05/01/09 VIDEO: Coil & Throw Method

Throw, Dry, Add Coil, Repeat
Using the Coil and Throw Method to Make Large Pottery on the Potter's Wheel
http://www.ceramicartsdaily.org/video/index.aspx

OK! So, how enthralled do you think I was while watching this video?

First reason for my fascination with anything having to do with clay: Due to forces beyond my control involving a river, flooding, and a university who's classes had to cease early this semester...I HAVEN'T BEEN AT A WHEEL IN WEEEEEEKS! :-P

Second, I've always been interested in "bigware". I think because, although I'm not a weakling, I always had a hard time centering the large amount of clay. Then it was a challenge for me to keep twist out of the bottom of the pot as I worked higher up around the neck.

Also, let's face it: I'm not a svelt chick! My hands and arms are anything but delicate, so reaching down into the pot prevented me from keeping the pot collared in at the top sometimes.

I think this might be a sweeeeet solution! I didn't even know you could do this - maybe I missed that day in class 10 years ago? lol. What's nice is that even if I don't go into bigware, I can use this technique to keep the pot narrower than my arm and not have to deal with trying to throw with a long stick to increase my reach.

I may have found a couple wheels for sale in the Minneapolis area. Keep your fingers crossed! Maybe I can try out this method soon!

04/17/09 VIDEO: Show Up, Even If Your Muse Didn't

Burden of Genius
Elizabeth Gilbert
http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=1472

Elizabeth Gilbert's book "Eat, Pray, Love" was so successful that everyone worried if she'd ever be able to repeat that creative performance. The concern led Gilbert to investigate how past cultures and societies handled creative strokes of genius, and she discovered a rather curious insight from ancient Greek and Roman cultures -- that people aren't geniuses, but rather they have a genius. Funny, personal and surprisingly moving, this TED talk received a full standing ovation from an audience of people who generally don't give in to beliefs about muses, fairies and god forces!

****I found a link to this video through the Robert Genn Facebook Fan Page. (I'll post about the Genn newsletter another time...)

The video is 20 min. long but definitely worth it. Definitely inspiring for anyone who has a creative soul. If you can't watch the whole thing right now, bookmark this link:

To watch the video, be sure to pause the music on my page in the black player in the upper right corner. If the video loads slowly here, try clicking the above link. Enjoy!

03/27/09 VIDEO: North Dakota Flood 2009

Wish I were there to help with the flood preparations. My thoughts are with all of you sandbagging day & night, fighting not only water but also sore muscles that can't keep working forever.

You've done what you can, our prayers are behind you. It's ND - those who's efforts weren't enough will have our help when it's over.

03/15/09 VIDEO: Thrown/Handbuilt Baker & Lid

Combining Wheel Throwing and Slab Building Techniques to Create a Functional Baking Dish

Laura Ross

http://www.ceramicartsdaily.org/feature/featuredetail/2009-03/videorossbakers.aspx

So, I'm diggin' the functional stuff I think. This is a link to video of someone making a large rectangular "baker" (casserole?) with a domed lid. Partially thrown, partially handbuilt.

I liked the way she made the slab lid, and the details she showed on keeping the lid tight.

03/03/09 VIDEO: Dowel Pots

Handbuilding with Mitch Lyons
http://www.ceramicartdaily.net/video/lyons1.htm

Hey...ever used increasing sizes of dowels to "throw" a pot when handbuilding? I could sit at Ceramic Arts Daily searching videos allllll day!

02/25/09 VIDEO: Centering Tips From An Expert

Robin Hopper

http://www.ceramicartsdaily.org/feature/featuredetail/2009-02/videohopperbegthrow.aspx

I found the Ceramic Arts Daily link yesterday and I'm loving it! There's a free subscription to their e-newsletter, and VIDEOS!

I really think my throwing will benefit from the refresher on centering. Then I wandered into the video archive and somehow lost an hour and 1/2 of time. lol.

Enjoy!