[Clayart] fighting your clay and aging

[mel jacobson via Clayart]

I have made it important in my life to "not fight" my materials.
Yes, I am going on 92, but I love to re/cycle and make my clay just right.
I run all my clay through the walker pug mill. I add water to make the
clay perfect to throw. When the clay jumps off the wheel and makes a perfect
form it makes me smile. It is a string of frustrations that turns people
from craft as they age.

I take those frustrations and make sure they do not invade.
I have learned to love all the steps to making pots.

I just came from the studio and have run about 70 lbs of scrap
clay through the walker three times. It was rather soft I did not
'add water. I now have about 300 lbs of perfect throwing clay.
It is the way I like it. I will throw with warm water after hand
wedging each ball of 15 lb clay into a platter. I will make seven of them
as that is how many I can place into the electric kiln. I slow dry, then
trim the ring feet. I wait for the pots to be perfect for trimming. I do
not rush them. I have several times this winter trimmed pots at 4 a.m.
They were perfect.

Living alone here at the farm lets me do things when ready. No outside interruptions.
If I wake up, I get up. I have coffee and cookies and then head to the studio. Spend
about three hours out there..then back in for a nap. When I wake up, I get up. The
day starts again.

I can buy ready cut tuna and salmon for sushi. Sashimi. I have a new space age rice
cooker and with a few fresh veggies I have sushi. I make my own brown sauce. I think
tomorrow I will make a lovely cake. I do what pleases me. I walk in my studio and
say..."Alexa play Diana Krall". she does. Or I say, Alexa play Patty Paige from
1960. She does. I have about 40 platters finished with that hare's fur colored
glaze. (clayart page website, last photo on the bottom. I made my own website too,
it pleased me. After 14 years I bought a new Kindle. mmmmm, nice.
mel



website: www.melpots.com
WWW.clayartarchives.com

[William Schran via Clayart]

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