[Nfb-krafters-korner] Hand building with clay

River Woman riverwoman at zoominternet.net
Sun Jul 3 11:47:20 UTC 2011 

Hi Georgia,
It is so nice to talk to you.
Yes, the art center has everything you can need. I do carry a little tool 
box with me, kind of like a fishing box, small and made of plastic.  I keep 
my own things there, and I use the center's supplies and tools, too. They 
have the glazes there also. but, I do buy some of my own glazes - wow, are 
they expensive. I had NO idea how costly they are. You buy a package in 
whatever weight you want from the Standard Ceramic Supply Company - I just 
bought 3 different glazes, 5 # each. It was around $90.  And 5 pounds does 
not make a lot of glaze - you add only water to it and then you can use it. 
I have low fire glazes - four of them. And, I have mid-fire glazes - 
probably about 6 of them.  Plus, I use the glazes at the center.

I don't use a lot of different colors as I like to limit my work to a color 
palette that is MINE - predictable and in sinc with my own vision of what my 
work should look like. I would say I probably only use about 10 colors in 
all plus transparent glazes. My color range is earthy.

It would be nice if your husband would be in a show there if he has the 
opportunity. I do know what you mean, about getting your stuff there. It is 
a big effort.

the kilns these days are low energy users - and they are all automatic. You 
could easily use one, once someone went through it with you. they are all 
set by just pushing a button, like using a microwave oven. And, they do not 
use a lot of electricity as the old ones did, because they are made now to 
be efficient.  I do not have a kiln. I could get one, and looked into it 
last year, but decided I wanted to keep it as it is - my day away to play 
with clay.  Then, I work in my studio here at home doing slab or coil 
pieces. All you need is a table - My husband made a table and it is the size 
of a piece of paneling so that he could put a panel made of kitchen counter 
material on top - it cleans up really well and is nice to work on. He also 
made a table like that for our shipping room for our eBay business and that 
is a room in our basement where he does all the packing and shipping, and it 
is a holding room for things as we post them, and get them ready to be 
shipped. My studio is a large area, the second floor of a large barn garage 
on our property.

I decided if I had a kiln, then I would feel like I have to be making 
pottery, instead, I now feel like it is a treat and that I do not HAVE to 
work it like a JOB.

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 10:47 PM
Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Hand building with clay


> Hi all,
>
> Yes, an art center is a good place. We have a art council office that has 
> shows and I have gotten to know them over the last few years. It is 
> relatively small and during a big snow storm, I stopped there and waited 
> for my husband to pick me up since the  sidewalks were so snowy.
> They are real friendly and sponsor shows as well as other galleries in 
> town. A church also has a small show of someone's art. They invited my 
> husband to have a show. I hoped he would take them upon it but frankly he 
> is quite busy. I think if he had help getting his stuff there it would 
> make a difference. You know how family issues are sometime.
>
>
>
> Yes, the art center here has all that expensive equipment. I think it 
> would be quite a learning experience learning to set up and use a kiln. I 
> can't imagine the utility bill!
> Linda, do you have a kiln or do you have one that you can use at the art 
> center?  Here they have all those little things you can use such as 
> brushes, rolling pins etc.
>
> Best,
> Georgia
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "River Woman" <riverwoman at zoominternet.net>
> To: "List for blind crafters and artists" <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Saturday, July 02, 2011 8:29 PM
> Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Hand building with clay
>
>
>> 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
>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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>>
>>
>>
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