Vicki Hardin on mon 6 mar 06
I just gotta tell you'll how amazing Tony's workshop was this weekend in San
Antonio. I actually came to the workshop because I wanted to learn how to
make cane handles. Along with the hands on handle making session I
anticipated the standard workshop format where you watch someone throw for
two days. What I found was this, but so much more. So on my three and a
half hour drive back to San Angelo I had plenty of time to think about what
made Tony's workshop so incredible and likely the best I've been to.
It wasn't just that Tony has such an ability to teach, because I have been
to other workshops with great presenters. It wasn't his incredible energy
although he demoed enough to fill a considerably large kiln and then some.
It's not even that I suspect Tony of being one of those build a better mouse
trap guys...you know the ones you can show the mouse trap to and they
miraculously improve on it?
What I've settled on it being is that it's not only Tony's ability to draw
on and communicate his thirty plus years of experience in clay, it's his
willingness to share it. So, this weekend, I not only watched Tony pull a
handle from a cup, I learned exactly how he positions his hands; that
pulling in a certain way will make the edges too sharp and why I would not
want that; why its important to hold the cup directly in front versus to the
side; and why one should stand during the process. And that's not even all.
I learned what he's figured out to be the best handle placement,
surprisingly upside down (remember I did say he was one of those build a
better mouse trap guys.)
But, continuing to think on this more, it even goes beyond his willingness
to share. I watched Tony assess the needs of our group and then deliver.
Oh, you want to see a gallery for a lid? There you go. You don't know how
to roll out a coil of clay without it drying out on the board? Let me show
you that. And he kept this coming for the entire time. As I learned things
like the difference between a European and a Japanese foot and why one would
want to use each, incredible pots started filling the spaces on the tables.
And Tony's demo on throwing in sections would help anyone to throw larger.
During the weekend I learned so much more than I expected. And as a result
of requesting Tony's feedback on my teapots, I gained info on how to improve
them. So, let me conclude not by telling you that this was the best
workshop I have ever been to. It was the most important. And if any of you
ever get a chance to go to a Tony Clennell workshop, go! You will be light
years ahead of yourself for it.
Thanks Tony.
Vicki Hardin
ILoveClay.com
PS Thanks Gay and Jim for the great time. AND!!! For the flan recipe!
Kevin hope you have a great time at NCECA!
Kim it was nice to meet you.
Overall's on mon 6 mar 06
I really enjoyed being with all you San Antonio potters.
Meeting Eddie from Abilene, seeing Jim Bob Salazar again,
(even though I offended him during the caning exercise.
Sorry Jim. I guess you don't wear tight clothing a lot.)
Meeting Vickie Hardin for the first time, and Dale Neese at the
Saturday night meet and greet - which was some of the best
Mexican food I've eaten in a while.
Gay makes the most dangerous flan. Totally gotta have more.
It all made me ready to sell our home in Houston and move out west.
Everyone is at a more relaxed and natural pace and
I especially love the cooler weather, cleaner air, less traffic,
more of nature,and I could go on and on....
I've got a couple more loads of bisque pots to glaze fire before
I'm at the wheel using Tony's throwing lessons. So many professional
techniques shared in two days.
I almost wrote a book from all the notes!
I need to make a lot of pots to sell in order to get that
16 cubic footer to fire all the Texas teapots and Texas sugarbowls.
Tony, I hope your work, talent and teaching comes more and more
in demand every day. I'm sure I speak for everyone in that regard who
was fortunate to have met you on your Southern sojourn.
I must confess to something. You are nothing in person like your Clayart posts.
I thought I'd be a "bit" intimidated by you as your posts are so forthright.
But, every moment I listened to, and observed, your tone and mannerisms;
as well as patiently answering our inexperienced clay questions and guiding us
in the caning process, I found you to be a most polite and gentle soul.
Sheila, you'd be pround of him.
Thank you Tony!
Kim Overall
http://www.houstonpotters.com
(website is being revamped as so many pictures were making it slow to load.)
It's still accessible though if anyone wants to peek and critique.
kevin finegan on mon 6 mar 06
Kim,
I enjoyed meeting the Clayarters: you, Tony, Eddie, and Vicki. I have been a lurker for years but after Tony's fabulous workshop here in San Antonio have decided to go public. I am very grateful for Tony's expertise and patience, and to the Judsons who went out of their way to make everyone comfortable. Besides the Kinky salsa, Ben Judson made a killer chile con queso and Gay made a wonderful flan for our Saturday night get-together. What a lovely workshop!
I'd love to get back into the studio to practice my newfound skills, but I'll on the plane for Portland tomorrow.
Kevin from San Antonio
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Jim Bob Salazar on tue 7 mar 06
hello group,
hello to all the cool folks from the workshop,
ever been to one of those two day workshops where you are so inspired to
work you just can't wait to get home???
the tony clennell workshop was like that for me this past weekend. what a
great two days. lots of energy and humble sharing of information and
techniques. hearing stories of growing up with clay, his uncle, the lovely
sheila and the honest admiration for life and the things around him....i
think a saw a tear. man....i could hardly wait to get home....but it looks
like i'm gonna have to wait a few more days to work on things we learned. i
really like to watch throwing demos...you can always learn or pick up some
cool little trick. this guy had a sack of tricks...i just can't wait to get
into the studio.
the hosts were great too...jim and gay are just super nice folks and it was
great hanging out with gay again and getting to meet jim.
there were several folks there i knew and it was good to see them all
again...and also got to meet several new folks. by the time the throwing
demos were over and the cane started flying, i was worn out and already
dreading my six hour drive home.
dale tex...thanks for the casa and the cold sam adams. what a friend i have
in dale...hay, that sounds like a song.
vicki and i caravanned as far as san angelo...she drives really fast...ha
ha. it was good to see ya and nice chatting. i think that is the first
time we have really gotten to just chat. it seems that every time we see
each other one or both of us are "on" and can't really visit.
kim...i must have missed it. i truly don't remember being offended. i am
usually the one who ends up offending someone in a crowed room. i am quite
the smarty pants and have a VERY dry sense of humor and usually have
something smart to say that someone doesn't know how to take. so, no
offense taken...but it i smarted off to you and made you want to stick me
with your pencil....first, i'm sorry and second...thanks for not sticking me
with your pencil. were my clothes really tight???
i'm gonna have to have that flawn recipe, oh boy it was sooooooo good.
everything was good!
it was a great weekend in many respects. seeing friends, making new ones
and being around everyone for the sole reason of learning something new
about clay and the people that have clay as a part of their lives.
thanks to all,
jim bob
i'll be off list for a few days, goin to nceca....yahooooo!!!
Jim Bob Salazar
Associate Professor of Art - Ceramics
Sul Ross State University
East Highway 90 Box C-43
Alpine Texas 79832-001
Office 432-837-8405
Studio 432-837-8280
jsalazar@sulross.edu
----- Original Message -----
From: "Overall's"
To:
Sent: Monday, March 06, 2006 4:50 PM
Subject: Tony Clennell's Texas Two Step (Maydelle & San Antonio)
> I really enjoyed being with all you San Antonio potters.
> Meeting Eddie from Abilene, seeing Jim Bob Salazar again,
> (even though I offended him during the caning exercise.
> Sorry Jim. I guess you don't wear tight clothing a lot.)
> Meeting Vickie Hardin for the first time, and Dale Neese at the
> Saturday night meet and greet - which was some of the best
> Mexican food I've eaten in a while.
> Gay makes the most dangerous flan. Totally gotta have more.
> It all made me ready to sell our home in Houston and move out west.
>
> Everyone is at a more relaxed and natural pace and
> I especially love the cooler weather, cleaner air, less traffic,
> more of nature,and I could go on and on....
>
>
>
> I've got a couple more loads of bisque pots to glaze fire before
> I'm at the wheel using Tony's throwing lessons. So many professional
> techniques shared in two days.
>
> I almost wrote a book from all the notes!
>
> I need to make a lot of pots to sell in order to get that
> 16 cubic footer to fire all the Texas teapots and Texas sugarbowls.
>
> Tony, I hope your work, talent and teaching comes more and more
> in demand every day. I'm sure I speak for everyone in that regard who
> was fortunate to have met you on your Southern sojourn.
>
> I must confess to something. You are nothing in person like your Clayart
> posts.
> I thought I'd be a "bit" intimidated by you as your posts are so
> forthright.
> But, every moment I listened to, and observed, your tone and mannerisms;
> as well as patiently answering our inexperienced clay questions and
> guiding us
> in the caning process, I found you to be a most polite and gentle soul.
> Sheila, you'd be pround of him.
>
> Thank you Tony!
>
>
>
> Kim Overall
>
> http://www.houstonpotters.com
>
> (website is being revamped as so many pictures were making it slow to
> load.)
> It's still accessible though if anyone wants to peek and critique.
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
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> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
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>
> !DSPAM:649,440cc6df71781244215838!
>
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