I especially enjoyed that line at the end, where you say that you aren't trying to make your students clones of yourself, just ceramic artists with their own unique creativity.
My teacher has a similar style, she teaches us how to center and wheel-throw, or coil/slab, but never really tells us exactly how to do a project.
Thanks for your videos(watched all of them 3 times each), it helped me grow a lot this year.
the most awsome person in the world. She happens to be the teach who I model myself after. She is going to school at SU for Art Ed. so I am learning through her. not to mention shes the love of my life.
You are being reflective and honest - how refreshing for a contemporary artist. In some ways, we learn from our past (skills and experiences combined) and use what we know to influence our future work. It would seem that a lack of good reflective practice may be what stifles creativity. We all have to judge who we want to teach us. In your words here, the teacher (you) seems to also be the learner. That has some possibility for greatness.
Which brings me to another thing... why are some potters so immensly secretive about how they make their pieces and insulted if someone makes a piece inspired by their's? I don't get it. Isn't immitation the best form of flattery? (Mind you, I don't mean making exact copies - that's a coward's way out ;-)
I feel secretive potters lack confidence in what they do. If i know something has taken years and persistence to learn, I know sharing it isnt going to make a bunch of people making the same thing. Now if it is simple and they think no one could ever figure it out. they will protect it.
Creativity can be nurtured. I'm sure. The trick is to encourage ideas by giving little hints or pointing in the right direction, and then letting the artist follow on from there. Don't give too much help, just little nudges. I have had a couple of teachers do that, and it was tops!
Imo after a little work looking at creativity, as a personal trait almost, any outside influence that is not controled or solely that of the individual is not thier creativity. If you let a ball go in the ocean to see where it will end up but you push it it where you think it should go, the final balls place was not where it would have ended up. Havent thought about this part of it too much. thank,s be looking for more I'm kinda new to this so questions are helpful. Tim See
Your analogy with the ball doesn't fit, though, because the ball has no own thoughts. But if a child, for example, wants to walk to the park, you can ask it which way it wants to start out - and if they get way off track ask them if they want to still go to the park, or go somewhere closer to where they are. Go walk along and answer questions, but don't push. Difficult to put in words, this.
For me when I start out with a creative endevour I try not to pick a landing area. I want to go where the ideas and materials and the process send me. Now if the child wanted to go to the park that day and didnt take the path that "you" thought was right and ended up maybe in place that is so much better than the park. that would not have happened without that freedom.
Exactly - the student has to have the freedom to start out doing one thing, but changing their mind as they go. My belief is that the teacher is there to guide when we get stuck/overambitious and need guidance to get where we are going.
For example, if I want to model an arm sticking straight out, I need my teacher's help to do that without the arm falling off.
Now there is the downside they could end up someplace worse then you might have them start over. Where I want a student to go might not be the best place for them.
Hmmm - I think that is where my analogy to a child comes in. When you are teaching a child, you keep an eye on him/her so that they don't get into bad places. Anyone learning from a good teacher, is advised when they are on a wrong track. Or at least told the consequences if they keep going that way. Right?
I think there is a seperation on what we are talking about. on one hand is process getting something to completion with out breaking. With this I kill creativity dead, it's my way or it's wrong. you may laugh but my students arn't (you know who you are). The other side is design you cant go wrong with design every piece influences all after it.
here in design world I no longer want to have an influence in the shape color texture scale that a students piece takes. I want them to use thier skill to make something that only they could have made. I am almost ashamed when someone makes something that looks like I may have had an influence on it. I want them to be well made and executed but be of thier on design
I just love to leaf through picture books to get inspiration. 500 Bowls and that whole series are really fun. But there is a difference between inspiration, influence and dictation, isn't there?
Since each potter necessarily has their own baggage to bring to the table, I think inciting confidence so that they dare make every piece their's is more important than making sure they don't copy other potters.
I especially enjoyed that line at the end, where you say that you aren't trying to make your students clones of yourself, just ceramic artists with their own unique creativity.
My teacher has a similar style, she teaches us how to center and wheel-throw, or coil/slab, but never really tells us exactly how to do a project.
Thanks for your videos(watched all of them 3 times each), it helped me grow a lot this year.
-Sincerely, Chris
tmachris91 2 years ago 2
tim you rock. and you can bet your ass than when my pottery sales pick back up , I will be a customer. thanks again for posting.
skindawg16 3 years ago
Who is Brenda Pierce?
timseegroupie 4 years ago
the most awsome person in the world. She happens to be the teach who I model myself after. She is going to school at SU for Art Ed. so I am learning through her. not to mention shes the love of my life.
timseepots 4 years ago
You are being reflective and honest - how refreshing for a contemporary artist. In some ways, we learn from our past (skills and experiences combined) and use what we know to influence our future work. It would seem that a lack of good reflective practice may be what stifles creativity. We all have to judge who we want to teach us. In your words here, the teacher (you) seems to also be the learner. That has some possibility for greatness.
timseegroupie 4 years ago
Which brings me to another thing... why are some potters so immensly secretive about how they make their pieces and insulted if someone makes a piece inspired by their's? I don't get it. Isn't immitation the best form of flattery? (Mind you, I don't mean making exact copies - that's a coward's way out ;-)
Marihani 4 years ago
I feel secretive potters lack confidence in what they do. If i know something has taken years and persistence to learn, I know sharing it isnt going to make a bunch of people making the same thing. Now if it is simple and they think no one could ever figure it out. they will protect it.
timseepots 4 years ago
Loved this video! There's nothing better than listening to another artists creative process, in my opinion.
Your notebook pages look similar to my own, except mine are loose and litter my home...lol
Thanks for sharing!
bottlewasher37 4 years ago
It took a few weeks to gather my note books and such. Glad you liked the video. Tim See
timseepots 4 years ago
Creativity can be nurtured. I'm sure. The trick is to encourage ideas by giving little hints or pointing in the right direction, and then letting the artist follow on from there. Don't give too much help, just little nudges. I have had a couple of teachers do that, and it was tops!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Tim.
Marihani 4 years ago
Imo after a little work looking at creativity, as a personal trait almost, any outside influence that is not controled or solely that of the individual is not thier creativity. If you let a ball go in the ocean to see where it will end up but you push it it where you think it should go, the final balls place was not where it would have ended up. Havent thought about this part of it too much. thank,s be looking for more I'm kinda new to this so questions are helpful. Tim See
timseepots 4 years ago
This is a really interesting discussion.
Your analogy with the ball doesn't fit, though, because the ball has no own thoughts. But if a child, for example, wants to walk to the park, you can ask it which way it wants to start out - and if they get way off track ask them if they want to still go to the park, or go somewhere closer to where they are. Go walk along and answer questions, but don't push. Difficult to put in words, this.
Marihani 4 years ago
For me when I start out with a creative endevour I try not to pick a landing area. I want to go where the ideas and materials and the process send me. Now if the child wanted to go to the park that day and didnt take the path that "you" thought was right and ended up maybe in place that is so much better than the park. that would not have happened without that freedom.
timseepots 4 years ago
Exactly - the student has to have the freedom to start out doing one thing, but changing their mind as they go. My belief is that the teacher is there to guide when we get stuck/overambitious and need guidance to get where we are going.
For example, if I want to model an arm sticking straight out, I need my teacher's help to do that without the arm falling off.
Marihani 4 years ago
Now there is the downside they could end up someplace worse then you might have them start over. Where I want a student to go might not be the best place for them.
timseepots 4 years ago
Hmmm - I think that is where my analogy to a child comes in. When you are teaching a child, you keep an eye on him/her so that they don't get into bad places. Anyone learning from a good teacher, is advised when they are on a wrong track. Or at least told the consequences if they keep going that way. Right?
Marihani 4 years ago
I think there is a seperation on what we are talking about. on one hand is process getting something to completion with out breaking. With this I kill creativity dead, it's my way or it's wrong. you may laugh but my students arn't (you know who you are). The other side is design you cant go wrong with design every piece influences all after it.
timseepots 4 years ago
here in design world I no longer want to have an influence in the shape color texture scale that a students piece takes. I want them to use thier skill to make something that only they could have made. I am almost ashamed when someone makes something that looks like I may have had an influence on it. I want them to be well made and executed but be of thier on design
timseepots 4 years ago
I just love to leaf through picture books to get inspiration. 500 Bowls and that whole series are really fun. But there is a difference between inspiration, influence and dictation, isn't there?
Since each potter necessarily has their own baggage to bring to the table, I think inciting confidence so that they dare make every piece their's is more important than making sure they don't copy other potters.
Marihani 4 years ago
Wait a minute. Are you saying that when you have students, you make them do it your way or not at all? Or am I misreading you?
Or are you referring to skill-building excercises, where creativity is not in the equation yet - just learning skills that can be used later?
Marihani 4 years ago
just the skill building exersises.
timseepots 4 years ago
The volumne is really low, I can hardly hear you.
hsinggrandmom 4 years ago