Potters techniques discussed

[mudlarkpottery]

Hi Pup.
That's only a small sample of what I have. Here are some crescent pots. The come in two sizes.
Penny.

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[Bretts]

Ok potters I am a big fan of the crackel effect and I have had it explained to me once how Pat does his cracks but My brain is the sifting model and I need it again.
I know asking potters there formulas is taboo but I think that is not on, we are here to share info arn't we why should potters be excluded?

[Asus101]

Its done by rubbing different things in to the clay at different times. Its not easy thing to do.

[Bretts]

Its done by rubbing different things in to the clay at different times. Its not easy thing to do.

Who does it this way Asus. It is not one of the ways I have heard of?
Can you eleborate?

[Asus101]

ball clay a is one way I know of, but there is another. Some people like to use a blow torch, but Im not sure its reliable.

[mudlarkpottery]

I'll have to let Pat tell you how he gets that cracked effect. Potters are wary of giving out info on techniques and on glaze recipes which have taken a lot of time and effort to produce. It's like having a patent on your hard work and then you find cheap and nasty imitations cropping up. There are a lot of disreputable people (would-be potters) who pump you for info and then use it to undercut your prices. I have explained what has happened to me in another thread about this problem.
With regard to the cracked effect, I use the dry clay method which is different from Pat's. I will also be giving a practical workshop on freeform pots for members of the Newcastle club early next year. I don't know if it will be taped or photos taken. I will be taking as many photos as I can and will post them here.
If anyone wants to make her/his own pots and is within travelling distance of my studio, you are welcome to come and do it. The Central Coast club is planning on getting a group together to come up and have a workshop here next year, too.
Penny.

[Asus101]

I would come, but its a long drive.
I went looking for potters in my area, and there are non at all. All of them moved interstate.

[Bretts]

Bonsai artists seem to be very free with thier techniques that take them many years to perfect I just wonder why we accept a different attitude from potters. I think it has come from a different comunity and we should not harbour it.
Undercutting is business. You can't complain if some one is better at marketing than you. You often get what you pay for but It seems there are very few potters around surley passing on the information would be benificial to all unless you are trying to corner the market?
I have never heard a Bonsaist state that they can't explain a technique because it took them too long to learn


I have dabbled in potting and I found this attitude of the potters very egotistical. I hate that. Sorry. I think it should change and maybe the great Bonsai comunity is were it can start.

[Spinner]

Hi Soltan

I seem to remember Pat showed this technique a couple of years ago at a club show in Sydney. I think he may have demo'd it at Newcastle as well. Weren't you there?

By the way, I think you might find that Pat is a member of your club...maybe you can tackle him there and demand answers.

Spinner

[mudlarkpottery]

Our atitude is not egotistical, it's self-preservation. We don't mind passing on information and are happy to encourage and help others. I often teach and give workshops. I sell my mugs for $10 and so often, people say to me "I can buy cheaper than that at K-Mart". This is the attitude we are up against all the time. There is nothing wrong with the K-Mart product and they both fulfill the same function.You are not in the business of growing and selling bonsai, so it doesn't matter if you divulge a special technique you've spent some time developing, which makes your trees grow and mature within a few years instead of having to wait several (many) years. I cant imagine any bonsai nurserman who would be willing to freely give out that information (if they had it). It is quite different when you are trying to make a living from your pots (or trees). A lot of the Japanese, Chinese and Korean bonsai pots that are sold here are mass produced from moulds, yet people grumble about the high(?) prices we put on our handmade pots. There is no consideration of the work and craftmanship (let alone knowledge) which has gone into a handmade pot. Do you know of any handmade Japanese pots for sale in Australia? Could you imagine a japanese potter making a pot just for you, to your specifications? How much do you think it would cost?
Penny.

[aaron_tas]

wow

i can truly respect what you are saying there penny.

[mudlarkpottery]

Thanks, Aaron. So many people have no idea just what's involved in making a pot. I get phone calls saying "can I have 20 mugs and I want them tomorrow". Well, first I have to make them if they're not in stock, then they have to dry, I have to make a kiln-load of pots to make it worthwhile -$150 worth of gas for one firing not taking into account other costs. You explain this to the customer and they're not interested - like "I want to grow a black pine bonsai from this tubestock and I want to put it in the exhibition next month.
Penny.

[mudlarkpottery]

Hey, Asus, it might be a long drive, but it would be worth it. With no competition, you could churn out the pots and make a fortune (yeah, sure). Have you ever seen a rich potter?
Come over for a holiday.
Penny.

[aaron_tas]

[Bretts]

You are not in the business of growing and selling bonsai, so it doesn't matter if you divulge a special technique you've spent some time developing, which makes your trees grow and mature within a few years instead of having to wait several (many) years. I cant imagine any bonsai nurserman who would be willing to freely give out that information (if they had it). It is quite different when you are trying to make a living from your pots (or trees).

Sorry to disagree but I am in the buissness of growing and selling bonsai as are alot of other members of the forums. Your post is a little contradictory you say it is self preservation but also state you give information freely?
Should bonsaist keep secrets of growing bonsai to themselves the way a potters keep glaze recipies to themselves. I have never heard of a nurseryman stating he will not divuldge a technique because he is afraid you will undercut them or for any other reason and I will be bold enough to state that Bonsai techniques take longer to produce in many instances(such as growing from seed). I understand that potters do workshops and do teach some but it still seems excepted that some will be hidden. Sorry maybe Egotistical is the wrong word.
I am happy to pay the price of a hand made pot but I still believe that this attitude is wrong of hiding information to try to increase the value of your items or however potters explain it.
So be it maybe this will ruffle feathers and sacrilidge to potters but that is what I don't like!