[Madison Mitchell]

I wonder why there are only eight threads in the "Aesthetics" section of the forum, and many more in the other sections.
I realize that there are many technical aspects to ceramics, but aren't (isn't?) aesthetics just as important, if not more important?

[Lucille Oka]

Madison Mitchell, on 29 March 2011 - 02:48 PM, said:

I wonder why there are only eight threads in the "Aesthetics" section of the forum, and many more in the other sections.
I realize that there are many technical aspects to ceramics, but aren't (isn't?) aesthetics just as important, if not more important?

There are no rules and technical mishaps with aesthetics. It is subjective, or objective which ever way you like. 'Beauty is in the eye of....' that sort-a-thing. And also it is better not to try to make rules or have hot discussions over what is and what isn't aesthetically pleasing. It is much too general a word anyway. The debate over who has the 'better' work will lead us back to the past when prominent potter(s) determined that potters can longer make decorative ware. I suspect because they didn't know how to do it, so they told other potters 'this is the way pottery should look' 'We should be making 'Art Pottery'. What does that mean? Phooey! Make what you like. Make it with technical skills acquired from lots of work and development of your own taste and style; make it from your heart. I ask you, why do we stick our hands in mud, walk around with terra cotta stained hands and make trips to hardware stores like it was Disneyland? We never get manicures; our hands are always in clay and besides what’s the point? We think about clay, talk about clay, write about clay, we design and draw clay pieces. We are in love. And that’s nice.

[OffCenter]

Lucille Oka, on 29 March 2011 - 10:57 PM, said:

Madison Mitchell, on 29 March 2011 - 02:48 PM, said:

I wonder why there are only eight threads in the "Aesthetics" section of the forum, and many more in the other sections.
I realize that there are many technical aspects to ceramics, but aren't (isn't?) aesthetics just as important, if not more important?

There are no rules and technical mishaps with aesthetics. It is subjective, or objective which ever way you like. 'Beauty is in the eye of....' that sort-a-thing. And also it is better not to try to make rules or have hot discussions over what is and what isn't aesthetically pleasing. It is much too general a word anyway. The debate over who has the 'better' work will lead us back to the past when prominent potter(s) determined that potters can longer make decorative ware. I suspect because they didn't know how to do it, so they told other potters 'this is the way pottery should look' 'We should be making 'Art Pottery'. What does that mean? Phooey! Make what you like. Make it with technical skills acquired from lots of work and development of your own taste and style; make it from your heart. I ask you, why do we stick our hands in mud, walk around with terra cotta stained hands and make trips to hardware stores like it was Disneyland? We never get manicures; our hands are always in clay and besides what’s the point? We think about clay, talk about clay, write about clay, we design and draw clay pieces. We are in love. And that’s nice.

Good reply, but I think you left out a "not".

[MMB]

Quote

I ask you, why do we stick our hands in mud, walk around with terra cotta stained hands and make trips to hardware stores like it was Disneyland?

I laughed at this. Aint it the truth. Ceramist tend to find sometimes the oddest combination of things the most useful. I fly through hardware stores looking at everything with ideas. I hate when they ask me if I need help or what Im planning to do with it. Its there job but it gets me to pause and think then my mind goes "are they really going to get half the things I say, is it worth telling them?" all the while I look like Ive been crawling underneath a house all day.

I agree also that the beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Ive come across artists work that from my point of view look childish yet theyre known, recognized, and live off their work while others I to have amazing BEAUTIFUL work and cant make a dime off it (thats if theyre trying to sell). My work I dont care which way it goes, I know Ill always be happy having the ability to do it.

[AmeriSwede]

Lucille Oka, on 30 March 2011 - 04:57 AM, said:

... we stick our hands in mud, walk around with terra cotta stained hands and make trips to hardware stores like it was Disneyland? We never get manicures; our hands are always in clay and besides what’s the point? We think about clay, talk about clay, write about clay, we design and draw clay pieces. We are in love. And that’s nice.

And some people even spend hundreds to thousands of dollar just to soak in mud (clay) or have mud (clay) splashed on their faces, just to stay as young looking as all the ceramists.....

Beauty is around the eyes, of those who spend time with clay...

[Marcia Selsor]

Enjoyed Ameriaswede's reply. having just returned from NCECA I appreciate his comments more so. There were some great pots there, nice sculpture, interesting work being done.I saw many of the shows in Paris last Sept. When the International Academy of Ceramics was there. esthetics are subjective indeed. I am drawn to textural exploration that visually sucks me in. yet my own work is becoming more graphic. I also don't like explaining to someone at the hardware store what kind of project I am planning to do from whatever possible items will work at their store. I do enjoy the diversity in clay today. t just seems to begetting better.
Marcia