mel jacobson on wed 1 nov 06
as you age, the joints of your fingers and
thumbs wear. in fact mine are almost gone.
i now use two hands for things that were
one thumb actions years back.
when i open the clay ball i insert one entire
hand and pull it with my other on top of it.. no thumb opening
for this guy.
the same can be said for pull centering...it may
be good to use one hand over the other, and pull
towards your body.
each will find a comfort zone for this type of action.
if it hurts, don't do it. there is never `just one way`.
if your hands or wrists or arms are hurting, find another
way. don't be a creature of total habit. learn to throw
several ways.
the same can be said for making larger forms.
stack small balls of clay, one on top each other
until you have the amount of clay you need centered
on the wheel.
this also keeps you from wedging 30 lbs at a time.
wedge the amount that gives you ease and comfort.
it is like the old adage: when you pass 70, learn to
sleep on a variety of pillows and bed styles....don't
depend on that same old system...as you may find yourself
in a hospital or home for a length of time....and you will
not be able to adjust. (this does not give you permission
to roam around looking for beds at nceca.)
but, as to throwing. try different styles and pulling
methods to save your hands, fingers and wrists. it may
save you many years of pain. i know. some days i have
to soak my hands in hot water before i can throw...but,
gd it, i still can throw for an entire day...the more i work,
the more i like it, and find peace and harmony. i am not
going to quit. just find less stressful ways to do what i do.
mel
celebrate every day you can work in clay. several of our
dear friends in clay are suffering right now...and they
may never touch clay again. we all are ill, when one
of our dear friends is ill. ( i am not announcing anything..you
know the names.)
from: mel/minnetonka.mn.usa
website: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/
Clayart page link: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/clayart.html
Les Haworth on sat 4 nov 06
I know how you feel Mel(a little). I threw about twenty cups this morning and I also use two hands. At 45 I am starting to feel the onset of my inherited arthritis so I've taken a break. I'm happy to have my two hands and my slight whining reminds me of Brian Yancy who throws well with one hand and makes excellent work. I think I'll put one hand in my pocket and try my hand at throwing solo.
On a beautiful day in Highland.
Les Haworth
--- melpots2@VISI.COM wrote:
From: mel jacobson
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: using two hands for centering
Date: Wed, 1 Nov 2006 06:18:25 -0600
as you age, the joints of your fingers and
thumbs wear. in fact mine are almost gone.
i now use two hands for things that were
one thumb actions years back.
when i open the clay ball i insert one entire
hand and pull it with my other on top of it.. no thumb opening
for this guy.
the same can be said for pull centering...it may
be good to use one hand over the other, and pull
towards your body.
each will find a comfort zone for this type of action.
if it hurts, don't do it. there is never `just one way`.
if your hands or wrists or arms are hurting, find another
way. don't be a creature of total habit. learn to throw
several ways.
the same can be said for making larger forms.
stack small balls of clay, one on top each other
until you have the amount of clay you need centered
on the wheel.
this also keeps you from wedging 30 lbs at a time.
wedge the amount that gives you ease and comfort.
it is like the old adage: when you pass 70, learn to
sleep on a variety of pillows and bed styles....don't
depend on that same old system...as you may find yourself
in a hospital or home for a length of time....and you will
not be able to adjust. (this does not give you permission
to roam around looking for beds at nceca.)
but, as to throwing. try different styles and pulling
methods to save your hands, fingers and wrists. it may
save you many years of pain. i know. some days i have
to soak my hands in hot water before i can throw...but,
gd it, i still can throw for an entire day...the more i work,
the more i like it, and find peace and harmony. i am not
going to quit. just find less stressful ways to do what i do.
mel
celebrate every day you can work in clay. several of our
dear friends in clay are suffering right now...and they
may never touch clay again. we all are ill, when one
of our dear friends is ill. ( i am not announcing anything..you
know the names.)
from: mel/minnetonka.mn.usa
website: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/
Clayart page link: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/clayart.html
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Lee Love on sun 5 nov 06
Shimaoka just had his 88 birthday. 66., 77, 88, etc, are
auspicious years, so there was a big celebration. He still works 6
days a week, mornings in the studio, afternoons greeting guests and
other pottery/Ningen Kokuho duties.
How does he keep working at the wheel? Soft clay and slow
rotation. He also has an apprentice wedge for him. Most of us
have to substitute with a pug mill for the apprentice.
--
Lee in Mashiko, Japan
http://potters.blogspot.com/
"Let the beauty we love be what we do." - Rumi
"When we all do better. We ALL do better." -Paul Wellstone
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