clay time for happy making

here are the 3 "assignments:"

1) figure out something you want to make e.g. cup, mug, casserole, etc.

2) figure out a potter you like, or figure out a style of pottery that you're interested in.

try these websites:

akar design

ferrin gallery

lacoste gallery

frank lloyd gallery

there are many others... clay studio of philadelphia, blue dome in silver city... jeez there's so many online ceramics resources really!

oh yeah, one more little gallery--Terra Incognito. check them out if you get a minute.

these first two assignments are just simple things to help me understand what you all want to accomplish in the studio. some things might not be achievable in the first term, but it's nice to have a jumping off point and a goal.

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3) throw a small pot, 1 lb., roughly squareish in overall dimensions (3X3X3 or 4X4X4 or somewhere in there), with a SWELLING BELLY and a FLARED NECK.

this assignment is DIRECTLY ripped off from a book by potter Clary Illian. the purpose is to have several different potters making the same pot, without TRYING to make the pots different, and then to come together and analyze the differences.

of course, these are all optional ideas. Art is a choose-your-own-adventure activity. I'll only cry for one night if nobody does assignment 3.

ok, now I'm going to put up the coolest pottery demo ever:



and the riveting conclusion:



get loose!

After 3rd class

Good class except for my head cold!

Let's make sure we're all on the same page. I get a little enthusiastic during class with wanting to communicate "everything" and forget to say some of the obvious things.

1). 2-3 weeks is not a long time to have been throwing on the wheel. Perhaps 2-3 years is 'the beginning.' After 3 weeks, it should all be still somewhat precarious.

2). Focus on feel. Pacing and feel. How long is the lump of clay on your wheel (hopefully not too long) and what does it feel like?

3). worry about these variables: wheel speed, throwing speed, pressure on the clay. change these all up in different combinations, try different approaches and pay attention to improvement.

4). don't worry about these variables: lip, belly, foot, type of pot, size, or look.

All the variables in #4 are important and you'll have to worry about all of them soon enough (and more). but each of those is predicated on some type of control. You have to make the clay at least sort-of go where you want it to go before you can make decisions on anything in #4.

do what's comfortable. get these habits solidified: work in a series (have an idea), work clean, and work efficiently. no matter what type of work you want to do in clay, these habits will help get you there.

I'll be in the studio Tues, Wed. Thur. and perhaps Sat. this week. Hope to see you all!