[Nfb-krafters-korner] Hand building with clay

Sun Jul 3 00:29:10 UTC 2011

Sounds like you have found a good pottery teacher who will work with you to 
help you do whatever is on your mind to do.  When I lost my sight nearly 4 
years ago, a friend took me to a pottery class - it was before I had any 
training or mobility or anything. I was very worried the teacher would not 
want me in her class - but just the opposite, she created ways of teaching 
me that gave me confidence and I just took off from there. An art center is 
a really great place to do pottery because they have all the expensive 
equipment that you would not just go out and buy yourself, normally. I 
considered putting in a pottery shop here at my studio, then decided against 
it because my pottery class is my time away when I can just have fun and be 
with other people who are making pottery, too. It is my social get-away 
every week as I live in the country near a small town and there are no 
activities in my town that I could participate in - so I am mostly at home 
and work here, and at the art center. For me, the art center is a one hour 
drive away from my home. Thankfully, my husband will take me, and sometimes 
friends take me. Lynda River woman
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Georgia Kitchen" <gakitchen at gfn.org>
To: "List for blind crafters and artists" <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, July 02, 2011 7:20 PM
Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Hand building with clay


> Hi Linda and all,
>
> Your boxes sound really interesting. I have always liked boxes for 
> different small items such as sewing items, jewerly.
> I  hope your show goes well. I am sure it is a lot of work to get ready.
>
> Seems to me, one could specialize in one item.
>
> I am lucky that I live close to an art center.
>
> We used to have a lot of clay at the bottom of our farm pond when I was a 
> kid but I am not sure if it was the type that would form pottery. I 
> probably wouldn't swim in a farm pond now but we thought it was the 
> greatest then. I had more freedom there because at the beach my mother 
> always made me stay where the little kids were.
>
>
> To have a show here, first you have to be juried of course and then  you 
> have to have a certain number of pieces to show. My husband is juried but 
> never has enough pieces to have a show unless he takes some of his stuff 
> from  the house. He likes certain wood items that he really doesn't want 
> to sell.
>
> Joseli, I can see that  air dry clay would have it's advantages but at the 
> same time, you may find it interesting to learn some of the techniques 
> like coils, pinch pots and slabs and what you can do with them. I have 
> found most artists to be interesting and compassionate. I once took this 
> dance class and had a rough time to the point it wasn't fun so I stopped 
> going on the advice of my friend that went with me.It was sort of a 
> different situation. In this case, only the teacher was experienced.
>
> The  clay teacher made me a map of the studio.  It was real sweet of her. 
> My memory isn't that good but I plan to  study the map, make a key and 
> give it to a friend here who is  going into mobility.
>
> Are you in a small town? Would  you consider moving back to Flint? I am 
> pretty sure they have scholarships here for classes.
>
> It is real  hot here so it has been sort of a lazy day for me other than 
> do some house work and reading.
>
> I fell asleep listening to Newsline.
>
> Best,
> Georgia
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "joseli Walter" <joseli at thezoolady.net>
> To: "'List for blind crafters and artists'" 
> <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Saturday, July 02, 2011 5:57 PM
> Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Hand building with clay
>
>
>>I use air dry clay because I can't afford a kiln and probably couldn't use
>> one in my apartment anyway.  I've considered pottery shops and all, but 
>> they
>> are kind of hard to get too and I like being able to work on my stuff 
>> when I
>> feel into it.
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org
>> [mailto:nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of River Woman
>> Sent: Saturday, July 02, 2011 10:58 AM
>> To: List for blind crafters and artists
>> Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Hand building with clay
>>
>> Hello Georgia,
>> I think you will absolutely love working in clay - and your ancestors are
>> there to help you on the way!
>> I have been concentrating on getting things made for my solo show that is
>> coming up in September - four years of work will be in this show - so it 
>> is
>> a big one for me.
>> Right now, I am concentrating on some small lided boxes - I call them
>> Chinese Tea Boxes and the reason for it is that I used empty tea boxes 
>> for
>> patterns for the boxes. Then, I put them up on legs, give them handles,
>> flourishes, flowers, leaves - or anything else that comes to my mind. 
>> Some
>> are made by first pressing the wet clay into large pieces of bark that 
>> fell
>> off trees during the winter - other, I have rolled lace doiley's into the
>> wet clay, and others pressed leaves, pine tree branches, etc. I never 
>> know
>> when I begin a box, where it will lead me. I just begin with the slab, 
>> and
>> go from there, one piece at a time. I cut, push, pull, stretch, shape,
>> pound, and sand the clay along the way. Whatever it takes to get a vision 
>> of
>> where it might go or what it might become. One step at a time. The 
>> journey
>> to the finished box takes lots of turns along the way, and the results 
>> are
>> stunning after the final firing - if I am lucky.
>>
>> Please, anyone else who makes work out of clay, I would LOVE to hear 
>> about
>> it.  We need to encourage and inspire one another.
>>
>> Lynda River Woman
>>
>> Tell us what you are making - I love to hear what others are doing with
>> clay.
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Georgia Kitchen" <gakitchen at gfn.org>
>> To: "List for blind crafters and artists" 
>> <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Saturday, July 02, 2011 11:18 AM
>> Subject: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Hand building with clay
>>
>>
>>> Hi Linda and all,
>>>
>>> Thanks for the  encouragement and sharing your experiences. I have
>>> always appreciated art and I have anscestors who have worked in various
>> media.
>>>
>>> My sister in law lives real close to a college in Arkansas and I think
>>> she would like working in clay if she is up to it health wise.
>>>
>>> I wanted also
>>> to say Hello to Joseli. It is cool that you are working in clay. Do
>>> you still have your dog guide?
>>>
>>> Have a  Happy Holiday all and if you are at convention I know you will
>>> have a good time. I will be watching it on the internet.
>>>
>>> Best,
>>> Georgia
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Nfb-krafters-korner mailing list
>>> Nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-krafters-korner_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> Nfb-krafters-korner:
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-krafters-korner_nfbnet.org/r
>>> iverwoman%40zoominternet.net
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Nfb-krafters-korner mailing list
>> Nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-krafters-korner_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> Nfb-krafters-korner:
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-krafters-korner_nfbnet.org/joseli%
>> 40thezoolady.net
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Nfb-krafters-korner mailing list
>> Nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-krafters-korner_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
>> Nfb-krafters-korner:
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-krafters-korner_nfbnet.org/gakitchen%40gfn.org
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Nfb-krafters-korner mailing list
> Nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-krafters-korner_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> Nfb-krafters-korner:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-krafters-korner_nfbnet.org/riverwoman%40zoominternet.net
>
>