So the semester got rolling and I didn't get to my 50/50 goal. I feel accomplished for what I have done, already over 50 things. I have glazed 30 items already and we will hopefully be lighting the kiln tonight. I have made a few more whiskey jugs, and something I'm very proud of- a casserole dish. It's a decent size, I'm excited. I made a lid for it also, essentially a shallow bowl. I want to try and make a few plates doing the same thing, I'll try and attempt that soon.
But what I really wanted to make a blog about are these videos of Korean Onggi pottery. This is a family tradition of making these pots that a lot of traditional korean food is stored in. These guys are incredible to watch, each coil is hand rolled and each vessel is coil built on a wheel and then man handled to get a good form. It is crazy to watch these forms start and then 30 minutes later be full pots.
I hope you enjoy this set of videos as much as I have.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Update! Woot!
Guess what I'm listening to? The new Guns 'n' Roses. Oddly enough, it's not that bad. Weird, seriously.
Anyway- This isn't about my music tastes. I said I would talk about what I've been up to lately, this past two weeks. A lot! Well, I had a goal of doing 50 bowls and 50 mugs, to start off with. I haven't reached it yet, the total right now is at 13 bowls, 21 mugs. Plus a few minor other things, including my first lidded piece. I watched a video from Simon about throwing a lid for a jam / sugar jar. It worked! Ha!
The first day I sat and decided to get started, I wanted to work on bowls and see how I could play around with 1.5 pounds and see about getting a good shape. I used a bowl from the house as a guide, set up a lump of clay / paintbrush guide and set to work. I didn't get any pictures of them, I was able to bring them up to school before the semester actually ended. The second thing I sat down and worked on was seeing what size I could get with 1.5 pounds of clay in a mug. I wanted to work on pulling, more evenly, and handles. I sat and threw six mugs at that time. So far, after each of these dried and were trimmed, they are right at 1 pound. This is still just bone dry, not bisqued.
Out of those mugs, I was satisfied with really one of the forms, but not fully, I wanted to explore it. It shaped up similar to the one to the left. I am attracted to the wide thick foot and what I've been calling "the fat bottom." I think the curve there is comforting to the hands when held, you can cup it almost. The flared lip also helps in that you can grab the mug without it slipping through your hand. The handles I am getting a lot better at, a lot thinner and and more proportionate. The handles I try to make a pretty decent size, I was aiming for 2-3 of my fingers in each one. I think a small framed person could probably grab the handle with their full hand. We'll see after they're fired and glazed, I'm expecting shrinkage (insert inner child giggle).
I am running out of space in my shop, I need to call a friend of mine who was willing to give me a shelving unit. Industrial aluminum sheet pan shelving, double deep, and on wheels. In the pictures some of the bowls I threw as well as a spread of my mugs. You can also see the lil lidded thing I threw, I think it came out kind of cute. Better then I thought it would at least. I want to keep making these and work on getting pretty big ones, and also work on putting a rimmed lid on the lips. I'd like to be able to make some casserole dishes. I love the idea of making what I use to cook. I also hope to one day make the sinks for my bathroom when I get my own studio. Wouldn't that be awesome?? I like the bowls pictured here, can't really see them, but they stack so well. I think its part of the craftsmanship that they stack and fit so well for being so close to the same size. I threw some bowls after these that didn't fit as well, I ended up crushing one on accident.
I started using a new clay body, Balcones Cone 10 White. It is pretty nice, very fine grog and smooths over very nicely. The drawback I've had lately has to deal as much with the humidity and changing climate as anything else, slow drying. I was worried about drying these out too quick or them drying without me knowing. So it took literally like 3-4 days for these to be ready to trim, in comparison- the mugs above were thrown one day and trimmed the next. A bowl I threw was a happy mistake. The clay I had to reknead and throw a second time because I had messed up on a mug, I think it was telling me it wanted to be a bowl. But after I threw the bowl I did this kind of squared off flower type design, also picked up from SLeach. It's come out pretty nice, isn't perfect but optically it's correct.
A new thing I made with some quick brainstorming is a gauge for repeat throwing. I was using the clay and brush technique but I left some clay out and it dried out over night and I wanted a method that wouldn't let me waste clay. What I came up with is some wood scraps that I sanded down and screwed together. The verticle piece has a scrap flat piece of plywood attached to it and a small C clamp holding it to my wheel body. At the top of the verticle piece, the arm is attached using a pretty long screw, gives it stability. What I did different is leave the screw out about a quarter inch or so allowing me the ability to spin the arm and position it where I please. On the end of the arm is a few short hex screws with hex heads. The problem was the plasticene could be smoothed out but it isn't sticky, so it wouldn't stay on the end of the arm. By placing the screws there, it gives the clay enough room to grab onto something and not slide off. Ta-da! This gauge allows me to remove and replace my splash pan without disrupting its position also. The flexible arm allows me to easily move the arm out of the way in order to use my cut-off wires and then move the arm back in position.
I forgot to mention that I made my own cut-off wire also, I enjoy making my own tools. I had a discussion with a friend about this last night- I am attracted to tradition and some of the ideas around that. I feel that being hands on when building something is special, and I feel that there is a lost gap between what was and what is now. A lot of people lost touch with the craft society and bought into commercialized, industrialized ceramics. Being able to connect with tradition and do it respect by attempting to revive and regain the strength in the average home is something I wish to achieve. I am trying to do this in different ways, making my own tools, throwing useable forms, etc. I also am trying to get some stamps for my initials and something to show my location- I am thinking a lone star. I feel that scribing my name on the bottom is detracting from the form. Who knows, I may be alone in this feeling. I just know my signature is ugly in my opinion, and I don't see myself being satisfied with it anytime soon.
This blogs gotten a bit long, whoops. I'm wasting time at work right now, so I'm enjoying it too much. I was trying to find an example of a stamped rim, but I am having no luck. O well. I'll check in later! I hope the books I ordered arrive soon...
Anyway- This isn't about my music tastes. I said I would talk about what I've been up to lately, this past two weeks. A lot! Well, I had a goal of doing 50 bowls and 50 mugs, to start off with. I haven't reached it yet, the total right now is at 13 bowls, 21 mugs. Plus a few minor other things, including my first lidded piece. I watched a video from Simon about throwing a lid for a jam / sugar jar. It worked! Ha!
The first day I sat and decided to get started, I wanted to work on bowls and see how I could play around with 1.5 pounds and see about getting a good shape. I used a bowl from the house as a guide, set up a lump of clay / paintbrush guide and set to work. I didn't get any pictures of them, I was able to bring them up to school before the semester actually ended. The second thing I sat down and worked on was seeing what size I could get with 1.5 pounds of clay in a mug. I wanted to work on pulling, more evenly, and handles. I sat and threw six mugs at that time. So far, after each of these dried and were trimmed, they are right at 1 pound. This is still just bone dry, not bisqued.
Out of those mugs, I was satisfied with really one of the forms, but not fully, I wanted to explore it. It shaped up similar to the one to the left. I am attracted to the wide thick foot and what I've been calling "the fat bottom." I think the curve there is comforting to the hands when held, you can cup it almost. The flared lip also helps in that you can grab the mug without it slipping through your hand. The handles I am getting a lot better at, a lot thinner and and more proportionate. The handles I try to make a pretty decent size, I was aiming for 2-3 of my fingers in each one. I think a small framed person could probably grab the handle with their full hand. We'll see after they're fired and glazed, I'm expecting shrinkage (insert inner child giggle).
I am running out of space in my shop, I need to call a friend of mine who was willing to give me a shelving unit. Industrial aluminum sheet pan shelving, double deep, and on wheels. In the pictures some of the bowls I threw as well as a spread of my mugs. You can also see the lil lidded thing I threw, I think it came out kind of cute. Better then I thought it would at least. I want to keep making these and work on getting pretty big ones, and also work on putting a rimmed lid on the lips. I'd like to be able to make some casserole dishes. I love the idea of making what I use to cook. I also hope to one day make the sinks for my bathroom when I get my own studio. Wouldn't that be awesome?? I like the bowls pictured here, can't really see them, but they stack so well. I think its part of the craftsmanship that they stack and fit so well for being so close to the same size. I threw some bowls after these that didn't fit as well, I ended up crushing one on accident.
I started using a new clay body, Balcones Cone 10 White. It is pretty nice, very fine grog and smooths over very nicely. The drawback I've had lately has to deal as much with the humidity and changing climate as anything else, slow drying. I was worried about drying these out too quick or them drying without me knowing. So it took literally like 3-4 days for these to be ready to trim, in comparison- the mugs above were thrown one day and trimmed the next. A bowl I threw was a happy mistake. The clay I had to reknead and throw a second time because I had messed up on a mug, I think it was telling me it wanted to be a bowl. But after I threw the bowl I did this kind of squared off flower type design, also picked up from SLeach. It's come out pretty nice, isn't perfect but optically it's correct.
A new thing I made with some quick brainstorming is a gauge for repeat throwing. I was using the clay and brush technique but I left some clay out and it dried out over night and I wanted a method that wouldn't let me waste clay. What I came up with is some wood scraps that I sanded down and screwed together. The verticle piece has a scrap flat piece of plywood attached to it and a small C clamp holding it to my wheel body. At the top of the verticle piece, the arm is attached using a pretty long screw, gives it stability. What I did different is leave the screw out about a quarter inch or so allowing me the ability to spin the arm and position it where I please. On the end of the arm is a few short hex screws with hex heads. The problem was the plasticene could be smoothed out but it isn't sticky, so it wouldn't stay on the end of the arm. By placing the screws there, it gives the clay enough room to grab onto something and not slide off. Ta-da! This gauge allows me to remove and replace my splash pan without disrupting its position also. The flexible arm allows me to easily move the arm out of the way in order to use my cut-off wires and then move the arm back in position.I forgot to mention that I made my own cut-off wire also, I enjoy making my own tools. I had a discussion with a friend about this last night- I am attracted to tradition and some of the ideas around that. I feel that being hands on when building something is special, and I feel that there is a lost gap between what was and what is now. A lot of people lost touch with the craft society and bought into commercialized, industrialized ceramics. Being able to connect with tradition and do it respect by attempting to revive and regain the strength in the average home is something I wish to achieve. I am trying to do this in different ways, making my own tools, throwing useable forms, etc. I also am trying to get some stamps for my initials and something to show my location- I am thinking a lone star. I feel that scribing my name on the bottom is detracting from the form. Who knows, I may be alone in this feeling. I just know my signature is ugly in my opinion, and I don't see myself being satisfied with it anytime soon.
This blogs gotten a bit long, whoops. I'm wasting time at work right now, so I'm enjoying it too much. I was trying to find an example of a stamped rim, but I am having no luck. O well. I'll check in later! I hope the books I ordered arrive soon...
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Quick Teapot Video
I came across this video a few months back and added it to my favorites so I could post it here. The video is of a Japanese potter throwing a teapot in one sitting- body, spout, handle, lid- all in under 5 minutes. Check it out and be amazed as I was. Great guy, I wish I knew more about him so I could relay more information to you.
Overdue Update
Hello everybody, I'm terribly sorry for the long pause in updating. It's not like I have many readers, but I did say I would try and update more regularly and I let myself down on that one.
But, just because I haven't made any posts lately doesn't mean I have been slacking! I have actually been pretty busy as of late. I'll try to explain everything that's gone on.
In early November, my ceramic class and professor made a trip to Houston to check out a few galleries and to swing by The Ceramic Store Houston. We were able to stop by 18 Hands Gallery on 19th St. as well as the Houston Center for Contemporary Crafts. At the HCCC there was an exhibit over Warren McKenzie (pictured above), who is an American potter who studied under Bernard Leach for three years. Bernard Leach is Simon Leach's grandfather and was a contemporary of Shoji Hamada. All of these people I highly look up to for their aesthetics and abilities. What they have accomplished in the ceramic world is amazing in my eyes and it was amazing to see so much of Warren's material in one spot. Also on this trip I was able to pick up some tools for my wheel here at the house, so the trip was great all around. I also got to see one of my best friends, Jodi, who had just gotten out of adominal surgery. It was a hoot traversing the medical district, but I was glad to see her and know she was ok.
During our stop at the 18 Hands Gallery, I met Kathy Blossom who is Volunteer Chair for Clay Houston, and was offered an opportunity to volunteer at Clay Houston's Clay Festival. My professor, Linnis Blanton, was participating in the festival as an exhibitor so I felt it would be benfitial to show up and help anyway I could. A friend of mine, Chelsy, accompanied me to Houston on the 7th where we volunteered mostly at the kids table. The festival was pretty nice, a lot of great work and very nice people. I was able to meet Lotus, a Houston clay artist, who has a great way of working. Her pieces generally are biker-esque, much like bandannas twills worked in with skulls and metallic studs. I really enjoyed the trip, working with kids has always been a joy of mine. I wouldn't want to do it for a living, but seeing them happy is great. There were a few kids who had been coming for a few years to the festival, which I thought was awesome. I had never heard of Clay Houston until this past year personally.
The next big thing to happen was our ceramic class critique that left me rather depressed. I was largely unhappy with what I had produced over this past semester. I had all intentions of working on craft and trying to graduate this upcoming spring semester. My professor and my thesis committee chair agreed that I was far from ready and that a lot of work needed to be done before I could graduate. Huge shot to my ego, but I sucked it up and believe it will be a good thing. To the right is me with some of the things I threw this past semester. The one jug I was really proud of is cut off on the right hand side, but you can get the jest. All of my mugs were way to heavy and most had extruded handles. I have been working hard on getting good forms and sizes down, as well as pulling my own handles. A lot of the items from this past semester I've already given away as gifts to family, big step for me. You can see more pictures from my classes critique at my friend Jodi's blog, All Is Truth.
After the critique, the next big thing was our class show Fire and Ice at The Ice House Museum in Silsbee, Texas. It was a very nice show, looked great. I was a little let down that out of the 5 pieces I submitted, only 4 were accepted. The one piece that was left out, I felt was one of my best items and would have easily sold. When I got there, all my name tags were out for the pieces, but that last piece wasn't there and my professor told me "Well it must not have made it in the show." To top that off, my aunt showed up and told me she'd like to purchase a piece of mine. I told her not to as in I would just give it to her after the show. She disregarded what I said and bought two of my 4 pieces in the show and THEN proceed to take them home with her, on the day of the opening. So for the duration of this show, I've had two pieces in it. The least amount of pieces of anyone now. Another shot to my ego, but this whole semester has been hectic. Dropping thesis, hurricanes, medical issues, etc. One thing after another.
As for what I have been doing lately... well... I'm going to reserve that for another post. I have pictures and a good bit to talk about. So, I swear to it- I'll get that update sooner than later. Hopefully today or tomorrow, no promises ;)
But, just because I haven't made any posts lately doesn't mean I have been slacking! I have actually been pretty busy as of late. I'll try to explain everything that's gone on.
In early November, my ceramic class and professor made a trip to Houston to check out a few galleries and to swing by The Ceramic Store Houston. We were able to stop by 18 Hands Gallery on 19th St. as well as the Houston Center for Contemporary Crafts. At the HCCC there was an exhibit over Warren McKenzie (pictured above), who is an American potter who studied under Bernard Leach for three years. Bernard Leach is Simon Leach's grandfather and was a contemporary of Shoji Hamada. All of these people I highly look up to for their aesthetics and abilities. What they have accomplished in the ceramic world is amazing in my eyes and it was amazing to see so much of Warren's material in one spot. Also on this trip I was able to pick up some tools for my wheel here at the house, so the trip was great all around. I also got to see one of my best friends, Jodi, who had just gotten out of adominal surgery. It was a hoot traversing the medical district, but I was glad to see her and know she was ok.During our stop at the 18 Hands Gallery, I met Kathy Blossom who is Volunteer Chair for Clay Houston, and was offered an opportunity to volunteer at Clay Houston's Clay Festival. My professor, Linnis Blanton, was participating in the festival as an exhibitor so I felt it would be benfitial to show up and help anyway I could. A friend of mine, Chelsy, accompanied me to Houston on the 7th where we volunteered mostly at the kids table. The festival was pretty nice, a lot of great work and very nice people. I was able to meet Lotus, a Houston clay artist, who has a great way of working. Her pieces generally are biker-esque, much like bandannas twills worked in with skulls and metallic studs. I really enjoyed the trip, working with kids has always been a joy of mine. I wouldn't want to do it for a living, but seeing them happy is great. There were a few kids who had been coming for a few years to the festival, which I thought was awesome. I had never heard of Clay Houston until this past year personally.
The next big thing to happen was our ceramic class critique that left me rather depressed. I was largely unhappy with what I had produced over this past semester. I had all intentions of working on craft and trying to graduate this upcoming spring semester. My professor and my thesis committee chair agreed that I was far from ready and that a lot of work needed to be done before I could graduate. Huge shot to my ego, but I sucked it up and believe it will be a good thing. To the right is me with some of the things I threw this past semester. The one jug I was really proud of is cut off on the right hand side, but you can get the jest. All of my mugs were way to heavy and most had extruded handles. I have been working hard on getting good forms and sizes down, as well as pulling my own handles. A lot of the items from this past semester I've already given away as gifts to family, big step for me. You can see more pictures from my classes critique at my friend Jodi's blog, All Is Truth.
After the critique, the next big thing was our class show Fire and Ice at The Ice House Museum in Silsbee, Texas. It was a very nice show, looked great. I was a little let down that out of the 5 pieces I submitted, only 4 were accepted. The one piece that was left out, I felt was one of my best items and would have easily sold. When I got there, all my name tags were out for the pieces, but that last piece wasn't there and my professor told me "Well it must not have made it in the show." To top that off, my aunt showed up and told me she'd like to purchase a piece of mine. I told her not to as in I would just give it to her after the show. She disregarded what I said and bought two of my 4 pieces in the show and THEN proceed to take them home with her, on the day of the opening. So for the duration of this show, I've had two pieces in it. The least amount of pieces of anyone now. Another shot to my ego, but this whole semester has been hectic. Dropping thesis, hurricanes, medical issues, etc. One thing after another.As for what I have been doing lately... well... I'm going to reserve that for another post. I have pictures and a good bit to talk about. So, I swear to it- I'll get that update sooner than later. Hopefully today or tomorrow, no promises ;)
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