Sit and spin
May. 14th, 2024 11:28 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
offcntrMy second Visiting Artist workshop was last Friday afternoon. It was what we call a sit-and-spin/throw; no hands-on experience for the participants, just watch as the potter throws pots, shares techniques, and answers questions. Had a bigger turnout than last time: eight signed up, seven actually came. One of the students was a repeat from Brushmaking, two regularly visited me at Market, and one was a Craft Center student employee who'd had to miss the last workshop because she was working the desk that day.
I over-prepared, as usual: made an outline with forms to throw and talking points, brought my own tools, of course, but also my throwing stool and bricks to raise up the wheel to a comfortable height. Washed off my hump molds for the first time in years. Brought fifty pounds of clay.
We blew through my set list in about two hours, forty minutes, so I declared a bathroom break, wedged up more clay, and took requests for the last hour. Talked about how to save your back--raise the wheel to the right height, lengthen the back legs of your stool a couple of inches--dissected centering techniques, how to lift pots safely off the wheel, and when not to. Threw bowls and mugs and plates and jars, even a couple of animal banks. Pulled and attached handles. Demonstrated profile ribs and custom tools, talked about how to make them. They asked a lot of questions, several of which I had answers to. In all, a wonderful afternoon.
And on the way out, I scored a nice bit of maple from the free bin in the woodshop, to make a new throwing stick.
I over-prepared, as usual: made an outline with forms to throw and talking points, brought my own tools, of course, but also my throwing stool and bricks to raise up the wheel to a comfortable height. Washed off my hump molds for the first time in years. Brought fifty pounds of clay.
We blew through my set list in about two hours, forty minutes, so I declared a bathroom break, wedged up more clay, and took requests for the last hour. Talked about how to save your back--raise the wheel to the right height, lengthen the back legs of your stool a couple of inches--dissected centering techniques, how to lift pots safely off the wheel, and when not to. Threw bowls and mugs and plates and jars, even a couple of animal banks. Pulled and attached handles. Demonstrated profile ribs and custom tools, talked about how to make them. They asked a lot of questions, several of which I had answers to. In all, a wonderful afternoon.
And on the way out, I scored a nice bit of maple from the free bin in the woodshop, to make a new throwing stick.
no subject
Date: 2024-05-14 07:26 pm (UTC)how to lift pots safely off the wheel,
Imagine!!
no subject
Date: 2024-05-14 08:42 pm (UTC)I'm going to try raising the back legs of my stool. Looks like the wheel should be level with your knees?
no subject
Date: 2024-05-14 11:38 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-05-14 11:39 pm (UTC)Raising the back of the stool tips your pelvis forward, so your back stays at right angles to your legs; lots less stress.
no subject
Date: 2024-05-15 12:41 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-05-15 01:04 am (UTC)Also, video editing is tedious.
no subject
Date: 2024-05-15 01:07 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-05-15 02:40 am (UTC)