We inherited this bakers rack years ago, but have never used it for much, it is the perfect place to keep finished work...temporarily.
I LOVE MY WHEEL. It is a VL Whisper, made by SHIMPO.
It is super quiet, so there is none of the whirring sound that other electric wheels have.
(so Annoying)
I use the little plastic drawers to store all my tools, it was actually Coopers First "Dresser"
This is my Wedging/work table, Nick built it for me when i was in college, it was at the college my senior year when i had my own work space, and it has gone back and forth between the garage and my studio at the school since we moved here. It is super sturdy and the height is just perfect, since Nick made it for me.
Super exciting I know, but even though it is small, it is functional.
It is nice to have somewhere to work during the summer. i will soon be crowded out though as Nick needs more an more room to work on restoring his truck.
On Saturday, Nick wanted to go out in the garage and watch me throw, so I obliged, but it ended up being me throwing and him working on his truck, which is ok.
Nothing gets me going like some good old fashioned production. So I started with 6 cups.
This is the motif I was working on at my workshop, (the ones that got ruined).
A Ding is a ceremonial Chinese vessel on 3 legs, traditionally they can have lids, or not. My Professor Susan Harris at SUU made amazing dings.
This one did not start so well. I thought maybe I could use the Knob forms I have been throwing, as feet, but I hate it. LIKE HATE IT!! I think they kind of look like udders.
So I fixed it. Today I chopped off the udders and added conical shaped feet, and I like it much better. It also mirrors the Sprigs I attached to the front.
This is a large Square baker. I picture delicious lasagnas, cool shaped loafs of bread, breakfast cakes, and casseroles. It should shrink to between 7-8 inches square. It is at about 10 right now.
I enjoyed having Nick in the Garage with me while I worked, and while I was finishing yesterday Cooper was out with me. He loves to catch the trimmings in long ribbons.
It is hard to tell in these pictures, but these 3 pots (#9,#10, and the jar) are actually a Black Stoneware Body called "Black Mountain". I throw primarily in a smooth/ white stoneware body called "B Mix", but I really like Black mountain.
#9 is short and I pushed the oval fairly narrow.
I love the way the handles turned out, and the cute foot.
#10 is much taller and super clean. I like that the walls taper slightly down to the foot
And the negative space made by the foot is AWESOME!
And then another jar form. This jar has similar decoration to #9. I wish I had brought the line decoration down farther on the handle, and I need to find a way to glaze this to bring out the decor, cause it gets kind of lost. I do like the way the lid fits on this one better. I trimmed the lid on the jar, whereas the last one I trimmed on the wheel, trimming it on the jar seems to help me get the look I want.
At my conference this summer, we talked about "Points of Grace", the little marks left by hand, that can't be duplicated by a machine. Joe uses this to describe the "information about the process" he leaves on his surfaces. But to me the "Points of Grace" are the small details, purposely added to a pot.
*shadows cast by an overhanging rim
*the negative space created by carving out a foot
*the shadows cast by a handle that kind of loos like SHREKS ear! ;)
*the angles, and shapes
* the places where the knife went a little deep, and created a dark line.
Today when I was putting these dishes together I realized what I didn't like about the previous ones... The rims. i don't usually leave my rims that plain, or unfinished, so for #5 and #6 I did a rim like I normally would.
And I don't love the way they turned out, but it is a step closer.
They feel so much more finished. The rim now helps to define the space, by giving it a sort of border. EUREKA.
Then I forgot to cover them and they died....DUMB
I also made another cookie jar form.
It is a lot smaller, and I don't like the negative space under the rim of the lid. I either need to angle the lid or flatten the rim on the pot.
But the decoration is really nice and feels very 3 dimensional.
Joe gave me a homework assignment: to make 50, of the little thrown and altered dishes. I don't know how serious he was, but I'm doing it anyway, it can only make me better.
Today I completed 1-4 (they are numbered)
I also made another cookie jar, based on the last one. (Seen here)
I have yet to figure out my balance. The first day I worked i threw so many pots I had to spend 5 hours finishing them the next day. I need to exercise some self control and get it down to about 2-3 hours a day. Trying to get the nerve to jump back in.
When you think you can't get any better, its over, and you should stop doing what you're doing and try something new.
Today my Mom brought my boys in to see me and meet everyone. They helped me carve on one of my jars.
It's probably my favorite piece ever.
Today I finished up all the Work I had going.
List of finished work:
3 small lided jars
1 large lidded jar
set of 6 cups
2 pitchers
3 large batter bowls
1 set 3 seated batter bowls
2 large oval bakers
1 large square baker
2 small oval feeted pots
6 assorted cups
6 assorted bowls
2 tumblers
1 large bottle
After lunch of pizza baked in the kiln, we headed out to Spring City to see Joes' Shop.
I bought these pots, they live at my house now!
This is Joes' Salt kiln. The burner went out on its last fire at cone 7, which is severely under fired so it just sits, full, and waiting. Kind of like a cool mystery.
Here is Joe in his Wood-fired kiln, telling us his philosophies of firing ect.
This was an incredible week, full of incredible experiences and amazing people.
I so appreciate Nick for letting me go, and my parents for watching my kids.
Today Joe talked a lot about looking at the work of others, to make your own art better. So these are the Artists I looked up and what I like about them.
Paul Soldner
"In the spirit of raku, there is the necessity to embrace the element of surprise. There can be no fear of losing what was once planned and there must be an urge to grow along with the discovery of the unknown. In the spirit of raku: make no demands, expect nothing, follow no absolute plan, be secure in change, learn to accept another solution and, finally, prefer to gamble on your own intuition. Raku offers us deep understanding of those qualities in pottery which are of a more spiritual nature, of pots by men willing to create objects that have meaning as well as function." (Soldner, 1973)
I like the way he talks about the process. That you have to give up control. I often struggle with giving up control. OK I struggle with giving up control ALL THE TIME. But I'm working on it.
Chris Staley
Ok this video is it. This video is everything I think about, but can't express.
I love at the end how he says: "You will remember drinking out of this cup"
Love it!
George Ohr
Seriously this guy was a trip. He was the self proclaimed "Mad potter of Biloxi". I love looking at his portraits and his work. He kind of flew in the face of the establishment, but his work is so beautiful, and he did what he wanted. I like that.
Bernard Leach
This name inspires awe in me. "Every Movement, is frozen music" with an emphasis on simple Utilitarian forms, and a crazy work ethic, also a passion for teaching, he is my Hero.
"Crafts have a beauty born of use, without use there is no beauty in craft." Soetsu Yonagi the unknown craftsman.
Today we made these brilliant little batter bowls and discussed the logistics of pouring vessels.
(The white one in the center.)
We also discussed process vs. products.
Is the Point of my work just the outcome, or am I taking joy in the journey.
In the book "The Doing of the Thing: The Brief, Brilliant Whitewater Career of Buzz Holstrom." He Talks about the joy of the journey, and once the journey is over, the end, is the least exciting part.
Sometimes, I think I am so focused on getting a good result that I rush to the kiln, instead of reveling in the process.
Leaving evidence of the process,
referencing the process in everything I do.
"Points of Grace; The little things left by hand, that cannot be duplicated by machine." Tom Marsh.
My homework from today was to watch "The Potters Meal" on youtube.
It is a special done on Joe Bennion, back in the 80's. He talks a lot in this movie about his inspiration and process, it was really cool and a really good watch if you've got 25 minutes.
"Art is the expression of human feeling in perceptible form." Suzanne Langor
Today we talked about small vessels such as bowls and cups.
My favorite was talking about the implied intimacy in a cup. That it will be held in someone's hand and put to their lips. When you think about it there is an inherent intimacy to a cup, or even a bowl. That very personal expectation that this "object" will be put to someone's mouth. Very cool.
I made a series of 7 of this cup.
I also made several bowls.
Joe talked about bowls as colonized space. That because of their shape they occupy more space than they do.
I also made several bowls and got to teach a few others some cool decorating things.
I went back that night and worked, and this is Lee, working across from me.
It was such a treat to work with colleagues, and not be in charge of anyone.
