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IMPROVING YOUR POTS

SKILLS         

Hand skills

Throwing, trimming, (tap centering) altering, Surface treatments, (rib/finger/trim marks), textures, glaze/slip application.

Visual Skills

Study of historical and contemporary pots
Owning/using pots
Reading: books and periodicals
Museum trips
Studio visits

Knowledge of Materials and Tools

Clays, glaze materials, Studio equipment and design, drying management, firing and kiln design, construction and firing, tools kit

Knowledge of Sequences

Sketching and note taking

 

SPENDING TIME IN THE STUDIO!

- Access to Space and Equipment

- Low Overhead

- Limiting Distracting Commitments

 

ATTITUDES

Developing Discipline

• Setting goals
  
• (Making bodies of work)
  

Consistency of approach

Allowing risk

• (Crisis=opportunity)
  
• Courage, willingness to fail

Play

Asking what the pot needs (vs. what you need)

Understanding copying as exercise

Keeping “skill” in perspective

Partaking in sustaining and fructifying power of communities

Seeking teachers

-Mark Shapiro. 2005.