But last week, it took on a different meaning as I struggled with a commission. The pieces in question were not difficult, but for some reason they were giving me all sorts of grief. The first step was to make a PPP plate for each of the pieces. I have now made eight PPPs. The second step was to create the pieces in clay. First I did four of them in standard clay and then three more in PMC+. Out of those seven there is only one I am pleased with. Thank goodness nothing is ever wasted. I know I can reuse and re-fire them with some major changes for new pieces.
Thank goodness for the Thanksgiving Holiday. It forced me to get away.......... from the clay. It gave me time to think of how I might try to change the already created pieces. If nothing else, when I get back to work, things might finally go right.
1 comment:
Hmmm, I see that my certification class made it into your blog.....
Yes, CeCe Wire peppers her classes with a whole little collection of "sayings." I can't quote a list of them offhand, but they may pop back up from my brain in relevant contexts. So here's something that came to mind as I was assembling the mini-lentil beads I'd previously textured and curved into shape when our guild chapter met at your studio:
Scene: Metal clay artisan with two dried disks.
Act 1: Spread paste along the edge of one disk.
(Start out chatty, so something like...)
"Be generous with paste. It's helpful, not a waste."
Act 2: Moisten the edge of t'other disk.
(Move into sing-song to reinforce this easily-forgotten step, while lourishing a moist brush...)
"Now: Reeee...activate the binder!"
Act 3: After aligning the two pieces and pressing them together.
(Deepen voice, indicating a caution not to be ignored, as you set piece down and pull hands back, palms out, next to shoulders, waving slightly for yet more emphasis...)
"And walk away ... from the clay!" until it's all dried again.
While the flourishes and waves are, perhaps, best saved for classroom performances of these rites, one does imagine a sisterhood (includes some brothers too) of MCers hither and yon in their studios, all repeating these little incantations.
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