Friday, July 5, 2013

HANDFUL

Three things that I really like are making teabowls, creating texture and Oribe glaze, so it only makes sense to try to combine the three every chance that I get. Illustrated is a simple wan-gata form, a handful of bowl with a crisp paddled texture and a rich green, lepidolite Oribe glaze. The lip was created not by cutting to shape but rather through a combination of interrupted throwing and the paddling process. I prefer this method as it creates a less contrived appearance and is usually more simpatico with the finished form. The shape was created by throwing a cylinder and then paddling it, the bowl was then expanded out from the inside using a great wood tool that I picked up in Japan. For this shape the concern is that the curve that comes off the foot meets well with the natural curve of the hand and I think I succeeded well with that primary goal and every pot should have at least one goal after all.
"If A equals success, than the formula is A equals X plus Y and Z, with X being work, Y play and Z keeping your mouth shut."  Albert Einstein