Marcia Selsor Posted November 11, 2014 Report Share Posted November 11, 2014 What gets you back in the studio faster? New ideas, Throwing, sculpting, glazing or firing. For example, I love experimenting with firing. The means make more pots so I can fire . What gets you going? Marcia What gets you back in the studio faster? New ideas, Throwing, sculpting, glazing or firing. For example, I love experimenting with firing. That means make more pots so I can fire . What gets you going? Marcia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callie Beller Diesel Posted November 12, 2014 Report Share Posted November 12, 2014 I find there's nothing like a deadline to light the proverbial fire under my butt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clay lover Posted November 12, 2014 Report Share Posted November 12, 2014 I totally agree, as I hustle for this Sat. show! But , more often it is having a workshop in my studio. My students always inspire me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denice Posted November 12, 2014 Report Share Posted November 12, 2014 It's a tie between starting on a new project or getting close to the completion of one. I finally got my last glaze worked out for a mural that I have been working on for 6 months . I can't wait to get out to my shop to finish glazing and get it fired. Denice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ayjay Posted November 12, 2014 Report Share Posted November 12, 2014 What gets you back in the studio faster? New ideas, Throwing, sculpting, glazing or firing? Nicotine addiction - I don't smoke in the house (much). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Campbell Posted November 12, 2014 Report Share Posted November 12, 2014 Evaporation ... Deadlines ... Inspiration ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GEP Posted November 13, 2014 Report Share Posted November 13, 2014 All of my work is driven by deadlines. I don't think I ever make anything that isn't "due" soon. Yesterday I finished trimming my last two wholesale orders of the year, due on 11/24. And now I need to finish one last big cycle of work for my December shows, about $6000 worth of pots, for a show on 12/7 and for my open studio the following weekend. This doesn't mean I never experiment on new designs, but when I do I have a show date in mind for when I'm going to finish the project (or scrap it). I came from a long career as a designer, so deadlines are normal to me. If anyone thinks my answer takes the romance out of the idea of professional pottery, I'd say "who said it was romantic?" Fulfilling on a deeper level? Yes, there are many moments of euphoria/pride/satisfaction that result from this work. But in order to have that, the day-to-day life is about a high-rate productivity, and deadlines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
High Bridge Pottery Posted November 13, 2014 Report Share Posted November 13, 2014 If there is a kiln to open full of glazed pots I am there asap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joseph Fireborn Posted November 13, 2014 Report Share Posted November 13, 2014 Practice gets me out there. Practicing handles handles and more handles. I can't decide if my handles should be the same thickness as my cup rims or if they should be thicker. I like thicker, but then I feel like the mug feels uneven. Any insights? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GEP Posted November 13, 2014 Report Share Posted November 13, 2014 Practice gets me out there. Practicing handles handles and more handles. I can't decide if my handles should be the same thickness as my cup rims or if they should be thicker. I like thicker, but then I feel like the mug feels uneven. Any insights? I like handles that are a bit on the thick side. They are more comfortable to hold. It might seem unbalanced when the cup is empty, but will feel right when the cup is full. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joseph Fireborn Posted November 13, 2014 Report Share Posted November 13, 2014 Practice gets me out there. Practicing handles handles and more handles. I can't decide if my handles should be the same thickness as my cup rims or if they should be thicker. I like thicker, but then I feel like the mug feels uneven. Any insights? I like handles that are a bit on the thick side. They are more comfortable to hold. It might seem unbalanced when the cup is empty, but will feel right when the cup is full. That's my issue. I feel like if I go with thin handles the mug seems off balanced when full, if its thick handled it seems better balanced full. But when you look at the mug the walls of the mug are smaller than the handle of the mug. I will post some pictures of my handles next week and let you all decide on if they are too thick or not. I would appreciate any feedback and criticism. EDIT: looking at your handles Mea. I am so gonna just go crush all my mugs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcia Selsor Posted November 14, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 14, 2014 Grype, Mea's handle are very nice and balanced with the mug. My teacher, Paula Winokur, had a project to learn handles. Throw your tallest cylinder and apply and pull as many handles off of it that you can fit onto it. That gets the forming down. Then, and this exercise is mine: throw some mugs. Line them up along the edge of a table. Pull some long even handle shapes, cut them up into about 2-3" lengths, attach them to the mugs and pull the finished handle. That should help you figure out the size you need for the mugs and you can still have a beefy shape if you like. Pulling from the pot gives the handle a nice taper. Marcia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GEP Posted November 14, 2014 Report Share Posted November 14, 2014 It wasn't too long ago (maybe 7 years) that I made really bad handles, and I hated making them. I've put a lot of effort and practice into making them better and easier. I credit a lot of my growth to Tony Clennell's dvd on handle pulling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joseph Fireborn Posted November 14, 2014 Report Share Posted November 14, 2014 @Marcia, I pull my handles then attach them and pull them more. I will go take some pictures and post them, but they dont look as pleasing as Mea's. But I will keep practicing. Someone else mentioned doing something similar to what you said, called Octomugs where you put 8 handles on a mug, I guess I should start doing that as well and just crumble them after I am finished with the practice. Thanks for the advice. @Mea, I might get that DVD cause I really want to make a sound functional mug, thanks for the title. I see so many handles that I think look terrible, and I want to have a gorgeous handle on my mugs. EDIT: Here is an album of a handle that I feel is probably my best handle I've ever made(which isn't very good). Any criticism's would be most welcome. To me I feel like the handle is too big, but holding it feels pretty good, but I dont drink out of a mug ever, so I am making something I don't ever use. I much prefer bowls and tumblrs. Handles: http://s1183.photobucket.com/user/josephrosenblatt/library/Handles What I think I need to work on most is the shape of the handle to the mug, and when I attach the handle not smoothing the handle onto the mug, but just making a solid attachment. Then probably thinning the handle as it gets to the bottom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Branfman Posted November 15, 2014 Report Share Posted November 15, 2014 When verbal language is inadequate. The need to speak the language of clay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
High Bridge Pottery Posted November 16, 2014 Report Share Posted November 16, 2014 I gave up trying to smooth out handles. I put extra slip on and leave the ooze. I also gave up pulling handles off a pot or from a big lump of clay. Could never get the hang of it. I tried to learn but it never worked for me. Never tried to make big handles this way. I had some footage knocking around and a lack of sleep so I decided to make a video showing how I do it. Just my interpretation of how to pull a handle. I probably read/saw it somewhere but I don't remember Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcia Selsor Posted November 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2014 Nice video and good handles. I pull mine with less pulls. I have noticed how old my hands are looking and had to comment on how young your hands are. Keep up the good work for many years to come. Marcia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
High Bridge Pottery Posted November 16, 2014 Report Share Posted November 16, 2014 Yea I am probably not the most economical with my movements but when I try and do it in less I end up going too thin. I have to sneak up on them I am only 24 so I wouldn't go comparing my hands with yours. I am sure your hands have many more stories to tell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joseph Fireborn Posted November 16, 2014 Report Share Posted November 16, 2014 Looking good HBP. I put my handles on much wetter than you do. I pull them and like 5 minutes later apply them to the mugs. Either way looking good. Thanks for the video. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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