Snow pots

[craig edwards]

I put up a couple pictures on my blog of some pots that got " a little attitude"  from the last snow.

http://woodfiredpottery.blogspot.com/

~Craig

[Mike]

Beautiful.

Weird to see snow actually, since it feels like spring here. Yesterday
was actually comfortable 'spring' warm, you know, sit in the sun and
doze off as the sun warms you, while a cool breeze blows by, a wonderful
feeling.

Somehow I missed your post about the water reduction. Those pots are
very dramatic. There's no filtering going on in the photo, right? That
color is so vivid it's almost surreal.

I've been meaning to ask you about how you make your large jars. You
mention coil and paddle on your website, but do you do them in one swell
foop, or in stages? Do you wrap them with rope or something to prevent
collapse as you're paddling around the shoulder and higher? I can't
believe I forgot to ask you about this when we had the chance in Mashiko.

When I see old pictures of Kyushu potters making large jars, there is
usually rope wrapped around to prevent the pot from waffling and
splitting. Kyushu has such a Korean influence in much of it's pottery
technology, I'm wondering if this too is of Korean origin?

Mike
in Taku, Japan

karatsupots.blogspot.com
potteryofjapan.com

[L BURCH]

Fell Swoop = falconry or hawking.

MACDUFF: [on hearing that his family and servants have all been killed]

All my pretty ones?
Did you say all? O hell-kite! All?
What, all my pretty chickens and their dam
At one fell swoop?

The kite referred to is a hunting bird, like the Red Kite, which was common in England in Tudor times and is now making a welcome return after near extinction in the 20th century. The swoop (or stoop as is now said) is the rapid descent made by the bird when capturing prey.  Suddenly; in a single action.


:-)

[Mike]

Interesting history of 'fell swoop' of which I was not aware. Am familiar with the expression and it's meaning though, I said it backwards as a joke.

Mike
in Taku, Japan

karatsupots.blogspot.com
potteryofjapan.com

[Hank Murrow]

You can see both my new woodfires and the Oregon season by going here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/claycraft/

Cheers Group!

Hank in Eugene

[craig edwards]

Hey Mike: You lucky!!!  It's hard to imagine someplace that doesn't have snow. I took those pictures on Thursday morning... it's now Friday evening and still snowing. Yikes...
Yeah the pots from the water reduction are pretty dramatic.  They are well lite and oiled, but those are the true colours.  It's all in the clay,  it's got to be receptive to the flame and ash. Oh... and extremely lucky.  I'm focusing more and more on clay and how it reacts to flame and ash. Basically,  I'm learning more and more about less and less, with any luck, pretty soon I won't know anything at all!
Let's see, big jars. Hmmmm.  I should have made some at Mashiko but I just didn't quite have it in me.  I usually make three at a time, going from one to the next. If I get ahead, I might dry them with a propane torch. However, I'm not making them as production ware, usually... but sometimes, I get caught up in the moment, and really roll.  Slowing down and using the paddle and anvil to produce really stunning forms can be a good thing, but it takes time, so the drying clay is pushing me along.  The clay is in the saddle and riding the potter.   Sometimes loose is good to, it all depends on who you are,  and what the moment is.  Sometimes being in the saddle and riding the clay is good.  In the end just still a monkey chasing it's tail... but having a grand time of it. :O)
 In Korea (Gan-gin)  I saw some large jars being made, they had an iron pot with charcoal on the inside of the jar. It could be raised with a ratchet. This put out alot of heat (steam was coming off the clay) and helped set-up the clay so you could progress rapidly.  I have seen onggi potters wrap a band of cloth around the belly of pots... but they did this when they were taking them off the wheel and the cloth kept them round.  A know what you mean about the string... seen pictures but have never seen anyone actually doing it.  A fellow in MPLS that shows my bigger pots also deals in old Spanish tanjenaros (sp). some are 15 ft. tall.  They are the kind of pot that you can stand next to and have your picture taken. A real road side attraction!  They have there own gravitational pull.
I have some photo's of some Three Dynasty Korean pots that have the bird foot print like you have on that great paddle of yours. I'll see if I can get them up on the blog. One of them is in the in the top ten of their cultural treasures.  I like this period, they were just starting to reach stoneware temps and mostly very skillful hand building. When I saw the bird foot print on your paddle it gave me pause..... Hmmm, who is this fellow.
Well as the bard would say. " With bodkin bare, who would these fardles bear." (for the benefit of L)
Make good pots,
~Craig

[Paul Herman]

Craig,

They remind me of the boulders up at Lake Tahoe after a big snow.
Very nice.

We just had a burst of snow last Monday, while Joe was firing his
kiln, about eight inches. It was a hairy ride home through the blizzard.

Bon feu,

Paul

Great Basin Pottery
Doyle, California US
http://greatbasinpottery.com

On Mar 2, 2007, at 10:46 AM, craig edwards wrote:

[Richard Mahaffey]

Craig,
Nice photos!  We have had snow flurries with blinding sun as the snow falls (well very less than half-heartedly falling).

Mike,
In Otani, Tokushima the Mori studio was still making large pots when I lived there in '96.  I fear that the old man (he was in his late 70's) is not making pots anymore.  (I will have to check on his health with friends in Tokushima.)   They made 300 gallon (600 pound) jars on kick wheels for the Ai industry which was a Tokushima mainstay for a couple hundred years.

 If you can get a copy of the video Potters of Japan done by Richard Peeler in the mid 60's (a guy whose last name is Waggoner (I think)) on Clayart knows were you can buy the VHS Videos from Peeler's widow you can see them making the jars.  You can also see one Shimaoka as a young man making pots along with Fujiwara Kei, Bizen: Rakusai, shigaraki, Kato Tokuo, Kyoto; Yamamoto Toyozo, Bizen; and some others that I can not recall at this time.

Best wishes,
Rick - who is off to help load an anagama for a short firing (3 days or so ) to dry out the kiln for a real firing (6 days or so).

[Lee]

Craig,

       That water reduction pot looks really nice!
--
Lee in Mashiko, Japan
http://potters.blogspot.com/
"Let the beauty we love be what we do." - Rumi

[Swanica Ligtenberg]

Hi Craig,

 

How wonderful the snow pictures are! I have not seen any snow yet this winter. It looks like white ash, although perhaps by now they will be completely covered.

And your black teapot! Stunning! The shape is so wonderful and the lines so flowing. Beautiful.

 

Next Thursday, I will go back to the US for 3 weeks, and have been here in Japan for 6 weeks. Today, I had my first firing in Japan in an oil kiln and got some beautiful horsehair pots.

I’ll put them on my blog. I’m having a great time here. I also went back to Mashiko and attended, helped with a workshop from Euan Craig, organized by Steve Tootell and Kusakabe-san was also there.

Here is a video. You just see my back very quickly. The kids were great and Euan was a good teacher. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqxBT0dOIBo

 

How is your back?

 

All the best,

Swanica

 

www.swanceramics.blogspot.com

[L BURCH]

;- )

[craig edwards]

Paul;  Boulders at Lake Tahoe... nice visual! You live in some pretty spectacular country. I hope that Joe's firing went well. You must be getting ready for a wood firing pretty soon?
~Craig

On 3/2/07, Paul Herman <potte...@frontiernet.net> wrote:

Craig,

They remind me of the boulders up at Lake Tahoe after a big snow.
Very nice.

We just had a burst of snow last Monday, while Joe was firing his
kiln, about eight inches. It was a hairy ride home through the blizzard.

Bon feu,

Paul

Great Basin Pottery
Doyle, California US
http://greatbasinpottery.com

-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---

[Paul Herman]

Hi Craig,

Yeah, we are firing here April 2-4. It got warm today, above 50, and
the snow is about gone. Joe's firing came out well, he burned for
about 26 hours.

Oh-oh, better go back to the shop and make some more, only one month
left. The pressure is on....

Paul

Great Basin Pottery
Doyle, California US
http://greatbasinpottery.com

[craig edwards]

Rick; That sounds like a great video.
Have some good firings
~Craig

[Lee]

On 3/3/07, Richard Mahaffey <rickma...@comcast.net> wrote:

 If you can get a copy of the video Potters of Japan done by Richard Peeler in the mid 60's (a guy whose last name is Waggoner (I think)) on Clayart knows were you can buy the VHS Videos from Peeler's widow you can see them making the jars.  You can also see one Shimaoka as a young man making pots along with Fujiwara Kei, Bizen: Rakusai, shigaraki, Kato Tokuo, Kyoto; Yamamoto Toyozo, Bizen; and some others that I can not recall at this time.

Is this it Rick:

http://www.sheffield-pottery.com/PEELER-POTTERS-OF-US-AND-JAPAN-DVD-p/axdpuj.htm

PEELER: POTTERS OF US AND JAPAN: DVD

---

Ceramic Art Films - This DVD includes the 4 Potters films. Minutes: 64 minutes Author: Marj and Richard Peeler
Potters of Japan, Parts 1 and 2. These two films, shot on location in Japan, will reveal the influence Japanese pottery has had on ceramics all over the world, and give insight into Japanese culture through the ceramic methods and philosophies of the five potters shown in each film. Each man is famous for his mastery of a particular technique and the viewer gets a rare opportunity to observe him closely as he works. These men frequently depend upon heat, flames, and wood ash to finish their work, and the pottery reflects the wide range of results, which is inevitable in this unique partnership with nature. Because each man carries on the work of his ancestors, pottery is seen being made much as it was centuries ago. A particular attraction of these films is the firing of the multi-chambered Japanese kilns. Part 1 Includes: Mori Pottery of Shikoku Kei Fujiwara at Bizen Mr. Ichino at Tamba Ancient elbo-made pots near Kyoto Yuzo Kondo at Kyoto Bidai 16 minutes Part 2 Includes: Mr. Rokusai at Shigaraki Takuo Kato at Tajimi Mr. Kaneshigi at Bizen Mr. Shimaoka at Mashiko Raku Pottery at Kyoto 15 minutes Potters of the USA Parts 1 and 2. Four outstanding American potters are presented working and discussing their craft in each of these two films shot in the artists' own studios. Those visited are all sound, successful craftsmen, with many years' experience. Because each one discusses his own personal philosopy and talks about his work, a feeling of intimacy is created between the artist and the viewer. A wide variety of forming and glazing methods are demonstrated and many of each artists' finished pieces are shown in addition to those in progress. The works range from vase shapes on which the artist has inscribed poetry and quotations to a hundred-foot-long ceramic mural. Part 1 Includes: Charles Lakofsky, William Wyman, Vivika and Otto Heino 16 minutes Part 2 Includes: Warren Mackenzie, Paul Bogatay, Toshiko Takaezu, Frans Wildenhain 17 minutes By showing ceramic artists at work, these films provide unique insight into the methods, materials, and equipment basic to the art and craft of ceramics. Artists' commentaries are included to give an insight into their thinking and philosophy in planning and executing their work.

[craig edwards]

Thanks Lee,  I thought the pictures of the snow might conger up some memories for you!
~Craig

[Lee]

On 3/4/07, craig edwards <craigl...@gmail.com> wrote:

Thanks Lee,  I thought the pictures of the snow might conger up some memories for you!
~Craig

Hey!   Don't make me homesick!   :^)    The snow is great too.   Too bad I am probably coming back to Mashiko in November.   But if I am lucky, there will be some snow in November.

         I think Kintaro might be used to more snow because he is from the West cost, right on the sea there.     I will put up a scan of a woodblock print I made, from 5 years ago in Mashiko, when we got the most snow I have seen here.

[craig edwards]

Hi Swanica: IT's really good to here from you!  Thanks for the nice words about the black teapot. I put it on the blog so long ago that I had forgotten all about it.
Yes, please, put your new pots up for us to see. Will you have these pots in your upcoming exibitions?
That is a nice video of Euan.  His energy is so powerful... it would be great fun to work around him. Also it was good to see the studio at Furuki-san's.  I'll have to watch it again and see if I can pick you out.
The back is great!!!  I'm really enjoying making pots again.
Have a good time back in the States.

The Best
~Craig

[Hank Murrow]

On Mar 4, 2007, at 8:16 AM, craig edwards wrote:

> The back is great!!!  I'm really enjoying making pots again.

Dear Craig;

That IS good news. I hope we'll see some new things soon at your site.

Cheers!

Hank
www.murrow.biz/hank

[Richard Mahaffey]

Lee, that is it. 

Rick