Throwing Relaxed, Gestural Forms
As intermediate throwers hone their skills, they often begin to show an affinity for working more precisely. Precision throwing can lead to sublime beauty or to mechanical repetition, leaving pots a bit stiff. As potters develop their eye, along with their technical skills, they sometimes yearn to make forms that breathe – pots that show the plasticity of wet clay, even after they are fired.
While demonstrating, I will discuss design and how it relates to pottery. We will cover the relationships between rims, feet, bellies, handles, and spouts and talk about how our use of simple or compound curves impacts our forms.
This workshop will be structured for the potter with basic throwing skills, who would like to make relaxed forms that feel both well designed and more gestural. You won’t be encouraged to unlearn any of your hard-won technique, but rather to expand the ways of gently altering thrown forms.
We will practice alteration techniques with various drinking vessels and possibly a bowl. I will end the workshop with the demo of a larger pitcher or vase.
Preparing for the workshop – Items to bring with you.
Bring all throwing and trimming tools you normally work with. Specific tools I suggest are:
We will supply a Kemper S4 Stainless Steel Scrapper – This is absolutely essential and their similar shape, S3, doesn’t cut it for this class!
Curved rib for shaping bowls
A chamois for smoothing rims
Clay will be supplied
Light breakfast, drinks and snacks provided. Discount lunch options available from the Wheel Barrel restaurant.
Friday evening opening and slide show!