New projects

Taking a break from porcelain tests this month. Here's a couple photos of one of the new shapes I'll be making. This one's whatcha call a 'spoon tidy', if you're English (you keep spoons in it).

As you can see, I'm experimenting with darker clay. Studio's a mess!

Colored porcelain tests

So, I've been spending the last few weeks making these clay tests. None have been fired yet (I'm planning of once-firing the first batch in a couple of weeks), but I've still learned a few things in making them:

• Grolleg porcelain is *very* non-plastic
• Grolleg porcelain with 1-15% mason stain is even *less* plasitc
• Soft porcelain is easier to throw than stiff porcelain
• Not so sure I want to work with porcelain anymore!
• wedging tiny 100g pieces of clay gives you "Nintendo thumb"
• Practice makes perfect (or at least adequate); After 100 or so of these I've more or less got the hang of throwing tiny cylinders
• Really be sure you want to do it before you commit to a 2-month project!

Anyhow, I'm kind of settling into the process and finding making multiples of the same shape a bit mantra-like. Even if I end up moving in some other direction with the work, I think I'd like keep the repetitive aspect of it, maybe making a batch of the same piece before moving on to another. Fun as design is, I'm finding it very engaging to work repetitively. Paradoxically, it seems like the shape is resolving itself a bit more thoroughly when I work this way than it does when I design on paper/computer. Highly recommend working this way, even if only for a month or two.

Here's a particularly nice yellow-orange (Mason #4685); 1.5% on the left, then 3%, then 6%, finally 12% on the right:

As you can see, the color goes straight through:

Only 36 more colors to go!

Zuzana Licko

Here's an example of a ceramics artist with a really solid body of work. Typeface designer Zuzana Licko makes *only* vases under about 10" tall in 4 or so basic shapes, with only a couple of different decorative motifs and a very limited glaze palette, yet there is astonishing variety to her work; no two pieces are alike, but they're all readily identifiable as her work.

Emigre Ceramics

Sketchup model of Brent kickwheel (kit)

Hey now!

I've posted a Google SketchUp model of my potters wheel, the Brent kickwheel kit on the web. Download it for free here!

Cheers,
Jay

Ceramics 911 resources

Hi folks,

Here are some resources for those of you who attended the 'Ceramics-911' workshop at the Arts And Crafts Center of the Reitz Union at the University of Florida on May 26, 2009.


Stay tuned; I'll be posting drawings with weights and measures of a lidded casserole similar to this one by potter John Leach (brother of Simon, below). I'll also be posting a drawing of a low serving bowl.





Simon Leach videos on YouTube




Simon Leach is an English potter currently living in Spain. Simon Leach's grandfather, Bernard Leach, was a British studio potter and art teacher. He is regarded as the "Father of British studio pottery." Simon has produced hundreds of excellent short videos about pottery and pottery technique and posted them on YouTube for free. Below are a few of what I think are his best videos for beginners.

A closer look at kneading
How to knead your clay using the spiral method

Wot kneading again!
Kneading from a different angle.

Tips on centering
How to center your clay

cross section of cylinder
Throwing a cylinder

Here a couple handouts I've made for my Beginning Throwing class:

Tumbler working drawing & notes (Adobe PDF)
This is a fully annotated, actual-size drawing of a tumbler (handleless cup) similar to this one by studio potter Sam Taylor, with clay weight and dimensions (Adobe PDF).

wedging notes 20090130.pdf
Notes on clay condition, which can make a huge difference in how easy it is to get your clay centered. (Adobe PDF).

Finally, I put together a couple of "cheat sheets" specifically for this workshop (Google Docs):

Ceramics weights and measures cheat sheet
A table of 6 small pots, their dimension, and the amount of clay needed to make them

Ceramics 911 tips sheet
Some quick fixes to common pottery problems

Cheers,
Jay

My Etsy store is online!

Come see my new Etsy store- this is where I'll post new pots as they come out of the kiln.

Since I'm committing to running some intensive clay tests for the next two months (May and June 2009), look for some new stuff towards the end of July.

Learn to throw pots on the potters wheel this summer

Hi Folks,
Here's your chance to Learn to throw pots on the potters wheel!

I'll be teaching two three-week mini-courses this summer. Each course costs $60, $50 if you're a UF student.

Classes will be held at the Arts and Crafts Center in the Reitz Union on the University of Florida campus.

Arts and Crafts > Ceramics: Tumblers - Course #8044

Learn the magic of transforming clay into useful and beautiful pots on the potter’s wheel. We’ll focus on making the tumbler form during this 3 week mini-course. No previous clay experience is necessary. The registration fee provides you with a complimentary membership to the Arts & Crafts Center from 5/21 to 6/04 and six pounds of clay. If you wish to purchase additional clay the cost is $6 for 6 pounds or a quantity rate of $20 for 25 pounds. Lockers are available for rent at the Arts & Crafts Center for $15. Dress to get "muddy" and wear closed-toe shoes to class.You must be at least 16 years old to participate.

• Student Price: $50.00
• Alumni Price: $60.00
• Staff Price: $60.00
• General Public: $60.00

• Instructor: Jay Wiese
• Dates: Tuesday, June 02, 2009 - Tuesday, June 16, 2009
• Meets: Tuesday from 5-7 pm
• Location: J. Wayne Reitz Union
• Number of classes: 3
• Class size: 10
• Seats available: 10

Arts and Crafts > Ceramics: Bowls - Course #8071

Learn the magic of transforming clay into useful and beautiful pots on the potter’s wheel. We’ll focus on making the bowl form during this 3 week mini-course. No previous clay experience is necessary. The registration fee provides you with a complimentary membership to the Arts & Crafts Center from 7/14 to 7/31 and six pounds of clay. If you wish to purchase additional clay the cost is $6 for 6 pounds or a quantity rate of $20 for 25 pounds. Lockers are available for rent at the Arts & Crafts Center for $15. Dress to get "muddy" and wear closed-toe shoes to class.You must be at least 16 years old to participate.

• Student Price: $50.00
• Alumni Price: $60.00
• Staff Price: $60.00
• General Public: $60.00

• Instructor: Jay Wiese
• Dates: Tuesday, July 07, 2009 - Tuesday, July 21, 2009
• Meets: Tuesday from 5-7 pm
• Location: J. Wayne Reitz Union (University of Florida campus in Gainesville, FL)