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fwd: slab bowls

updated sat 14 nov 98

 

Lynne Antone on thu 12 nov 98

In a message dated 98-11-11 09:19:19 EST, you write:
< form the bottom foot ring without making it two inches high (got THAT
one down)? Joyce>>

As part of attending the Nils/Mel workshop in Oregon, I had a too short visit
with Ellen Curran who lives about 20 minutes from Linfield college (Nils'
school). She is the one who wrote a couple of articles for "Pottery
Illustrated" which really made an impression on me. The most recent that I am
aware of (haven't seen the most recent issues) was one about making slab
pieces formed over "found" objects. She gets platters, bowls, oblong serving
dishes, glass trays, etc. from thrift stores, garage sales, etc. and uses them
for forms. When these are trimmed around the edge, you would have the rim
already established for the piece you are using for the mold. She then
decorates the piece so that it is entirely different from the original, either
by foam rubber stamps she has made dipped into oxides or just rubber stamps or
plain glazing. She says that arthritis keeps her from the wheel a lot more
these days and with this method, she can still keep her hands in clay.

I plan to make small cylinders and then cut off sections to use for the foot
rings when I try draped forms. Most of these forms have a flat enough bottom
to add this ring to. You could also use your extruder to make differently
shaped coils for more interesting feet.

Also, thinking again about rims, I don't think you want the most even ones if
you are making plain slabs, as opposed to draped forms, because they maintain
that handmade look, just an opinion.

Lynne
Joyce, thanks for the kind mention. I did have a great time at the workshop.
Like Dannon wrote to me, sometimes it's as much the enthusiasm you pick up at
them as the odd bits of info you learn.

IVAN BERKOWITZ on fri 13 nov 98

Lynne Antone wrote:
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> In a message dated 98-11-11 09:19:19 EST, you write:
> <> form the bottom foot ring without making it two inches high (got THAT
> one down)? Joyce>>
>
> As part of attending the Nils/Mel workshop in Oregon, I had a too short visit
> with Ellen Curran who lives about 20 minutes from Linfield college (Nils'
> school). She is the one who wrote a couple of articles for "Pottery
> Illustrated" which really made an impression on me. The most recent that I am
> aware of (haven't seen the most recent issues) was one about making slab
> pieces formed over "found" objects. She gets platters, bowls, oblong serving
> dishes, glass trays, etc. from thrift stores, garage sales, etc. and uses them
> for forms. When these are trimmed around the edge, you would have the rim
> already established for the piece you are using for the mold. She then
> decorates the piece so that it is entirely different from the original, either
> by foam rubber stamps she has made dipped into oxides or just rubber stamps or
> plain glazing. She says that arthritis keeps her from the wheel a lot more
> these days and with this method, she can still keep her hands in clay.
>
> I plan to make small cylinders and then cut off sections to use for the foot
> rings when I try draped forms. Most of these forms have a flat enough bottom
> to add this ring to. You could also use your extruder to make differently
> shaped coils for more interesting feet.
>
> Also, thinking again about rims, I don't think you want the most even ones if
> you are making plain slabs, as opposed to draped forms, because they maintain
> that handmade look, just an opinion.
>
> Lynne
> Joyce, thanks for the kind mention. I did have a great time at the workshop.
> Like Dannon wrote to me, sometimes it's as much the enthusiasm you pick up at
> them as the odd bits of info you learn.

THIS SUMMER I HAD SOME PAPER CLAY LEFT OVER FROM A CLASS AND DECIDED TO
TAKE IT TO OUR COTTAGE. I HAD NO SUPPLIES SO USED AND OLD PICE OF PLWOOD
AND FOUND A CANVASS BAG WHICH I CUT TO USE AS A SURFACE. FOUND SOME GOOD
LOGS TO USE AS ROLLER, CUT A SLING INTO A BOX AND MY PARTNER HAD AN OLD
PAIR OF PANTY HOSE - ROLLED A SLAB AND AFTER IT TOOK A SHAPE, I LET IT
SETTLE ON AN ROCK - IT NOT ONLY TOOK THE UNIQUE SHAPE BUT FOUND AN
UNUSUAL SURFACE. SO I SPENT THE REST OF THE SUMMER MAKING GREAT BOWLS
AND PLATES WHICH FOUND SPECIAL CHARACTER FROM SOME SHAPES ON THE LOGS,
ONE OF WHICH LOOKS LIKE A PERSON - I CAN'T WAIT FOR NEXT SUMMER BUT AM
GOING INTO MY FIRST NEIGHBOURHOOD CRAFT SALE SOON TO MOVE SOME INVENTORY
OR I'LL HAVE TO FIND A NEW APARTMENT!

ivan berkowitz