[RUSTYME]

http://ceramicartsdaily.org/ceramic-art-and-artists/ceramic-sculpture/ceramic-sculpture-video-the-curious-case-of-benjamin-ballclay-see-an-old-man-become-youthful-in-under-two-minutes/?floater=99

for anyone interested in working with clay , here is a good video . Very cleverly done. The site is a very interesting one if you are into pottery or ceramics in general . If you register with the site , you can get lots of free downloadable booklets on all sorts of pottery related stuff.

cheers

Russ

[marigold]

Brilliant, thank you,
I'm going to download the thing about wood burning kilns.
Been away from clay for a week and beginning to feel a bit twitchy. Saw some lovely stuff in Yorkshire. I saw some really lovely lights made from paper thin porcelain which I shall have a go at reproducing next week. Just need to find some light fitting which are self supporting to slot inside.
Thanks again

[RUSTYME]

your welcome ,
                   I have only done pottery at school , and pretty poor it was too, although I did the odd bit here and there, when I have dug up big lumps of clay and made pots and fired them in a bonfire ...lol
       I will be having a go at a wood fired kiln too . I can make and then fuel one as often as I want . It will be just for myself , basic salt glazed medieval type pottery . I have clay on my land , but if it is too much work to dig up ( lots of other things to do ) then even I can afford to buy the clay in . It was always the kiln that was the thing that stopped me from doing it . But seems very easy to make a wood fired one , and once made it will be free to fire.
 

 
cheers

Russ

[marigold]

That all sounds really interesting. A couple of years ago I visited my brother in Germany and went to a German market where they had a medieval market and several people reproducing medieval pots. None of the market used any electricity or gas and all the products were made using traditional techniques and materials. The pots were gorgeous and i brought back a small blue  glazed colander which I use for serving vegetable or olives or anything that needs draining. It is so useful. It could also be used for making cheese in.

I go to a ceramics group every Thursday and it is one of the highlights of my week. No matter how tired I am it always relaxes and invigorates me to pummel some clay and make something.  I try to make useful things but figures keep emerging from the clay - weird.
Here are some of my pieces, including the breadbin which I'm really pleased with although my teenage daughters are a bit grossed out by it.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kirstyintercreative/

[Fluffywelshsheep]

nice art work

[RUSTYME]

yes , some nice stuff you have made there Kirsty.  Mine won't be anything as clever as that ...just bog standard pots , jugs , dishes etc .
   I am not sure yet whether I shall be making a kick wheel or a treadle powered one . I have an old singer sewing machine stand with all the bits , so it would seem a treadle would be the easiest option .
   I don't know what size I shall make the kiln either , maybe big enough for 100-200 pieces , whatever size that would be . I would think about 3 or 4 feet square would be large enough for me . Seeing as most of it will most likely be going in the bin anyway , no point in making it too big lol.
 Only just got a book on pottery 'The Potters Manual ' by Kenneth Clark, haven't read it through yet , just flicked through , but it is very interesting and I think it will cover most things I need to know to get started. I got it through Amazon for £1. 35 + £2.75 p+p , and it is brand new.
 
cheers

Russ
   

[marigold]

I borrowed a copy of the potters manual from the library and think that i will invest in a copy.
With regards to the type of wheel, from what I've read and i should say that I have no experience, the kick wheel is a killer on your knee. It will be interesting to hear what you make though. Thought you might like this you tube video of a guy who has made a hand powered wheel from a truck axle. Talk about hard work. I feel like a real woos.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoT1ppXBYa4

[RUSTYME]

the knee is what worried me about the kick wheel.  Both my knees are buggered , a bit like James' , the cartridges have fired ...lol.     I can even exit stage left as I walk , without  warning , the knee just goes.
  That was why I  kept looking at a treadle . I could also just make a small water wheel and use that to power the pottery wheel !!!
 The chap in the video makes it look so easy .....i'd be dead in no time ....but it is people like him I look at to see how they do things , as they have to do it the easy way . Either that or starve !!!
  Good video link , thanks ....

cheers

Russ