Pittsburgh Pottery Classes for Adults at Fireborn
Studios
- Observe pots and try to analyze what makes them good or bad.
- Think in anatomical parts, i.e. lip, neck, shoulder, belly, foot.
- Think emotionally: sensual, open, friendly, curious, whimsical, disturbing.
- Observe form, color and decoration separately. Do they all work together?
- Does it look light, heavy, ethereal or clumsy?
- Where is the visual center of weight?
- Where is the physical center (top to bottom)?
- How far up the pot are the skinniest and fattest parts?
- Where do the lines take your eyes? Look at the "S" curves.
- What is the relation of the width of the foot to the neck and lip?
- Are any parts exaggerated, and if so is this an asset?
- Is there a sense of movement?
- Is there a sense of balance?
- Is there a sense of tension?
- Is it purely decorative?
- Is it truly functional?
- Is the golden mean used?
- Pots with handles, spouts or other additions are more complex. Do all the parts
work together functionally and aesthetically?
- Would you want to own it? Why or why not?
- How do all of the above relate to one another?
- Sketch some pots. Use tracing paper. Draw only the right side. Fold and trace the
left to make it symmetrical. Analyze it.
- I find "The Golden Mean" very useful in developing classical forms with pleasing
proportions. Look up Golden Mean on the web.
