Mudslinger Ceramics Posted July 7, 2013 Report Share Posted July 7, 2013 Hi all Wondering what other potters do with their product 'seconds? I have smashed the pitiable ones, I have given many away to friends until eyes glaze and smiles freeze at another pot I have damaged the maker's mark and sold them cheaply at school fetes and carpark markets well away from my gallery and high end outlets but....after 12 years I'm running out of ideas. I don't mean the really horrible 'seconds' which deserve a new life as mosaic .....but those with a small fault that are still functional but not 'good enough' for the regular outlets where high quality and reputation are essential to good business. Talking faults like.......small 'S' crack under the foot ring, pin hole that won't heal in refire, post fire warp, glaze not the 'right' colour, pre-loved experiments....etc What do you do with your pottery 'seconds'? regards, Irene Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biglou13 Posted July 7, 2013 Report Share Posted July 7, 2013 Irene, I am planning on to use the technique of a crossed out chop mark for seconds.( Dremel tool) Leaving firsts with "whole" chop mark. (If can ever make a mark that I like) But ultimately too many of these seconds in a market will dilute your body of work It's often said "you are only as good as your last worst piece" As an artist it's important to learn to edit. Which as potters can be difficult because if the work process. Take a photographer for instance he may shoot 1000 frames for a 5 picture story. I'm not saying you need to crash 99.5 % of your work. But I've heard of amazing high percentages of edits of tea bowls makers Potters tend to be frugal, and are bound by some rule of conservation......it also it is bond with material possessions Freeing your self of these bonds may free you up spiritually and creatively But since your asking it sounds like your having issues letting go of these pieces. If your pottery sculpture garden is full try giving the pieces to a charitable organization, here your work continues giving!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Campbell Posted July 7, 2013 Report Share Posted July 7, 2013 I got this from another potter ... if you have a yard, start building a wall with them ... or a rock garden .... or just put them outside in your existing plantings. Amazing how they start looking better in a few years as they age and have things live in or grow on them. If you do smash them use the shards as mulch in areas where you want to discourage squirrels ... they will not walk across sharp stuff to get at your flowers and seeds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diane Puckett Posted July 7, 2013 Report Share Posted July 7, 2013 Local charitable second hand stores. I hate to throw away something knowing someone else can put it to good use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcia Selsor Posted July 7, 2013 Report Share Posted July 7, 2013 They get the hammer. I don't want to run into them at a garage sale. Marcia http://ceramicartsdaily.org/potters-council/alternative-firing-surfaces/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trina Posted July 7, 2013 Report Share Posted July 7, 2013 I hammer the majority, but the ones i can't part with get the garden. I never ever ever sell seconds.... EVER. T Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benzine Posted July 7, 2013 Report Share Posted July 7, 2013 I've got a few sitting around my house and in my classroom, that turned out "well enough". The others that have no redeeming qualities, either don't make it to the bisque firing and end up reclaimed, and those that do meet with a lot of sudden force, that changes their structural makeup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JBaymore Posted July 8, 2013 Report Share Posted July 8, 2013 I don't mean the really horrible 'seconds' which deserve a new life as mosaic .....but those with a small fault that are still functional but not 'good enough' for the regular outlets where high quality and reputation are essential to good business. Talking faults like.......small 'S' crack under the foot ring, pin hole that won't heal in refire, post fire warp, glaze not the 'right' colour, pre-loved experiments....etc To the shard pit with em'. IMO....... selling seconds can de-value your other work....and once the piece is out of your hands...... it is representing you out in the world. You sell it to someone as a second... and they then give it as a wedding gift to someone....... and you can BET they will not mention it is a "second" in that context. Potential long term loss for short term gain. Price the firsts to make up for the seconds, thirds and so on. And work get your process controlled so that the percentage of less than firsts is very low. best, .............john Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJR Posted July 8, 2013 Report Share Posted July 8, 2013 Smash them with a hammer. Feels great. TJR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrgpots Posted July 8, 2013 Report Share Posted July 8, 2013 Hammer them, ball mill them, add the powder to resin and make a garden walk. The longer the walk, the longer you've been in business. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kohaku Posted July 8, 2013 Report Share Posted July 8, 2013 To the shard pit with em'. IMO....... selling seconds can de-value your other work....and once the piece is out of your hands...... it is representing you out in the world. You sell it to someone as a second... and they then give it as a wedding gift to someone....... and you can BET they will not mention it is a "second" in that context. Potential long term loss for short term gain. Price the firsts to make up for the seconds, thirds and so on. And work get your process controlled so that the percentage of less than firsts is very low. best, .............john Just to test this general 'smash'm' notion a bit.... I make raku plates with etched designs. These are pretty finicky- all stages included, it takes about 2 hours to generate one of these. Failure rates in the raku firing run about one in three or four. Given that these pieces are inherently decorative (no functional use possible), and that 'cracking' is sort of inate to the asethetics of raku... what would people think about carefully mending and selling one of these? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benzine Posted July 8, 2013 Report Share Posted July 8, 2013 Being as they aren't functional, I don't see why this would be a problem. It's not like it's a piece of dinner/ serving ware, where it will be heated and cooled, causing it to rebreak. It also won't be used with food, potentially making someone sick. If you can mend the piece, without it being noticeable, I don't see an issue. You could always drop the price on that one a bit. On a side note, I really like those plates. Great colors, great design. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kohaku Posted July 8, 2013 Report Share Posted July 8, 2013 Being as they aren't functional, I don't see why this would be a problem. It's not like it's a piece of dinner/ serving ware, where it will be heated and cooled, causing it to rebreak. It also won't be used with food, potentially making someone sick. If you can mend the piece, without it being noticeable, I don't see an issue. You could always drop the price on that one a bit. On a side note, I really like those plates. Great colors, great design. Thanks- very kind of you. I was happy with how this one turned out... especially in light of the colors of the fish it was based on (Ling Cod- see below). While I agree in general that one shouldn't get over-attached to ones work, raku is so fickle that I really really hate to smash this one.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pres Posted July 9, 2013 Report Share Posted July 9, 2013 Told this story before, somewhere here. Put over one hundred of my unwanted pots on my back porch open to an alley. These were from grad classes at Penn State summers-I kept the keepers. By the following Spring the porch was empty. Occasionally, I'll walk into someones home and see a pot on a mantle, in a corner, on a coffee table. Pick it up and find the signature. Never said a word. I don't think most people connect me with then. Some of them actually point it out that they bought it somewhere etc. Most of these were Raku or ^9 stoneware. Never sold any from that time in life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benzine Posted July 9, 2013 Report Share Posted July 9, 2013 Told this story before, somewhere here. Put over one hundred of my unwanted pots on my back porch open to an alley. These were from grad classes at Penn State summers-I kept the keepers. By the following Spring the porch was empty. Occasionally, I'll walk into someones home and see a pot on a mantle, in a corner, on a coffee table. Pick it up and find the signature. Never said a word. I don't think most people connect me with then. Some of them actually point it out that they bought it somewhere etc. Most of these were Raku or ^9 stoneware. Never sold any from that time in life. Was your intention for them to disappear? Or is it just something that gradually happened on its own? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
potziller Posted July 9, 2013 Report Share Posted July 9, 2013 Hi Irene, Mozaics perhaps? Re-tile the bathroom/kitchen splash back? Give 'em to the other type of potter; those folk who plant up in pots - they'll know what to de with 'em! Grind them up for grog and other intersting inclusion experiement? Hope I haven't added to your headache! V:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
potziller Posted July 9, 2013 Report Share Posted July 9, 2013 To the shard pit with em'. IMO....... selling seconds can de-value your other work....and once the piece is out of your hands...... it is representing you out in the world. You sell it to someone as a second... and they then give it as a wedding gift to someone....... and you can BET they will not mention it is a "second" in that context. Potential long term loss for short term gain. Price the firsts to make up for the seconds, thirds and so on. And work get your process controlled so that the percentage of less than firsts is very low. best, .............john Just to test this general 'smash'm' notion a bit.... I make raku plates with etched designs. These are pretty finicky- all stages included, it takes about 2 hours to generate one of these. Failure rates in the raku firing run about one in three or four. Given that these pieces are inherently decorative (no functional use possible), and that 'cracking' is sort of inate to the asethetics of raku... what would people think about carefully mending and selling one of these? Makienaoshi (maki-e). Yobitsogi. Kintsugi. Gintsugi. Google.............. Now, if memory serves....................Kintsugi translates to something like 'Golden Joinery' (if Wiki is to be believed). There's an example in my local museum and interestingly enough, it's a bowl with two fish on it! I have a pic of it, but I haven't sussed how to get images into this comment forum yet (any hints would be great!). Or you could do as my tutor always suggests, "let it go and make another" Making another pot is always good! V:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Campbell Posted July 9, 2013 Report Share Posted July 9, 2013 The new instant glues are very improved and work very well on ceramics. Just check the labels for usages. You follow the directions and I think you only have to hold them together for a minute. Key is not to use too much glue. Then glue a permanent backing of some kind for support and so no one tries to use it for anything else. For this job i have used both epoxy and silicone. i like the clear silicone because it is flexible. Glue your hanging hardware on and you are good to go. I have also framed the two pieces leaving the crack showing in the middle ... looked very cool and sold quickly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pres Posted July 9, 2013 Report Share Posted July 9, 2013 Told this story before, somewhere here. Put over one hundred of my unwanted pots on my back porch open to an alley. These were from grad classes at Penn State summers-I kept the keepers. By the following Spring the porch was empty. Occasionally, I'll walk into someones home and see a pot on a mantle, in a corner, on a coffee table. Pick it up and find the signature. Never said a word. I don't think most people connect me with then. Some of them actually point it out that they bought it somewhere etc. Most of these were Raku or ^9 stoneware. Never sold any from that time in life. Was your intention for them to disappear? Or is it just something that gradually happened on its own? My intention was to get them out of the 3 room house-they were ringing like crazy every night keeping us awake. These days nothing makes it to bisque if it isn't up to snuff, and if it does, it never makes it to glaze. For those that crack in glaze firing, trash. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted July 9, 2013 Report Share Posted July 9, 2013 Thanks- very kind of you. I was happy with how this one turned out... especially in light of the colors of the fish it was based on (Ling Cod- see below). While I agree in general that one shouldn't get over-attached to ones work, raku is so fickle that I really really hate to smash this one.... Hey there-this underwater looks like it was taken off Montery-do you have any onfo on that?? You can tell its off Cal-coast by the hydro corals which have a narrow range. mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kohaku Posted July 10, 2013 Report Share Posted July 10, 2013 Hey there-this underwater looks like it was taken off Montery-do you have any onfo on that?? You can tell its off Cal-coast by the hydro corals which have a narrow range. mark Mark... The photo is from a marine photographer named Kawika Chetron. Northern California- near Eureka. Really sad story- Kawika disapeared on a dive a few years back. I'm currently working towards getting into cold water diving. All my dives have been in Hawaii and Borneo and places like that... yet I'm an avid B.C. sea kayaker with a father on the Olympic Peninsula. Everything I've heard suggests that the diving in those areas is incredible... Edit... Carmel Bay... not Eureka... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted July 10, 2013 Report Share Posted July 10, 2013 (The photo is from a marine photographer named Kawika Chetron. Northern California- near Eureka. Really sad story- Kawika disapeared on a dive a few years back.) I know the story well as I cleaned his boat after his death before his parents took it away .My diver friend did the dive looking for him at his anchored boat off a coast guard cutter when they found the boat.My dive friends told him not to go alone to that spot. I live and dive where this all took place near Eureka and have been cold water diving since a boy. I reconized the place of the ling as I have shot many a roll underwater in Carmel Bay off my boat. small world you know. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kohaku Posted July 10, 2013 Report Share Posted July 10, 2013 (The photo is from a marine photographer named Kawika Chetron. Northern California- near Eureka. Really sad story- Kawika disapeared on a dive a few years back.) I know the story well as I cleaned his boat after his death before his parents took it away .My diver friend did the dive looking for him at his anchored boat off a coast guard cutter when they found the boat.My dive friends told him not to go alone to that spot. I live and dive where this all took place near Eureka and have been cold water diving since a boy. I reconized the place of the ling as I have shot many a roll underwater in Carmel Bay off my boat. small world you know. Mark Yeah no kidding- small world. I'd definitely love to dive that area once I've completed the plunge into dry suit work. Anyhow, I'm a long time admirer of the guy's photography (I've never seen better photos of harbor seals, among other things), and was really shaken to hear about his loss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted July 10, 2013 Report Share Posted July 10, 2013 Dry suit is a must have to be comfortable-I own several. Idaho is a ways from the sea. I do art show in Anacortes Wa. 1st weekend in August then dive Keystone underwater park for a few days afterward taking underwater photos. Been doing this there for over 20 years now. Its a good mix- clay and dive. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benzine Posted July 10, 2013 Report Share Posted July 10, 2013 I'd love to go diving someday, especially around some ruins or ship wrecks. Have either of you seen those recent pics of those free divers? Pretty awesome: http://www.redesignrevolution.com/photos-free-diving-yucatan-peninsula-mexico/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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