means take classes for at least 3 years =
before you plunk down all that money...
It is so sad that so many people lured by the Joy of Craft lose interest =
after a year or so.....
Almost last: A firing kiln is like a baby with the croup....WATCH IT!
And, to deceive you into thinking I have a heart--for the person with a =
divorce and a bad tempered computer:
TOM COLEMAN'S BLACK C.10
"Clay Times" January/February 2003
Quoted in an article called "Kristen's Secret" about Kristen Kiefer, as =
one of the glazes she uses.
Custer Feldspar 32.90%
Silica 32.69
Whiting 15.38
OM-4 Ball Clay 9.62
EPK 9.62
Total 100.00
Add Red Iron Oxide 8%
Add Cobalt Carbonate 3.8%=20
Last: AGAIN AND ONCE MORE
Clay suppliers: could you not ALL make up sampler kits with 5 lbs of =
each of your clays in a specific firing range, and sell these to =
newcomers --either to clay, or to your shop? Mason stains, if I recall, =
can be bought in "samplers"...great savings great learning experience, =
great sales point. The price is not the issue: most would pay a bit =
extra to have a sampler...PLEASE
=20
Lili Krakowski
Be of good courage
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