How to make things look the same part 1
One of the top questions I am asked as a pottery teacher, especially by my students who have progressed passed the basics of wheel throwing is: How do I make multiples of something. Essentially, once you have an understanding of how to make something you want to be able to make it over and over … Continue reading
Working from home in quarantine
It’s been some time since I’ve written a post, but now that time is no longer as much of a factor, here we go. Like many others my work situation has changed drastically. Luckily, I had already set up a studio in my home. With all this downtime, one of my big projects was to … Continue reading
New Webseries – How to unf$%k your pot
Hello All, I’ve launched a new web series entitled – How to unf%$k your pot. In it I will be going through different lessons in pottery making. As they come out, I will embed them into previous posts about the same lesson. You can see what I mean in my wedging post. However, the following … Continue reading
Where I’ve been and what I’ve been doing
For several months now I’ve been working on an ongoing commission of 850 tumbler cups. You can read about the start of it here. It has been an all encompassing process that only until recently, I’ve been able to emerge from. What I would like to discuss today are some technical tips for doing a large … Continue reading
An interesting detour
So I meant to do a post about making lids today, but fate has interceded. (Forgive the grand eloquence I’ve been on a Netflix series Borgia binge). Any way, I’ve taken on a sub contract for a large commission. Luckily, the commission requires that I make the pieces with slip casting, something that I am … Continue reading
Elevate your cup, make a goblet
First off I will apologize, because no matter what I tried I could not get the video I shot for this post off my phone and working properly. So I will do my best to be as informative as I can about first half of making a goblet. Second, why you should want to learn … Continue reading
How to close a shape, but more importantly why!
While writing last weeks blog post on double wall vessels and how to close them, it occurred to me that I should also show how to make a single wall closed form vessel. If closing the double wall vessel was troubling for you, this is a good way to practice closing a form and working … Continue reading
Glazing, the elephant in the room
Once a session I give a long glaze lecture to my class at Choplet. I say a lecture, because that’s really what I do. I don’t just show how to stir glaze and dip pieces I really try to breakdown how to be successful with glazing. That’s what I want to go over with you … Continue reading
Finishing steps that won’t f%&k up your pot
This will be the last post on what I would consider the essential techniques you need as a wheel thrower. Today I will be discussing how to finish a pot and take it off the wheel at the most basic level. After this, posts will be focused on making specific shapes or solving specific problems. … Continue reading
Proper Preparation
(Make sure to come back to this blog post as I will be adding photos and videos in the future.) So, we have now gotten past the mental aspects of wheel throwing and are now entering the actual physical act. However, before we get to throwing amazing cups, bowls and vases, you first need to … Continue reading
Sparano Arts 