shaw pottery on tue 11 apr 06
I write this not to create a furor on the list, but just to express
my own, humble opinion. (I am not a potter. I would be if I could,
tho. But I am married to one, does that count?)
My name is Rita Shaw, I am sorry that I forgot to sign my name (Rita)
to the post I sent to ClayArt. The subscription is for my husband's
pottery, under his name, and I had to switch over from my address to
his to send the post to ClayArt. I puddle along in the pottery making
things for my children, and my own pleasure.
Recently I watched an episode of DIY Pottery and saw Bill Van Gilder
use a carved wood block (that he did not create) to make an imprint.
It reminded me of another local artist who used commercially made
roulettes and brayers (already carved) to imprint some pieces. I
thought it would be fun to try the technique.
Evidently you both do not need to use any tools other than those you
can make personally. For that I both commend and envy you.
Unfortunately, I have not the energy, time, or physical abilities to
make all the tools my heart desires.
I do take exception to your comments, however.
At the moment, my husband has Vince's book on his nightstand, as well
as one by Robin Hopper. I has a huge collection of books he treasures
by other potters. I do not feel that reading them to absorb the
knowledge they impart diminishes his skills as a potter in any way.
Hopefully he finds it to his benefit, yes?
Surely the folks who bought the wooden blocks sold by Stanley Hurst
at NCECA were not horribly wrong to have bought them. I saw a post on
ClayArt dated 2004 about him that said " His business is Mecca
Pottery Tools. There seems to be no end to his woodworking
creativity, and I have the strong suspicion that he truly loves his
work." It sounds like he feels that he contributes to the pottery
world enough to return to NCECA year after year, and evidently the
pottery world appreciates his talents enough that he finds profitable
to return.
My hubby also has many other wonderful hand tools he uses daily,
designed and crafted by many other artists, some potters, some metal
workers, some wookworkers, and many, many he has made himself. He
uses a wheel, a kiln, a pug mill, a slab roller, none of which he
made. I must admit, he doesn't make his own clay either.
I have watched pottery teachers all my life (including the one I
married) as they picked up a piece of bark, a stone, a gear, or
whatever their minds imagined to make imprints on their pieces. All
of them used tools made by others for their work, as well.
My point (and my exception) is this... using a design tool made by
another person does not lessen the creativity of the person using the
tool. It simply allows them to use the tool in their own unique
fashion, to make a mark, carve a pot, spin the clay, fire the clay to
desired temperature, or glaze it with their own creativity.
We do not always have to redesign the wheel (or roulette), I
shouldn't think. If we can, perhaps we should. But not everyone can,
sadly enough.
Signed by my own mark this time...
Rita Shaw
>Dear Person at "shaw pottery",
>I whole heartedly agree with Vince Pitelka. I have always felt
>anyone who is serious about our art and craft should be responsible
>for inventing their own designs and making their own tools whenever
>it is possible to do so.
>Though I have not read his book, I believe Vince gives instructions
>for making the articles you require using the most simple tools and
>elementary skills. Another other comprehensive source of instruction
>is the recently republished text of Philip Whitford and Gordon Wong,
>"Handmade Potter's Tools" ISBN 0-9733565-0-2 which was reviewed
>recently in Ceramics Technical, Ceramic Monthly and Ceramics Review.
>Hope you are successful one way or the other.
>Best regards,
>Ivor Lewis.
>Redhill,
>South Australia.
Taylor Hendrix on tue 11 apr 06
And I wholeheartedly agree with you, Rita. You have been a good
student of potters and what potters do. I saw a video of a potter who
made the most beautiful handbuilt/thrown pots. He used lace he didn't
tat, textile printing blocks that he didn't carve to make some very
very cool pots. Those were his pots and I would recognize them
anywhere. You keep on collecting and don't worry what the source is,
just have fun squishing the clay and making your marks.
Taylor, in Rockport TX with his rubbers on because it's getting
awfully deep in the Ram's Head these days.
On 4/11/06, shaw pottery wrote:
...
> Recently I watched an episode of DIY Pottery and saw Bill Van Gilder
> use a carved wood block (that he did not create) to make an imprint.
> It reminded me of another local artist who used commercially made
> roulettes and brayers (already carved) to imprint some pieces. I
> thought it would be fun to try the technique.
>
...
> Surely the folks who bought the wooden blocks sold by Stanley Hurst
> at NCECA were not horribly wrong to have bought them.
...
> My hubby also has many other wonderful hand tools he uses daily,
> designed and crafted by many other artists, some potters, some metal
> workers, some wookworkers, and many, many he has made himself. He
> uses a wheel, a kiln, a pug mill, a slab roller, none of which he
> made. I must admit, he doesn't make his own clay either.
>
> I have watched pottery teachers all my life (including the one I
> married) as they picked up a piece of bark, a stone, a gear, or
> whatever their minds imagined to make imprints on their pieces. All
> of them used tools made by others for their work, as well.
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