Richard Mahaffey on sun 17 dec 06
I guess I was lucky. My dad collected antiques until he had to open a
shop to sell some of the lesser things. He also made toys for me and
found interesting toys for me and my sister. I remember that he carved
airplanes out of two by fours. I have been trying to get him to give me
one of those planes that he made (30"+ wingspan). He also made a
battleship that was a good 45" long.
I had erector sets and lincoln logs along with tinker toys.
I also used his drafting equipment when I was little. Came in handy
when I was in drafting class and when I went to the City Building
department to have a drafted plan for my kiln. I got the building
permit the same day! I still have not forgotten how to use that stuff -
made a schematic and assembly drawings of a racing transmission for a
vintage motorcycle we are building.....
On Aesthetics I have observed that my students from Japan seem to have
it all over the American students when it comes to an understanding of
design principles. I always ask them if their families have collections
of pots or other art and only once was the answer yes. I think it is
because the Japanese students grow up around good design and it kind of
"soaks in". Also writing Kanji requires a more precise form than does
writing with "roman" letters. I find when I try writing Kanji it takes
me a few tries sometimes to get the proportions of the various elements
right.
Well it is late and I need to wade through more emails that have stacked
up when the cable went out due to high winds.
Rick
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