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signing pots

updated tue 17 jul 12

 

Nicole Simmons on thu 11 dec 97

Before I begin, this is NOT to toot my own horn only to further the
discussion on signing pots. At the time, this was incredibly funny (I am
sure you had to be there) and this incident reduced everyone to tears of
laughter.

I am apprenticed to a wonderful potter named Sue Gerard of Columbia,
Missouri. Recently the shop that she and my mom are partners in had their
annual Christmas open house. As the apprentice, I was allowed to have one
shelf to myself. Sue had made a sign that said "Nikki Simmons Apprentice to
Sue Gerard", but forgot to bring it. By the way, to follow that pricing
thread, I just did the smart thing and made sure I was a little cheaper than
the teacher. Sue prices by size, difficulty and if she likes it or not. I
priced hoping just to sell something.

Anyway, things got so busy that we all forgot about that sign of mine. UNTIL
a local, who knows Sue well, was on her way out the door after paying and
said to Sue. "It never fails, everytime I buy something from you, I pick
the one piece that you forgot to sign. I just love this pot and so this time
I made sure that I got one with your signature." Well lo and behold, she
holds up one of MY pots.

Sue says with this mischievous grin, "Well, that is a very nice pot, but
it's not mine, it was made by my apprentice Nikki." She then continued
with much pride, "What a compliment to the teacher when her work is as good
as the student." What could have been a very embarrassing situation for all
three of us turned into one of those special moments when both of us who had
put a lot of energy into making that pot could shine. Without Sue's
instruction, that pot might never have even been sacrificed to the kiln god
but to the slop bucket. And I, by being an attentive student, had brought
honor to my teacher.

We quickly found the lady a Sue pot and she went on her merry way with both.
I am happy to report that my first sale was quite a success! I sold 12 out
of 16 pieces and I made sure that every single person knew they were getting
a Nikki pot and not a Sue pot. Coincidentally those twelve were bought by
my mother-in-law, my mom's sister, my mom's best friend, an old singing pal
of mine, and my 2nd cousin. Who says you can't do business with family?

But back to signing pots, Sue told me when I first started, it doesn't
matter if you sign your pots. But in her opinion it is one more way for the
buyer to connect with the pot. Doesn't almost any piece of art take on a
new dimension when we know more about the artist and maybe a story of what
inspired that work? She pointed out that her best customers are the ones
that she has cultivated some type of friendship with. And most of them get
pretty upset when she forgets to sign a pot with her traditional "Sue
Gerard, Age 83, #32" (salt firing number). And almost every pot has an oral
tradition that goes with it, where she dug the clay, who or what inspired
her that day, etc.

So for anyone who can't decide whether to sign your pots, you might want to
think about if the signing will give it a new dimension. I have been
signing, Nikki Simmons 1997, with a thick ball tool (from Kemper tools, no
scratches on the table) It now occurs to me I should have been signing them:
Nikki Simmons, ClayArt Junkie.

Nikki Simmons
Training Coordinator
ComputerLand
117 Commerce Drive
Jefferson City, Missouri 65109
800.635.9177.41 toll free
573.635.1607.41 voice
573.635.4227 fax
http://www.computerland.net
nsimmons@computerland.net

GORMO 1 on fri 12 dec 97

DO NOT SIGN,SIGN,STAMP,MAKE YOUR MARK,USE RIO AND BE HAPPY!!
just make some damn pots!!!(( vessels,clay art,jugs, forms)) forgot I was
writing to the bunch in clayart and I have to touch every base !! You know
what? I do not care I'm just happy to be making pots!!!!!!!!
jim gorman

Dana Henson on tue 16 dec 97

I think it is interesting to hear all of the reasons pro and con regarding the
signing of pots. Personally, it would never occur to me to be concerned about
writing on the bottom of a pot as I keep my pots turned right side up---somehow
it is aesthetically more pleasing to look at them that way...Just another way
of looking at it! Dana Henson

John H. Rodgers on fri 19 dec 97

-- [ From: John H. Rodgers * EMC.Ver #2.5.02 ] --

Having been a china painter for many years, I find it convenient to simply
sign using a fine point brush. For signing pottery I use Duncans Cobalt
black E-Z Stroke applied in greenware. Convenient, comes in a nice little
bottle with a cap, and water soluble so can be diluted as needed. Very
permanent. I don't know how it would do fired to cone 10, but works quite
well fired to cone 6 (electric).

If I miss signing a piece, not much can be done after bisque fire or glaze
fire. I grab the old Sharpie and have at it.

John Rodgers
Cool in Alabama

Dana Henson on sat 20 dec 97

Hi, Duncan EZ Strokes will fire to cone 10. I've tried the blacks and a dark
blue. The blacks turn a metallic black at cone 10 and the dark blue retains
it's color. Dana Henson G_Henson@venus.twu.edu

Rod, Marian, and Holly Morris on wed 7 feb 01


I have a rubber stamp of my signature, and sometimes I sign with underglaze
on a brush.

Another lefty with signature problems- Marian

----- Original Message -----
From: "David Dowell"
To:
Sent: Wednesday, February 07, 2001 1:04 PM
Subject: Signing pots


> One more word on signing pots. Are any of you out there left-handed? When
I
> sign my name on paper I tend to push the pencil or pen across the surface.
> On a clay surface that's bad news. It just digs into the clay. Have any
of
> you lefty's out there solved this problem?
> Dave Dowell, whose typing looks the same, lefty or righty.
>
>
____________________________________________________________________________
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> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
>

Lee & Kevin Daniels on wed 7 feb 01


Hi Dave

A fellow lefty here. My signature also looks like crap on clay. I never
figured out why - but I bet you're right about the pushing action. Anyway,
I use a bisque stamp.

Lee in Seattle, hoping for snow tomorrow!

----- Original Message -----
From: "David Dowell"
To:
Sent: Wednesday, February 07, 2001 10:04 AM
Subject: Signing pots


> One more word on signing pots. Are any of you out there left-handed? When
I
> sign my name on paper I tend to push the pencil or pen across the surface.
> On a clay surface that's bad news. It just digs into the clay. Have any
of
> you lefty's out there solved this problem?
> Dave Dowell, whose typing looks the same, lefty or righty.
>
>
____________________________________________________________________________
__
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
>

Dai Scott on wed 7 feb 01


Hi, David (lefty) - I'm also left-handed, but don't hold a pen or pencil the
way most lefties do, which is to "push" it across the paper. My hand is
more "under" (closer to my body than) the pencil, as opposed to being to the
left of the pencil (god, is this hard to describe!)---anyway, it doesn't
become a problem when signing pots. It also wasn't a problem when writing
with a straight or fountain pen, in that my hand didn't smear the wet ink.
There must be some out there who still remember the red-enamelled wooden
straight pens used in the MacLean Method of Writing exercises? Deadly for
traditional left-hand writers!
Dai in Kelowna, BC
potterybydai@home.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "David Dowell"
To:
Sent: Wednesday, February 07, 2001 10:04 AM
Subject: Signing pots


> One more word on signing pots. Are any of you out there left-handed? When
I
> sign my name on paper I tend to push the pencil or pen across the surface.
> On a clay surface that's bad news. It just digs into the clay. Have any
of
> you lefty's out there solved this problem?
> Dave Dowell, whose typing looks the same, lefty or righty.
>
>
____________________________________________________________________________
__
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.

David Dowell on wed 7 feb 01


One more word on signing pots. Are any of you out there left-handed? When I
sign my name on paper I tend to push the pencil or pen across the surface.
On a clay surface that's bad news. It just digs into the clay. Have any of
you lefty's out there solved this problem?
Dave Dowell, whose typing looks the same, lefty or righty.

Judy Crawford on thu 8 feb 01


Put a piece of plastic over the bottom of the pot (like a dry cleaner's bag)
and then sign the pot with a very dull pencil, or a ball stylus.

Judy

Morris, Marlene F. on thu 8 feb 01


I've started using a tool that Joyce Michaud made for me, and I love it.
It's a wooden chopstick -- not the eating end, the wave-in-the-air square
end. Take a sander to it and shape the end into a shallow pyramid. You get
a lot of light and shadow in the sig, you can see it from every angle, you
don't risk the strength of your piece (unlike using a needle tool) and you
create fewer crumbs.

It makes signing a pleasure.

Marlene

-----Original Message-----
From: Judy Crawford [mailto:ClairesAunt@AOL.COM]
Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2001 9:35 AM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Signing pots


Put a piece of plastic over the bottom of the pot (like a dry cleaner's bag)
and then sign the pot with a very dull pencil, or a ball stylus.

Judy

____________________________________________________________________________
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Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org

You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/

Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.

TONICLAYS@AOL.COM on sat 30 jun 01


Dear Clayarters, thank goodness that touch of humor is back in full force.
Hilarious threats of signing others names to your pots. Feels good to laugh.
Now, when you need a break from all the forgery going on, please open your
July/August issue of Clay Times and read Tony Clennell's column. Funny joke
and positive message. Oh, and I have an article in there. Its my first
published which is a "how-to" for a children's project. So I just had to let
you know, because so many clayarters have been responsible for building that
courage and encouragement to forge ahead down new avenues. Thanks to the many
positive people who make this such a worthwhile list, clay-wise, soul-wise
and life-wise. Oh, and as usual that issue is jam-packed with beautiful
pictures of pots, many excellent articles....see for yourself. Toni Smith
in Ohio, hoping purple earrings count for something.

Earl Brunner on sun 1 jul 01


LOL Hey where you been Kevin, haven't seen one of your stories around
here for a long time?


Hluch - Kevin A. wrote:

> "Not so fast," Alice said removing Gavin's hand as he attempted to
> slide it to her nether regions, "I'm not sure at all that you want to
> give up your membership in the Avant Guard Potters Guild (AVPG) and the
> cushy little studio space provided to you by the Feds."
> "Why do you say that?" he asked, startled by ..........

--
Earl Brunner
http://coyote.accessnv.com/bruec/
bruec@anv.net

Sheron Roberts on sun 1 jul 01


The church I attend held its annual Vacation
Bible School this past week
In keeping with the theme, the
children, on commencement night, opened a
country store. All proceeds went to the Teen
Pregnancy Crisis Center in our town. Adults
donated home canned goods, wood crafts, etc.
I donated pots. The pots I donated were not
seconds, but some were glaze test pots, make
good pencil holders, I don't sign these pots.
All were functionally sound, nicely glazed pots.
Only the ones that were signed sold. I thought
it funny that these folks seldom buy my pots at
my studio or at the local festivals, but grabbed
up all the pots that were signed. I know the
Teen Crisis center is a much better cause than
my bank account. But that's Ok. I did donate
the pots, no strings attached.=20

Sheron in hot humid NC

Hluch - Kevin A. on sun 1 jul 01


"Not so fast," Alice said removing Gavin's hand as he attempted to
slide it to her nether regions, "I'm not sure at all that you want to
give up your membership in the Avant Guard Potters Guild (AVPG) and the
cushy little studio space provided to you by the Feds."
"Why do you say that?" he asked, startled by the sudden
seriousness of her remark and frustrated at being denied her softness.
"Because of the way you still insist on decorating your pots! You
don't just sign them, you're now putting your whole goddamn name,
address, phone number, e-mail and web address on them in banded patterns
and shapes. I mean, what's with that? Don't you think people would
recognize the character of your work without all the details about your
pathetic little existence?"
"But hold on there honey sugar baby, what if they want to
contact me to buy some work? Don't you see the wonderful utility in
putting that very special information right there? The pot not only
sings my praises aesthetically but can also activelypoint buyers to
yours-ever-loving-truly? Just think about it: If a person sees my work
at somebody's home, gallery, ANYWHERE, they can just get a hold of me. -
DIRECT. And with that subtle little contact, thanks to my distinctive and
supportive little pottery progeny, I can offer them a better price. No
more 50% markup to pay for that hi-falutin Miss Gallery Director's
BMW! My work actually WORKS to cut out the middle man. What's not to
like?" he asked with a contrived tone of naive honesty that he knew always
got to Alice.
"Welllll," Alice said, "That does seem to be a pretty useful
thing to be doing. And since I've been the one who has supported the idea
of utilitarian pots...Unlike you're so-called GUILD which promotes the
most god-awful, ugly, useless pots! I can see now that even though your
teapots still can't pour, your pots are working....at least in that
sense."
"You see, Alice, it's all about the person to person
connection. And you know, you're really ARE starting to make an impression
on me," he said while shifting his weight in anticipation of the
impression he hoped to make in connecting with HER in the very near
future.


Kevin A. Hluch
e-mail: kahluch@umd5.umd.edu
http://www.erols.com/mhluch/mudslinger.html

primalmommy@IVILLAGE.COM on sun 1 jul 01


Just a quick thought: It must be difficult for a celebrated artist to get satisfaction from response to his/her work, when everything meets with approval. Fame can build on itself, and artists can lose heart. There are certain immensely popular musicians who could record themselves chewing their breakfast cereal and sell a million copies, based on their loyal following. So what happens to the drive to innovate, the joy of taking risks? What happens to feedback? When approval is assumed, where is the challenge?

If every time you rowed into the lake, a hundred fish flung themselves into the boat, would there be any point to fishing?

From birth, we rely on reactions to help us judge the value of what we do. What happens when that feedback becomes one-sided, and there is no connection between the attractiveness of one's work and the reaction of one's "public"?

At first, it might be freeing; boatload of fish, without trying. After a while, though, it would be kind of isolating. I don't pretend to know McKenzie's motivation, but removing the "automatic desirability" factor from a pot might at least give the potter back the fun of seeing what people like best.

Just my two cents. Yours, Kelly in Ohio (just back from wolf lake where i made some shiny black pots in my first smothered bonfire, with my wolf lake terra sig ;0) happy me. My dad was quite impressed with the whole operation.)


_________________________________________________________________
iVillage.com: Solutions for Your Life
Check out the most exciting women's community on the Web
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Katheleen Nez on mon 2 jul 01


Dear Kevin Hluch: CACKLED over your post this AM.
Didn't even need any coffee. Now I don't need a dose
of Harlequin Romances, either...AMEM...NEZ Sign/Don't
sign
PS Dying to hear from your publisher...



__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get personalized email addresses from Yahoo! Mail
http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/

Cindy Strnad on mon 22 oct 01


Randy,

I started out signing my own name, but pretty soon
I went to my initials. Then I went to a single
icon. It's not that I couldn't sign my name
neatly, but it takes so much time to do it well.
Relatively speaking, of course. I like to spend my
time decorating and grew impatient with signing my
name over and over and over. Probably a
repercussion of my days as an RN, signing my name
over and over and over and over . . . . . If
you're finding the name thing annoying, as I did,
why not find some simple, easy and quick symbol
which represents you and your pottery? I use a
handprint which I modified from a petroglyph. A
friend uses a stylized wing. Works for me.

Cindy Strnad
Earthen Vessels Pottery
RR 1, Box 51
Custer, SD 57730
USA
cindy@earthen-vessels-pottery.com
http://www.earthen-vessels-pottery.com

Rikki Gill on mon 22 oct 01


I wait until the piece is complete, fired and all, and then sign with a
commercial calligraphy pen filled with permanent ink. The large black
signature stands out well against the unglazed white porcelain inner foot.
My customers really like the way it looks, and no more,"why don't you sign
your work?" The lettering stands up well in the dishwasher if you are
careful to use permanent ink. Rikki Gill in wonderful, if oft misquoted,
Berkeley.
-----Original Message-----
From: Cindy Strnad
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Date: Monday, October 22, 2001 10:35 AM
Subject: Signing Pots


>Randy,
>
>I started out signing my own name, but pretty soon
>I went to my initials. Then I went to a single
>icon. It's not that I couldn't sign my name
>neatly, but it takes so much time to do it well.
>Relatively speaking, of course. I like to spend my
>time decorating and grew impatient with signing my
>name over and over and over. Probably a
>repercussion of my days as an RN, signing my name
>over and over and over and over . . . . . If
>you're finding the name thing annoying, as I did,
>why not find some simple, easy and quick symbol
>which represents you and your pottery? I use a
>handprint which I modified from a petroglyph. A
>friend uses a stylized wing. Works for me.
>
>Cindy Strnad
>Earthen Vessels Pottery
>RR 1, Box 51
>Custer, SD 57730
>USA
>cindy@earthen-vessels-pottery.com
>http://www.earthen-vessels-pottery.com
>
>___________________________________________________________________________
___
>Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
>You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
>settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
>Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
>

Russel Fouts on thu 25 oct 01


Vince,

>> I like to sharpen a length of wood dowel in a pencil sharpener, and
then sand the tip to a dull rounded point, like a very dull pencil. <<

Hey! why not just use a "very dull pencil". ;-)

I know you.You can probably make a REALLY great home-made dull pencil,
probably better than anything you can find in a store. ;-)

I bet David can make an even better one and get the materials free from
the junk yard.

Ru

--

Russel Fouts
Mes Potes & Mes Pots
Brussels, Belgium
Tel: +32 2 223 02 75
Mobile: +32 476 55 38 75
Http://www.mypots.com
http://www.Japan-Net.ne.jp/~iwcat

"There is a theory which states that
if ever anyone discovers exactly what
the universe is for and why it's here,
it will instantly disappear and be
replaced by something even more bizzarly
inexplicable."

"There is another theory which states
that this has already happened!"

Douglas Adams' The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Don Hoskisson on thu 25 oct 01


>> Hey! why not just use a "very dull pencil". ;-)
>> I know you.You can probably make a REALLY great home-made dull pencil,
>> probably better than anything you can find in a store. ;-)
>
>Ru -
>Yea, the trouble is that you have to do all that WRITING to get them dull
>enough. I have forgotten how to write with a pencil. And seriously, the
>lead tends to break off in a dull pencil, so the sharpened/dulled dowel is
>actually a better tool.
>- Vince

Knitting tool--used it for years, doesn't wear down, no
sharpening. It is a metal alloy rod about 5/16" D, 6" (or 7)
long. Looks like it was sharpened in a pencil sharpener
on both ends, but rounded ends rather than sharp.

Don, a skip and a jump west of Craig Martell

vince pitelka on thu 25 oct 01


> Hey! why not just use a "very dull pencil". ;-)
> I know you.You can probably make a REALLY great home-made dull pencil,
> probably better than anything you can find in a store. ;-)

Ru -
Yea, the trouble is that you have to do all that WRITING to get them dull
enough. I have forgotten how to write with a pencil. And seriously, the
lead tends to break off in a dull pencil, so the sharpened/dulled dowel is
actually a better tool.
- Vince

Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Crafts
Tennessee Technological University
1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
Home - vpitelka@dtccom.net
615/597-5376
Work - wpitelka@tntech.edu
615/597-6801 ext. 111, fax 615/597-6803
http://www.craftcenter.tntech.edu/

Fredrick Paget on fri 26 oct 01


I have a more exotic tool. It is a quill from a South African porcupine. It
is the size of a chopstick and sharp at both ends. Those african porcupines
have major worries with lions and leopards and hyenas etc.
Fred


>>> Hey! why not just use a "very dull pencil". ;-)
>>> I know you.You can probably make a REALLY great home-made dull pencil,
>>> probably better than anything you can find in a store. ;-)
>>
>>Ru -

From Fred Paget, Marin County, California, USA

Russel Fouts on sat 27 oct 01


Don,

>> Knitting tool--used it for years, doesn't wear down, no sharpening. It is a metal alloy rod about 5/16" D, 6" (or 7) long. Looks like it was sharpened in a pencil sharpener on both ends, but rounded ends rather than sharp. <<

Knitting needles usually have a number on the blunt end that specifies
the size. What number is your needle?

Russel "gramma taught me to knit" Fouts

--


Russel Fouts
Mes Potes et Mes Pots
Brussels, Belgium
Tel: +32 2 223 02 75
Fax: +32 2 210 04 06
Mobile: +32 476 55 38 75
Web: www.mypots.com

Russel Fouts on mon 29 oct 01


Vince

>> Yea, the trouble is that you have to do all that WRITING to get them
dull enough. I have forgotten how to write with a pencil. And
seriously, the lead tends to break off in a dull pencil, so the
sharpened/dulled dowel is actually a better tool. <<

I work for lawyers and boy go they use pencils! And boy do they get dull
(the pencils, not the lawyers, well maybe sometimes)

They keep ending up on my desk and I hate them. I'll send you some.
Pencils, not lawyers.

Ru

--

Russel Fouts
Mes Potes & Mes Pots
Brussels, Belgium
Tel: +32 2 223 02 75
Mobile: +32 476 55 38 75
Http://www.mypots.com
http://www.Japan-Net.ne.jp/~iwcat

"There is a theory which states that
if ever anyone discovers exactly what
the universe is for and why it's here,
it will instantly disappear and be
replaced by something even more bizzarly
inexplicable."

"There is another theory which states
that this has already happened!"

Douglas Adams' The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Bonnie Staffel on tue 11 dec 01


Dear Merrie,

When I started out making pottery over 53 years ago I also was caught up in
a tricky sign. It was a play on BBS and it looked like a four leaf clover.
Then the same thing occurred to me that my name would be better recognized.
I sign my last name and might suggest that you do the same as it would look
more fitting. "Boerner" hence "Burner" if you need to get into the FIRE
thing. Now that my work is considered "antique" and on eBay occasionally,
my last name is recognized more easily.

Regards, Bonnie Staffel

Pat Southwood on fri 11 oct 02


Hallo,
On the subject of signing pots, Takeshi Yasuda does not do so.
I was very fortunate, whilst a student , to be able to attend a =
masterclass at West Dean College (Amazing place) that Takeshi held. When =
asked why he did'nt sign his pots he said that he assumed that everyone =
would know that the good ones were his and that the bad ones were by =
someone else. He said it simply as a matter of fact, not in a boastful =
way at all, as if it were perfectly obvious.=20
With pots that strong they really dont need a signature.=20
As much as we all would secretly like to think that our pots are going =
to be the next big thing, are we really making them with the collector =
at the forefront of our mind?
however wonderfull, hell, they are only pots. We arn't saving the =
planet before lunch or anything.
Look in museums at proper old pots, see many signatures there?
Noo, only on the "art" hanging on the wall, or so big you fall over it.
Ha.
Out of interest, how many of us do and how many dont?
I do, simply because one gets into the habit at college, otherwise it =
disapears.
Also I quite like having just my initials (P.S.) stamped with printers =
block. It is about as little as possible. I like the implication that I =
hav'nt finished yet.
At some point I would like to stop signing my pots, but I'm not sure I =
will ever become that confident. It would be nice because it does feel =
better.
Pat.
By the way, anyone know the average age on clayart?
P. =20

Charles Moore on sat 12 oct 02


Patrick,

We've already had a long, tedious discussion about signing or not signing
pots. Some do; some don't.

The average age on Clayart is 93 years and 4 months.

I loved your description of the English craft fair a couple of weeks back.

Charles
Sacramento
----- Original Message -----
From: "Pat Southwood"
To:
Sent: Friday, October 11, 2002 3:53 PM
Subject: signing pots


Hallo,
On the subject of signing pots, Takeshi Yasuda does not do so.
I was very fortunate, whilst a student , to be able to attend a
masterclass at West Dean College (Amazing place) that Takeshi held. When
asked why he did'nt sign his pots he said that he assumed that everyone
would know that the good ones were his and that the bad ones were by someone
else. He said it simply as a matter of fact, not in a boastful way at all,
as if it were perfectly obvious.
With pots that strong they really dont need a signature.
As much as we all would secretly like to think that our pots are going to
be the next big thing, are we really making them with the collector at the
forefront of our mind?
however wonderfull, hell, they are only pots. We arn't saving the planet
before lunch or anything.
Look in museums at proper old pots, see many signatures there?
Noo, only on the "art" hanging on the wall, or so big you fall over it.
Ha.
Out of interest, how many of us do and how many dont?
I do, simply because one gets into the habit at college, otherwise it
disapears.
Also I quite like having just my initials (P.S.) stamped with printers
block. It is about as little as possible. I like the implication that I
hav'nt finished yet.
At some point I would like to stop signing my pots, but I'm not sure I will
ever become that confident. It would be nice because it does feel better.
Pat.
By the way, anyone know the average age on clayart?
P.

____________________________________________________________________________
__
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Lily Krakowski on sat 12 oct 02


What is wrong with signing your pots? I know it is supposedly a spiritually
lovely aspect of Japanese clay, so what? Right here and now gallery and
shopkeepers want things signed because their customers want to take home a
pot that says it was made by a real human being. Pots made by The Great
Ones do not look THAT different from pots made by Mere Mortals and so if
someone pays $25 for a mug by a Great One instead of $12 for a Mere Mortal
cup, s/he wants to be able to point to the signature.

My husband convinced me to sign my pots because A/ I was not that happy
being that much of an Unknown Craftsman,. and B/ because he thinks it
unbelievably arrogant for people to assume that everyone else is sitting out
there studying their style and work and learning to recognize it.

AND MAKE YOUR SIGNATURE LEGIBLE!!!!!







Lili Krakowski
P.O. Box #1
Constableville, N.Y.
(315) 942-5916/ 397-2389

Be of good courage....

Snail Scott on sat 12 oct 02


Your work, out in the world, is your best advertising.

Ever see one of those TV ads where you think, "Wow,
that was kinda cool!", but then can't figure out what
product/service it was advertising? Hard to go out and
buy it, then, even if you really want one. Label your
work with a LEGIBLE name, one that's in the phone book!

Your buyers will remember your name, their friends
will know who to call for one just like it, and even
the pieces given as gifts will go to people who will
know your name. How? It's right there on the bottom.
You can't buy targeted adverising better than that!

-Snail

Lisa-Marie Serafin on sat 12 oct 02


I always sign my pots, simply with Lisa-Marie. My pots are greatly
influenced by my master & mentor and started looking a little like his, so
if I didn't write my name on them, or he didn't write his name on his, we
often mistook one for the other's.

Speaking of saving the planet before lunch, when 9/11 occured we noticed a
drastic down turn in our class sizes. No one was signing up for pottery. I
put up a sign on our studio door that said, "ART IS SANITY." Well maybe not
after reading the latest threads on alcohol, troubled souls and art. Or
maybe YES! It seems like a great stress reliever for many nurses. It sure
was for me given my other career choice as a musician. I now prefer the
solitude of my clay studio as opposed to driving across the country playing
for not a whole lotta money and sleeping in the back of my car because I
couldn't afford a hotel for the night instead. And in addition to that,
making pots does not require me to suck up to the media so I can get
airplay, kiss anyone's ass for funding to make another record, or show my 41
year old belly button in a music video!
Just to satisy your curiosity you can find me at
http://artists.iuma.com/IUMA/Bands/Serafin,_LisaMarie/
Lisa-Marie

----- Original Message -----
From: "Pat Southwood"
To:
Sent: Friday, October 11, 2002 6:53 PM
Subject: signing pots


Hallo,
On the subject of signing pots, Takeshi Yasuda does not do so.
I was very fortunate, whilst a student , to be able to attend a
masterclass at West Dean College (Amazing place) that Takeshi held. When
asked why he did'nt sign his pots he said that he assumed that everyone
would know that the good ones were his and that the bad ones were by someone
else. He said it simply as a matter of fact, not in a boastful way at all,
as if it were perfectly obvious.
With pots that strong they really dont need a signature.
As much as we all would secretly like to think that our pots are going to
be the next big thing, are we really making them with the collector at the
forefront of our mind?
however wonderfull, hell, they are only pots. We arn't saving the planet
before lunch or anything.
Look in museums at proper old pots, see many signatures there?
Noo, only on the "art" hanging on the wall, or so big you fall over it.
Ha.
Out of interest, how many of us do and how many dont?
I do, simply because one gets into the habit at college, otherwise it
disapears.
Also I quite like having just my initials (P.S.) stamped with printers
block. It is about as little as possible. I like the implication that I
hav'nt finished yet.
At some point I would like to stop signing my pots, but I'm not sure I will
ever become that confident. It would be nice because it does feel better.
Pat.
By the way, anyone know the average age on clayart?
P.

____________________________________________________________________________
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Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org

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settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/

Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
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Kathi LeSueur on sun 12 mar 06


Yesterday my partner and I wandered through our local resale shop. It's
a place with a great reputation. Often when someone dies the family
sents much of the estate property over to be sold. Clearly a pottery
collector had died recently. We wandered around picking up pieces trying
to figure out who did them. All were "signed". But, out of the
approximately forty pieces we picked up only two were legible. Now, I
understand the tradition of potter's marks and the artistic signature.
But please, if you are going to bother to sign your work, make it so
that I can read it.. I might want to buy something more from you in the
future.

Kathi

nsmheralds@netzero.net on sun 12 mar 06


That's an excellent point. There is more than one person where I learne=
d whose signatures are marginally legible or less. The ONLY way I can i=
dentify those signatures is because I've worked with these people. A pa=
rtial conversation with someone unfamiliar with the maker might go somet=
hing like this, "No, I can't make out any of the letters in this signatu=
re either, but I can tell you it's a Joe Schmuckatelli pot because I wor=
ked with him."
I'm not perfect either, though. I sign my work with an heraldic represe=
ntation of a trillium. I do this because when I learned to do pottery, =
much of my work was intended for use, and now for sale, in our local Med=
ieval group. In the Middle Ages, very few people could read or write, s=
o if a potter signed his work at all, it would be with a symbol. Howeve=
r, as a dutiful herald used to seeing heraldic work with difficult-to-id=
entify charges, I do my best to make sure that my trillium is easily rec=
ognizable as a trillium. I hope that more and more people will make the=
connection between me and the trillium that marks my work.
That said, I echo the legibility sentiment. Any symbol, whether its an =
heraldic charge, or the letters that make up your name, MUST, for the sa=
ke of clear communication, be clear. While we as potters aren't concern=
ed with using clear symbols to reduce pandemonium on the battlefield, it=
would behoove us to use them to reduce pandemonium in the marketplace.
=

Nathan Miller
Thistillium Pottery
Newberg, OR
=

Bonnie Staffel on mon 13 mar 06


Hi Michael,

I made the knobs for my cabinets and used the threaded metal inserts.
However, not wanting the fired clay to scratch the surface as I turned =
the
knobs down tight, I put a very thin layer of the E6000 on the unglazed =
clay
end of the knob which gave a little cushion and also a little tack to =
hold
the knobs in place. I have used mine for several years now and they are
holding up fine. I found that the doors and drawers were of different
thicknesses so had to buy two sizes of the male part of the mechanics to =
get
a proper fit. =20

Hope this helps.

Bonnie Staffel

http://webpages.charter.net/bstaffel/
DVD Throwing with Coils and Slabs
DVD Beginning Processes
Charter Member Potters Council

lee love on mon 13 mar 06


Usually, I purposely sign with a very small stamp. Sometimes it gets
obscured by the glaze. It is a sort of compromise. My kiln stamp
is a little larger, but I don't always use it. I sometimes also
stamp my pots with the kanji for Mashiko.

I think it is important to choose pots by the nature of the pot
and not the signature on them. I have thought about stamping an
email address on pots sold via the web and mailorder, for marketing
purposes. But I am ambivelant about it.

--
Lee In Mashiko, Japan
http://mashiko.org
http://seisokuro.blogspot.com/

Jackie.Miller.Clay on tue 13 dec 11


You need to be careful with black underglaze since it does have some frit, =
c=3D
an vitrify and stick the piece to the kiln shelf. Of course, if you are sig=
n=3D
ing a piece with a foot and the signature never touches the shelf, there is=
n=3D
o problem.
Jackie


Amaco's black underglaze and a 10X liner paintbrush works for me.
Dave

-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:Clayart@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of Rlucas
Sent: Tuesday, December 13, 2011 11:04 AM
To: Clayart@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: signing bottom of pots

I know there is something I can use to sign the bottom of my green ware
because I let them get too dry to write on.
Some kind of oxide that you get powered and mix with water????

I have heard but cannot remember.

Thanks

V Lucas
rlucas@centurytel.net

Deborah Thuman on fri 13 jul 12


Like Logan, I'm learning in a university setting. If you ever want to =3D
see your piece again, you need to sign it.=3D20

I prefer white clay and still haven't figured out which cone I like =3D
best. Along with putting my initials in Hebrew on the bottom of the =3D
piece, I also put the cone - 04, 6, 10. The only clay that doesn't get a =
=3D
cone mark is the low-fire mica clay. It's not white and it's the only =3D
clay I use that has sparkles.=3D20

Deb Thuman
http://debthumansblog.blogspot.com
http://www.etsy.com/shop/DebThuman
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Deb-Thumans-Art-Page/167529715986

Ben Morrison on mon 16 jul 12


Deborah,

That's an awesome idea, I wish I could read and write Hebrew. I learned a l=
ittle once from a Jewish friend. He told me I was a natural, that I spoke t=
he hard parts with ease. Maybe I otta take it up.


-Ben



________________________________
From: Deborah Thuman
To: Clayart@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Sent: Friday, July 13, 2012 6:02 AM
Subject: Signing pots

Like Logan, I'm learning in a university setting. If you ever want to see y=
our piece again, you need to sign it.

I prefer white clay and still haven't figured out which cone I like best. A=
long with putting my initials in Hebrew on the bottom of the piece, I also =
put the cone - 04, 6, 10. The only clay that doesn't get a cone mark is the=
low-fire mica clay. It's not white and it's the only clay I use that has s=
parkles.

Deb Thuman
http://debthumansblog.blogspot.com
http://www.etsy.com/shop/DebThuman
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Deb-Thumans-Art-Page/167529715986

James Freeman on mon 16 jul 12


On Mon, Jul 16, 2012 at 8:05 AM, Ben Morrison wrote:

That's an awesome idea, I wish I could read and write Hebrew. I learned a
little once from a Jewish friend. He told me I was a natural, that I spoke
the hard parts with ease. Maybe I otta take it up.




Several years ago, we took our sons to a show entitled "The Art of Star
Wars" at the Toledo Museum of Art. It was a really excellent show full of
concept drawings, costumes, models, and props. They had the actual model
of the Millennium Falcon, which was huge! Up close, you could see that
most of the little doo-dads encrusting the outer hull are actually parts
from plastic model kits of ships and military machines. The most
interesting thing there was Darth Vader's costume. It turns out that all
of the alien writing on the control panels on the suit are actually written
in Hebrew. We copied down some of it and asked a fluent speaker of Hebrew
to translate it for us. Apparently my skills as a scribe are sub par, as
she was unable to decipher my chicken scratches. My own Hebrew vocabulary
consists of good dog, bad dog, mother, father, pencil, notebook, turkey,
computer, and tractor, and I don't think any of those words were on the
uniform.

All the best.

...James

James Freeman

"Talk sense to a fool, and he calls you foolish."
-Euripides

http://www.jamesfreemanstudio.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamesfreemanstudio/
http://www.jamesfreemanstudio.com/resources