Ivor and Olive Lewis on thu 5 jan 06
Dear Michael Wendt,=20
Interesting comments. Perhaps you would like to elaborate on your =
technique. Or are you speaking of the muscular control that allows you =
to keep one finger tip of the inner hand precisely aligned with another =
finger tip of the other hand as you scroll up or shape a cylinder of =
clay?=20
Are you able to clarify?
Best regards,
Ivor Lewis.
Redhill,
South Australia.
Michael Wendt on thu 5 jan 06
Ivor,
This ties in with Mel's miniature throwing exercise since it works best with
small pots (10 lbs or less).
Tip throwing is when the tips of the inside finger and outside finger would
meet if the clay were removed. The outside finger nail is perpendicular to
the clay surface and points directly at the center of the pot. I found that
letting the finger nails grow until they are even with the end of the finger
tip makes them behave like tiny ribs. This throwing technique works best
with a very smooth clay like porcelain, especially if it is sticky like
Helmer. It creates so little drag and such high force per unit area that
thin walls can be made with ease. see:
http://www.wendtpottery.com/mcspar.htm
In coffee and tea service pieces, this thinness is a virtue because many of
my customers are older and want an elegant, refined finish combined with
light weight.
I do the light shining through the cup demonstration at every opportunity as
a sales aid and people really like it.
Normal knuckle throwing is still reserved for larger pieces, but I don't
throw big pieces much any more since the demand for such large items in this
area is very little and the imports from Italy and the east have dominated
that market by means of very low cost.
I have seen 18" terracotta planters for $10.00 and 20" stoneware planters
from Viet Nam for $30.00 at Costco. I charge $30.00 for a 2 quart canister.
No more reason to go big.
Regards,
Michael Wendt
Wendt Pottery
2729 Clearwater Ave
Lewiston, Idaho 83501
USA
wendtpot@lewiston.com
www.wendtpottery.com
Dear Michael Wendt,
Interesting comments. Perhaps you would like to elaborate on your technique.
Or are you speaking of the muscular control that allows you to keep one
finger tip of the inner hand precisely aligned with another finger tip of
the other hand as you scroll up or shape a cylinder of clay?
Are you able to clarify?
Best regards,
Ivor Lewis.
Ivor and Olive Lewis on sat 7 jan 06
Dear Michael,=20
Thanks for the description. Nothing unfamiliar or unusual. Just another =
universal adaptation to circumstance.
Yes, I use the same method on fine porcelain and I think it is =
illustrated in some of the articles I wrote for PMI.
Best regards,
Ivor
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