[Nfb-krafters-korner] Hand building with clay

Sun Jul 3 21:16:35 UTC 2011

Oh awesome!! OK I might have to check into that at some point--I am really contemplating trying to rearrange my apartment to be more suited to crafting--

Twitter: www.twitter.com/LandrasGembar
Skype: LandrasPhaelan
Words with Friends ID: terrencevak

On Jul 3, 2011, at 12:27 PM, "River Woman" <riverwoman at zoominternet.net> wrote:

> Hi Terrance,
> To answer your question, yes the newest kilns are completely automatic - after you have set the controls. You have to push only a couple of buttons to get the thing going. After that, be patient for a couple of days while it does the job for you. It really IS amazing, and you can get the controls in BRAILLE, too by special order. I looked at them last summer at Standard Ceramic Supply - and they were able to satisfy all my questions about how a blind person can use one.
> 
> They heat up once you have pushed the button, get to the temp that you are wanting, stay there for the time you have appropriated, and then begin the very slow move down in temp all automatically. They shut OFF exactly when they are programmed to do that, and then you have to wait the amount of hours for it to get cool enough for opening.
> 
> and, yes, you can get a small size one, for doing very small loads - they come in many sizes. Expenses for them depend on the size and model you have bought. I am still thinking I might buy a small one - we'll see.
> 
> I do not think there is any smell at all with them.  It  is entirely closed and sealed - they have no FIRE in them at any time as they are electric. They bake the items, they do not burn the items. It is all done with electric heat so very clean and efficient and uses low energy. Not like the old models used to be.
> 
> As for the other kid of kiln, the GAS fired ones: that is a kiln that HAS FIRE and I doubt you would want one of those - also they are much larger, and you have to be able to WATCH inside of the KILN to see the CONES melting down to know the temperature in there. They are very different things - gas and electric. We use electric at the art center. I used gas fired kilns at college, and at the art center where I was the exec. director for several years - but they are enormous, you have to stack the shelves in them as you stand there - those kilns are much taller than I am- very large.
> 
> Lynda River woman
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Terrence van Ettinger" <terrencevane at gmail.com>
> To: "List for blind crafters and artists" <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Sunday, July 03, 2011 4:04 PM
> Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Hand building with clay
> 
> 
>> Aren't the kilns still kind of big though? You say they're automatic--do they actually shut themselves off at the right time? The two big things that keep me from using a kiln myself (besides the cost of getting one) are the size and wariness since I wouldn't be able to smell ,₣ something started smoking etc.
>> I have ZERO sense of smell; if someone came to me and said, "You could have your sight back or your sense of smelittle," I'd take the sense of smell in a heartbeat.
>> 
>> Terrence
>> 
>> Twitter: www.twitter.com/LandrasGembar
>> Skype: LandrasPhaelan
>> Words with Friends ID: terrencevak
>> 
>> 
>> On Jul 3, 2011, at 3:47 AM, "River Woman" <riverwoman at zoominternet.net> wrote:
>> 
>>> 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 Geor