Jane Vernon on tue 21 jun 05
> Subject: Is 'Centering' really hard for beginners to do?
> If the Clay is soft, well wedged, homogeneous, and someone shows them
> =
> the manner of constrainig the sides of the whirling lump, while
> pressing it from the top...the Clay will respond 'magically' to become
> Centered.
> So, anyone can learn it in their first session. Which with some =
> repetition, soon would become a steady skill.
> That so many struggled so much and for so long, or still do, is not
> because it is 'hard-to-do', but because the simple steps and conditions
> were not surveyed,
not understood, not made clear, not arived at, not made into practice.
Sorry, but this just isn't right. I had an excellent teacher, a very
well-respected British potter who does all the things you say and more.
Most people respond as you say. But as a teacher of more than 25 years'
experience (mostly not clay) I know that there is a whole lot more to
learning than teaching. So much depends on the person learning. There are
natural talents and there are blockages. If there were not, everybody would
be able to learn any skill to the same degree. It's really important that
teacher and student acknowledge this if things do not go well. If not, the
student will feel a failure and the teacher also. If it is acknowledged,
they can persevere and work together with patience and value each stage of
success as it comes.
Jane Vernon
www.clothandclay.co.uk
Antoinette Badenhorst on tue 21 jun 05
My experience is that a lot has to do with expectations and self =
confidence.
Well prepared clay and a relaxed body and mind is the most important
ingredients for centering. When I teach children, I tell them to "hold =
the
clay in the middle of the wheel like a little bird that need to be kept
safe".... Just hold it while the wheel is turning. Mostly the clay will
start rising by itself. That is the first "success" that immediately =
tells
them..."I can do it" Adults are too inhibited and too eager to prove =
they
can do it. As soon as they realize that clay is just clay and they can =
re
wedge, or take a new piece of clay and do not have to prove anything to
anybody, it already goes better.
Antoinette Badenhorst
105 Westwood Circle
Saltillo MS, 38866
www.clayandcanvas.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of Jane Vernon
Sent: Tuesday, June 21, 2005 2:36 AM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: 'Centering' really hard for beginners to do?
> Subject: Is 'Centering' really hard for beginners to do?
> If the Clay is soft, well wedged, homogeneous, and someone shows them
> =3D
> the manner of constrainig the sides of the whirling lump, while
> pressing it from the top...the Clay will respond 'magically' to become
> Centered.
> So, anyone can learn it in their first session. Which with some =3D
> repetition, soon would become a steady skill.
> That so many struggled so much and for so long, or still do, is not
> because it is 'hard-to-do', but because the simple steps and =
conditions
> were not surveyed,
not understood, not made clear, not arived at, not made into practice.
Sorry, but this just isn't right. I had an excellent teacher, a very
well-respected British potter who does all the things you say and more.
Most people respond as you say. But as a teacher of more than 25 years'
experience (mostly not clay) I know that there is a whole lot more to
learning than teaching. So much depends on the person learning. There =
are
natural talents and there are blockages. If there were not, everybody =
would
be able to learn any skill to the same degree. It's really important =
that
teacher and student acknowledge this if things do not go well. If not, =
the
student will feel a failure and the teacher also. If it is =
acknowledged,
they can persevere and work together with patience and value each stage =
of
success as it comes.
Jane Vernon
www.clothandclay.co.uk
_________________________________________________________________________=
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Alycia Goeke on tue 21 jun 05
i agree with this....i teach beginning pottery and find it interesting to
watch the way people approach learning...there are some who listen well, watch
and then sit down to the wheel determined that they will learn how to do
this, and they do...then there are those that just don't seem to carry that
attitude..and it seems to be in extremes...the ones who think it's going to be a
piece of cake and act like it's almost insulting to have to stick around for
the demos...to the ones that just don't think they will ever get it...or that
it's somehow has to do solely with the instruction and time the instructor
spends with them...either way, these folks seem to have more of a challenge and
be more of a challenge to work with...in my own experience, i had very good
instruction but it still took me several months and many hours of practice
before i could confidently sit down and center pretty much every time...and
longer to understand and know how to respond to balls of clay that will never
center due to trapped air or an inconsistency in the clay body not realized in
the wedging process...
there is instruction and assistance and sharing between students of more
advanced levels...but there comes a time when it becomes very personal..it's
between you and the clay...are you going to learn to do this or not? and if so,
how badly do you want it? enough to submerge yourself in it for a
while...coming in between classes? checking out books and videos from the library?
taking in a workshop or two? this is a skill and will all skills, it takes time,
dedication and determination...if we're good at what we do, it does look easy,
but whether or not the learning goes slow or fast, learning to be a potter
is an intense journey and one that i have a lot of respect for...it's an art
form and as with all art, it carries the emotional imprint of the creative
process and the emotional response is something that we just can't hide
from...or expect someone else to take the journey for us....
on my way to class...getting some pieces ready to raku.
alycia g.
Vince Pitelka on tue 21 jun 05
> Sorry, but this just isn't right. I had an excellent teacher, a very
> well-respected British potter who does all the things you say and more.
> Most people respond as you say. But as a teacher of more than 25 years'
> experience (mostly not clay) I know that there is a whole lot more to
> learning than teaching. So much depends on the person learning. There
> are
> natural talents and there are blockages. If there were not, everybody
> would
> be able to learn any skill to the same degree.
Jane -
I think that the above is true in most situations, and certainly every
teacher and every student is different. So it is impossible to make a
generalization that every student can be taught to center in a single class
session. But in 20 years of teaching throwing, I have only encountered one
or two students who were not able to center in the first session.
Regardless of "blockages" as you say, as long as the student's "blockage"
does not prevent them from listening to me and following the most basic
instructions, I can show them how to use their own body geometry to maximum
advantage, and that is the key when it comes to learning to center. It is
not a set of guidelines rigidly applied to each student - "Do it my way!" -
it is an adjustable set of guidelines adapted to each student.
\Best wishes -
- 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/
Marek & Pauline Drzazga-Donaldson on wed 22 jun 05
Dear Clayarters,
I have been following this thread for a while and I just feel I must mention
my frustration.
Why do most people get so ; ;= parenoid about centering. You do not need to
try and centre at all. Settle the clay, cone upwards, bring it down and it
is in centre by itself!!!!! Even very large pieces of clay respond in like
manner.
Too much stress is placed on centering, just have the right attitude
(position) of hands to clay and it is simple. Cone and centre ready to go
for anyone within 30 minutes maximum - this is over thirty years of
teaching, some do it within a few minutes others go to the max of 30
minutes, and this is from ages 9 - 90.
happy potting Marek www.no9uk.com www.moley.uk.com
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