Lili Krakowski on fri 10 feb 06
Let me make a general remark first. Right now, in the contemporary =
American culture, tools and objects come first, and skill comes second. =
Up here--where there generally is a lot of snow in Winter--also Fall and =
Spring-- a couple from New Jersey came up here with friends who are =
regular snowmobilers, rented or borrowed sleds, raced around one =
weekend, and went home. A few weeks later they returned, towing a =
snowmobile trailer, with two glorious new super deluxe sleds in it, and =
wearing the latest greatest snowmobile outfits. They raced around that =
weekend, decided they did not really like it--and that was that. =
Somewhere in NJ there was a great garage sale.
Kristen: at most recreational facilities the emphasis is on "making =
something". This, I fear, comes from elementary schools where the art =
teachers feel (and I do not blame them, I blame the parents) the =
children MUST bring home some product.
So you may be following that path. To learn to throw--yes, there's the =
rub-- you must practice NOT the making of a pot, but the steps in the =
making of a pot.
My usual recommendation is. Make 15 one pound balls of clay. Place =
on wheel, center, cut off. Next ball, next, next--till you do it in a =
one-two-three motion, automatically, no thought. Proceed to do same =
with 1.5 lb balls, and 2 lb balls.
Next. Return to 1 pound balls and center and open. Cut off wheel, =
repeat as above. Next step will be to start raising the wall. Again. =
No finished pot, no attempt at and so on. Please feel free to contact =
me off list if this is not clear.
My point is: it is ONLY when you have mastered all these steps, exactly =
as you master tennis or golf step by step that you will have the =
fluidity to make pots.
Scott: You are buying a kiln when you know nothing about firing and =
glaze? Is there a point? Why not learn the process first and then =
invest in the tools? One thing you will have to learn if you are going =
to pot: that patience is not a virtue, it is a necessity.
Lili Krakowski
Be of good courage
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