SIMON LEACH POTTERY WORKSHOPS - Japan appeal & trimming 2 bowls

[potterylady1]

Where did you buy your trimming tool? I love it.

[TheSignGuy32]

Simon, how much clay did you use on this bowl??

[TheSignGuy32]

Hi Simon, just to let you know that I purchased my first Pottery wheel. I picked up a Shimpo K2 from someone upstate NY. It was in very good condition and I threw my first cylinder today. The wheel helped alot, the time on the kickwheel was important as well. I'll keep you abreast on my progress. Thanks for everything. I will treasure the trimming bamboo stick and the cylinder that you made before you moved to PA. I'm soo glad that we met and you inspired me into Pottery. Carlos

[sleachpots]

@TheSignGuy32 hi C - I am very happy to hear that ! I am getting a local Amish carpenter to make me a treadle wheel ! Keep practicing and you are sure to make steady progress. Keep in touch ! SL

[r34lsessattack]

How do you get the pots to stay on while trimming, without clay to hold it down?

[frankstenosis]

Greetings Simon,

I have been a long time watcher but this is my first comment post. I have enjoyed your vidoes to date and have learned so many niffty tricks and techniques. You are a wonderful teacher. Having been laid off from my day job over a year ago I have had the opportunity to spend time helping the ceramics teacher at my local high school. Your method of instruction has been helpful to me as I work one on one with the students. Thanks for all you do!

Cheers!

[sleachpots]

@frankstenosis Good to hear , thanks for commenting and the feedback! SL

[MeemsChamplin]

And thanks for making it easy to contribute to the Mashiko relief fund.

[MeemsChamplin]

I think your work and videos and savoir faire are all laudable, and your willingness to teach here for nothing is fantastic. Thank you for all of the above!

[hobbypotter]

I'm so excited! I wasn't able to watch the video in one sitting, but when I came back to watch, youtube had it start at exactly where I left off! Nice foot on that bowl...I struggle with visualizing how deep & wide to make the foot....I'll just keep practicing :) !!!

[credenza1]

I like the word "ood" to describe the form of the pot. Do you miss your quiet Leach wheel ?

[sleachpots]

@credenza1 Mood i think you mean ..yes I miss my Leach wheel but I am aiming to get one over here as soon as I can ...have 4 in UK !!!  SL

[credenza1]

@sleachpots oops...yes...mood.....

[galfurion]

The digital zoom isn't helpful at all! You should either put the camera closer to your object (and turn the digital zoom off for good), or get a better camera with more optical zoom.

[sleachpots]

@galfurion You are right in what you say, and I take note, even if you are are blunt about it ! There are ways of saying things that make them more easily digested, they call it "savoir faire" !! "keep practicing" ~ The camera cost me $75 as I am working on a budget and giving out these clips for free ! Of course donations are always welcome ! SL

[galfurion]

@sleachpots sorry Simon! I didn't mean to sound aggressive or even blunt. English is not my main language so, sometimes it comes out a little bit different from what I'm intending to. Don't take this personally! I was just trying to give you some tips on how to get the best out of this camera, that's all! I have a real hard prejudice on digital zoom. Either way, I'm a big fan of your work. Its because of you that I started taking pottery classes a couple months ago. Keep up the awesome work!

[sleachpots]

@galfurion Thats Ok ..no offense taken ! thanks for your kind words and am glad you are practicing !

Where are you from ? Simon

[galfurion]

@sleachpots I'm from Brazil! A state called Minas Gerais, with a lot of history in pottery. Try the Wikipedia on /wiki/Minas_Gerais to check it out! I'll try and find you some pictures of our traditional pottery.

[sleachpots]

@galfurion I would like to see some pictures of your traditional pottery ! saludos SL

[betterlatethannev100]

I stumbled upon ur site quite by accident, I was a potter for a few years and then had to move and lost a place to throw. I so wish I cud start again, you give me such inspiration. I shall continue to watch and enjoy

[meredithpottery]

Hi Simon,

So sorry for the impact that the Japanese tragedy has had on you and yours. I know that whatever St. Ives Pottery can do will be greatly appreciated.

You have inspired me to work on faceted pots for quite a while now. Thank you so much for these videos which have taught me so much about proportion. I love your faceted pots...they seem to be from another time...

[lynxdani]

Simon. Thank you for this great video on trimming. It helps alot. My question is about how you store the freshly thrown pots before you actually sit down to trim them. I have wrapped the pieces in plastic but it seems to stay to wet, if I let them sit out and dry they get over dry. What is your time line between throwing and trimming and how do you store them during the interim.

Also, with all that wonderful greenware behind you I hope you will cover glazing them!!!

[sleachpots]

@lynxdani I throw the pots then let them dry off somewhat until they are at a nearly leatherhard stage, then i trim them.Thing to remember is that the pots will still dry out under the plastic...the wetter they are when you cover them the longer they will last.Best not to cover wet pots,as they can get deformed by the plastic. keep a spray bottle handy to keep them damp under the plastic, check them, rotate them,ones on the outside of the board to the center & so on,so they dry evenly. "KP" ~ SL

[Ricca2295]

Simon,

You seem to have a build up of greenware have you not been firing recently?

[sleachpots]

@Ricca2295 aha very observant of you ! yes I do need to fire and plan a firing this week...will update as I go ! SL

[txjoker]

Very nice, Simon! I agree that the shape of the bowl should be the indicator of how to trim the foot. We were always taught, as a rule of thumb, that the foot should be one third the size of the diameter of the bowl at the widest point. I still use that rule on my pots today. Thank you for your continued video posts. You make us better potters!

[sleachpots]

@txjoker Thanks - I try !