Ceramic Arts Daily – Even the Pros Mess Up Spouts! Potter Lorna Meaden Demonstrates “A Great Way to Fix a Spout You’ve Ruined”

After I spouted off about spouts (sorry, I couldn’t resist) last week, Ceramic Arts Daily was all abuzz with comments asking for close up video of spout making. So I am making it my mission to find a good close up spout demonstration for you. But in the mean time, I thought I would show you a tasty little tidbit on spouts from the Potters Council Expressive Surfaces Workshop a couple of weeks ago. In it, Lorna Meaden explains a great way to fix a messed-up spout by adding coils when the pot is leather hard and re-pulling the spout. Not only is it a great way to fix mess-ups, but it is also a great way to add length to a pulled spout.

Now, a quick disclaimer: The video isn’t as still as I would like it to be because I was having zoom trouble with my camera and free-handing it a bit. So please go easy on me, folks! I thought the information contained in the video was good enough that it was worth watching despite a couple of shaky spots. Hope you agree! – Jennifer Harnetty, editor.



This clip was filmed at the Potters Council Expressive Surfaces Workshop at Red Star Studios in Kansas City, Missouri. Visit Potters Council to learn more about the other great benefits of the Potters Council!

To learn more about Lorna Meaden and see images of her finished work, visit www.lornameaden.com.

Kate November 10, 2009 at 6:28 pm -

Sweet! Thanks Jennifer!!! Great camera work and the fix-it was ingenious! I will use that method for other applications besides just spouts!
alice November 9, 2009 at 9:44 pm -

Thanx, I’ve been throwing for a long time and never thought of that.
marcia November 8, 2009 at 12:06 pm -

Very exciting. Who hasn’t thrown the perfect vessel and then messed it up when getting to the handle or spout? Great advice on a fix.
Karen November 7, 2009 at 4:43 pm -

Nice video, I would love to see more of your footage.
G November 7, 2009 at 12:59 am -

Angle, distance and detail in clip were just right. Thanks so much!
Elizabeth November 6, 2009 at 11:48 pm -

I’d love to see this, but it just doesn’t show up even after I again install Adobe Flash Player. Help, please. E. Farson
elizabeth November 6, 2009 at 10:16 pm -

The video neve came up after clicking on the triangle. Would love to see it.
vicki November 6, 2009 at 6:43 pm -

Couldn’t get this video to show. Anyone else having problems?
K November 6, 2009 at 5:54 pm -

The quality of the clip was fine and more of the same (tips, fixing problems) would be great to see! From a rank beginner…
Shelley November 6, 2009 at 4:39 pm -

Oh, this is great! I’m going to try this right away. I have messed up spouts before and tossed the whole pot (does that make me a toss-pot? Never mind). Anyway, thanks for sharing this video clip!
Jennifer November 6, 2009 at 1:54 pm -

Michael – Yes, the original pulled spout wasn’t to her liking so she cut it off and added coils to the cutaway. Thanks for easing my mind on the video quality! I debated whether or not to show it, but I did think the content made it worth posting even with a couple of shaky bits.
Michael November 6, 2009 at 1:08 pm -

Jennifer–Don’t worry, the video was okay. It looks like at the beginning of the video she had cut away some of the original spout and was adding coils to the cutaway. Did I see that right?
Jack November 6, 2009 at 12:24 pm -

Good slip is really important in handbuilding but I have not seen anything on making slip from throwing cay, in a blender. Very little extra water is used. If anyone is interested I will try to put something together. JW
KATHY November 6, 2009 at 11:44 am -

That was a very interesting and informative video on spouts. Thank you I needed that help. Keep it up.