[Clayart] sieve to perfection, or?

[Ken Chase]

Thanks Mel and all who replied to my question on sieveing.
Now I understand my mistake. The jars of glaze that had sat half
empty with much of the contents dry were mixed into the portion
still liquid. Those were the conditions when I should have used the
sieve. Fresh,newly opened jars won’t require this. Much appreciate
the lesson.
Best
Ken

Sent from my iPad

> On Feb 22, 2020, at 2:01 AM, mel jacobson <melpots at mail.com> wrote:
> 
> when working with modern commercial glaze and clay materials
> we must realize that things are realllly refined.  they are
> sieved, tossed, washed to perfection in the processing. in most
> cases industry demands it.
> 
> so, if you over refine, already refined materials...what do you
> have?  boy, your pots look like they came from the POTTERY BARN...wow...
> you have achieved nirvana.
> 
> we used to talk about the `hand marks` of the craftsman. the hand made jewelry
> made from gold and silver, the samurai sword, made by hand...the wonderful
> wooden table with marks of the maker obvious. and of course textiles and
> quilts made by skilled women. a needle and thread, by hand. the hand made
> wedding dress...makes one cry.
> it was the badge of courage.
> IT IS WHAT SEPARATED JUNK FROM CLASS. folks paid a premium for that `hand
> made` by a human.
> 
> is it a wonder that i insert various forms of iron oxide, beach sand and
> taconite grindings to my clay and glaze. it is why i sieve only 30 mesh for my
> high temp pots. i adore the natural look, the non-commercial look of
> my work. i want it to be a a part of the natural world. it is why i will
> always use a twisted wire to cut my pots from the wheel head...i leave my
> hand marks...i never use sandpaper.
> 
> it is the reason i throw boxed de/aired clay in my walker pug mill.  all my
> clay that i use comes from the walker altered. i hate the tight fit of the clay
> after it is de/aired.
> 
> i swear to god, that if we do not look out, folks will order their pots
> made in china, glazed and fired and you sign the bottom with a sharpie.
> mel
> we all should know why ron roy adored my very old korean bowl. it was
> a bit crooked, it had the marks of the maker...decorated with a thick brush.
> i know if you look close enough you could read the finger prints of
> the maker a thousand years ago.
> thrilling.
> 
> 
> website: www.melpots.com
>