Jim Cullen on sat 18 jun 05
Have any of you teachers/professors ever had a student who could not =
throw a
pot? I don't mean a good pot, I mean any kind of pot. A student that =
wasn't
even able to center the clay. Is this possible? I've been asked to teach =
at
the local art center and I've only taught handbuilding in the past. They
want both handbuilding and throwing. I'm trying to anticipate the worse =
case
scenario. Is this even something to concern myself about?
KEEP CENTERED
"An opportunity lost...is lost forever."
CULLEN
pdp1@EARTHLINK.NET on sun 19 jun 05
Hi Cullen,
If the Clay is wedged properly and of a nice consistancy, anyone can learn
to Center in one evening or session.
The learning may not keep untill the next evening or session, but small
remedials soon
would have anyone acquireing the knack to learn it and keep it.
The problems I remember from 'classes' I took, was that no one had shown the
importance of wedgeing, and, no one really p-a-t-i-e-n-t-l-y showed how to
Center, nor showed
individual strugglers who were frustrated in trying to Center some wild
eccentric lump, how to do so.
Once I learned how to do so, I helped other strugglers not-to-struggle.
Once I learned how to do it, I realized it was easy, and easiest if
presented clearly.
Without decent wedgeing and centering, the subsequent 'pulls' of course
merely tease unto further exhasperations. Untold hundred of these donkers
were then bisqued, glazed and fired.
Just break it down into a few simple identifiable steps -
Wedgeing...make a ball...splat the ball onto the Wheel Head in the
middle...rotate the Wheel...constrain the sides while pressing on the
top...'bingo'...
Phil
Las Vegas
> Have any of you teachers/professors ever had a student who could not throw
a
> pot? I don't mean a good pot, I mean any kind of pot. A student that
wasn't
> even able to center the clay. Is this possible? I've been asked to teach
at
> the local art center and I've only taught handbuilding in the past. They
> want both handbuilding and throwing. I'm trying to anticipate the worse
case
> scenario. Is this even something to concern myself about?
>
> KEEP CENTERED
> "An opportunity lost...is lost forever."
> CULLEN
Susan Giddings on sun 19 jun 05
I have taught at a pottery workshop for a few years. I think our students
would be typical of the adults who take up pottery at an art center. Fear
not! But also it is good - I think anyway to take some shortcuts. Basically
my philosophy is don't fall into a trap You are wise to anticipate this sort
of problem even if you never face it. (Personally, I don't think you will.)
Here's what I do:
Come a little early for the first classes and already have some wedged and
centered clay ready so that beginners start by throwing walls and shaping. I
focus on teaching wedging and centering later. Now, I do it this way for
several reasons:
1. I'm teaching mixed ability people in a class. From abject beginners to
very proficient and skilled potters.
2. All students are adults and classes are not part of a college curriculum.
3. Students are not graded.
4. They only have themselves to please.
By having beginners start out with already centered 1-3# clay balls gets
them into what clay feels like - CENTERED clay. VERY IMPORTANT. Plus they
get an almost instant feeling of accomplishment. Instant gratification is
important. It boosts their ego to make a small bowl right away. They know
they can do it right away. So it helps them with the tedium of learning the
basics. I think it's easy for us to forget how hard it is to learn to
center. We just get to a point where we take our own skill for granted. But
the fact is - IT IS HARD TO CENTER. And, the obvious - you can't make
ANYTHING until you learn how to center. But I believe that it's a lot
easier to keep them focused if you skip the hard stuff just to start out
with. I truly believe that it's impossible to not be able to throw. The
wheel makes it symmetrical - you really can't fail. And if beginning
students are unsure of themselves, I just insist on this point. Sure, it's
involved, but it can be done BY ANYONE. Have patience with them and they
WILL get it. (You need confidence in your ability to teach as well!) I know
this goes against anything you may think you ought to do, but having taught
people from all walks of life including many who are severely handicapped
people, it works. Just pay attention to what your students need. You'll all
be OK.
-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG]On Behalf Of Jim Cullen
Sent: Saturday, June 18, 2005 5:58 PM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Teaching Pottery???
Have any of you teachers/professors ever had a student who could not throw a
pot? I don't mean a good pot, I mean any kind of pot. A student that wasn't
even able to center the clay. Is this possible? I've been asked to teach at
the local art center and I've only taught handbuilding in the past. They
want both handbuilding and throwing. I'm trying to anticipate the worse case
scenario. Is this even something to concern myself about?
KEEP CENTERED
"An opportunity lost...is lost forever."
CULLEN
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Jim Willett on sun 19 jun 05
On Sun, 19 Jun 2005 12:16:16 -0400, Susan Giddings
wrote:
......(snip)>By having beginners start out with already centered 1-3# clay
balls gets
>them into what clay feels like - CENTERED clay. VERY IMPORTANT. Plus they
>get an almost instant feeling of accomplishment. Instant gratification is
>important. It boosts their ego to make a small bowl right away. They know
>they can do it right away. So it helps them with the tedium of learning
the
>basics. I think it's easy for us to forget how hard it is to learn to
>center. We just get to a point where we take our own skill for granted.
But
>the fact is - IT IS HARD TO CENTER. And, the obvious - you can't make
>ANYTHING until you learn how to center. But I believe that it's a lot
>easier to keep them focused if you skip the hard stuff just to start out
>with.(snip)
We have to take exception, respectfully, with this approach. Cindy has
been teaching on and off for almost thirty years and truly feels you must
start with the basics. You are dealing with adults and they will
understand you must "start at the very beginning, its a very good place to
start."
Wedging gives the student a first feel for the clay and lets them get
their hands dirty and gives them a "connection" to the clay before they
ever approach the wheel. Wedging a small amount of clay doesn't need to be
a big exercise either. Just take small steps and teach "forward wedging."
As far as starting with a centered ball of clay on the student's
wheel.What happens when the student throws your carefully centered ball of
clay off center? If they don't know how to center yet they are stuck.
Obviously you do start with beginner sized balls of clay, a handful, and
then lead first by example, and then by true hands on. Put your hands
opposite or near the student's hands and guide them through the process
with your hands doing the throwing and their hands feeling the action.
Don't convey the attitude to beginners that "This part (centering) is
really difficult", because it is a negative approach to teaching. All your
lessons need to be positive. Show and teach the basics in order. You will
have students who pick things up right away, and others who need some
extra coaching, but the only logical way to teach is the steps, in order.
(And centering is not, of necessity, that difficult).
Jim Willett and Cindy Clarke
Out of the Fire Studio
Edmonton, Alberta
http://www.outofthefirestudio.com
http://www.howtomakepottery.com
http://potblog.outofthefirestudio.com
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