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!
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Monday, October 13, 2008
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!
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!
Monday, September 29, 2008
Good First Night!
So a couple obvious things that I forgot:
People are really nice around the studio; feel free to ask questions with anyone regarding operations, gallery works, pots around the studio... conversations about clay are what bring us together.
Also, I'll be in the studio all day Mondays, even though the gallery isn't "open."
Other than that, welcome to the studio! We're really happy to have you all with us.
Now some actual business:
You may've noticed that wheel throwing is really hard! Enjoy the challenge and stick with it. It's probably best right now to just play with the clay on the wheel--no fear. See what it can do and how hard or how soft you can handle it. Don't worry about results!
Each clay body is very different in throwing and in the finished result. Our claybody (stoneware) is a strong, highfire body that's been mixed up medium-soft (nice for learning to throw) and has grog in it (ground up ceramic that has a scratchy feeling when throwing).
I remember my hands getting pretty chapped when I first started learning to throw. Between the constant 'prune' hands, the drying clay particles, the grog, the metal wheel head, and cold weather, your hands will certainly take a beating, so take care of them!
This week when throwing, concentrate on small pots, taller-than-wide pots with straight walls. If you can keep those walls straight and tall, you can do anything else!
Here's some nice, straight-walled pots from people featured in the our gallery:
http://naomicleary.com/artwork/411947.html
http://www.naia-artists.org/gallery/briscoe_r/briscoe_r2.jpg
cheers!
People are really nice around the studio; feel free to ask questions with anyone regarding operations, gallery works, pots around the studio... conversations about clay are what bring us together.
Also, I'll be in the studio all day Mondays, even though the gallery isn't "open."
Other than that, welcome to the studio! We're really happy to have you all with us.
Now some actual business:
You may've noticed that wheel throwing is really hard! Enjoy the challenge and stick with it. It's probably best right now to just play with the clay on the wheel--no fear. See what it can do and how hard or how soft you can handle it. Don't worry about results!
Each clay body is very different in throwing and in the finished result. Our claybody (stoneware) is a strong, highfire body that's been mixed up medium-soft (nice for learning to throw) and has grog in it (ground up ceramic that has a scratchy feeling when throwing).
I remember my hands getting pretty chapped when I first started learning to throw. Between the constant 'prune' hands, the drying clay particles, the grog, the metal wheel head, and cold weather, your hands will certainly take a beating, so take care of them!
This week when throwing, concentrate on small pots, taller-than-wide pots with straight walls. If you can keep those walls straight and tall, you can do anything else!
Here's some nice, straight-walled pots from people featured in the our gallery:
http://naomicleary.com/artwork/411947.html
http://www.naia-artists.org/gallery/briscoe_r/briscoe_r2.jpg
cheers!
Welcome to Mondays at Terra
So this is the first posting... not much to say right now because this is being typed before the first class has even begun.
Stay tuned for follow up commentaries and questions in regards to class as well as thought-provoking entries about the wonderful world of ceramics!
Stay tuned for follow up commentaries and questions in regards to class as well as thought-provoking entries about the wonderful world of ceramics!
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