Posted by Larry Jelf on January 23, 2010 at 10:30pm
Because I was not trying to make a living at my pottery I could spend time experimenting with many interesting techniques. To me, the wheel was just another tool. I liked to cut, twist, beat, * apply or any other method to alter the appearance of the thrown piece. Some very fine teachers were greatly responsible for my learning. I then tried to push even further. I composed my own bodies at first but when I opened my own gallery decided that I either had to make clay or pottery and chose the latter. Age and health forced me to close the gallery after four years. However, I did make my own porcelain and loved using it. I compounded my own glazes, later starting to compound my own crystalline glazes, using them on my porcelain. I loved using the crystalline glazes, too.I also had a curiosity about the effects of natural ingredients in my glazes.I have a bowl that I threw from clay that came from 11000 feet under the Atlantic due to the kindness of Woods Hole.My advice to newbies or veterans is to try it. If you don't try something you'll never know if it will work. Also, read everything you can get your hands on! To throw pottery but buy your glazes is sacriledge to me. They go hand in hand. When I wrote this I didn't think that I bought my clay later in my career. There are hopefully, two photos in my photos section showing some of my specialized tools I discussed.** These are nothing more than caster wheels with a number of filed slots in them and a wire handle. See photo to left of duscussion. I have tried to show these tools but the only way I can get them shown is by replacing my own photo. I wanted to display the tools in one spot only so I could refer to them. They are my work but I wouldn't consider them art work.
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