Demonstrating Japanese Mizubiki (Wheel Throwing) Technique:
Here is a quick video showing me throw a small teabowl on the treadle wheel.
My first "professional lesson" in Japan was to throw 100 of these in a day. They all needed to be of the same dimensions and wall thicknesses.
I learned to throw quickly and efficiently, without over thinking things. As a result, the pots that are produced are an expression of the true self rather than a mere product of the mind or Ego.
Sunday, April 05, 2009
Thursday, November 06, 2008
The other night we were sitting outside around the fire. My neice and nephew wanted to hear a ghost story. I told them that I would share a "mysterious" story instead; one I learned while living in Japan.
The Story of a Crane Wife
(Tsuru no On-gaeShi)
Once upon a time, there lived an honest young man in the countryside of Japan. One day, while he was tilling a paddy field, a crane suddenly came flapping down from the sky. It was a white crane with truly beautiful feathers. The bird was apparently wounded, and did not fly away, but came reeling towards the man and weakly fell to the ground. Wondering, the man checked the crane’s feathers and found an arrow stuck in the base of the wings. “Poor crane! That’s why you can’t fly!” So saying, the young man pulled the arrow out and washed the wound clean.
The crane soon recovered and showed its delight by flapping its wings. “Now,” the man said to the bird, “be careful never to be spotted by a hunter again”. Thereupon, the crane circled over his head three times as if to express it’s thanks and then disappeared high into the sky after uttering a shrill cry.
The young man resumed his work, deeply contented that he had done a good thing. At nightfall when the stars began to appear, he returned to his home. To his great surprise, however, he found a beautiful young woman, whom he never seen before standing at the entrance. She greeted him, saying, “Thank you for your day’s hard work”.
Startled, he wondered if he was entering the wrong house, but the woman said with a smile, “This is your home and I’m your bride," "I don't believe it!" the man shouted. "I'm so poor no woman will ever agree to marry me. "Besides, I have only enough rice to feed a single person!" "Don't worry"; the woman replied. "I have brought rice." So saying, she took rice out of a small bag and began to fix supper. The man finally consented saying, “How strange that you should force me to marry you! Well, do what you like!” and thus the woman came to live with the poor young man.
Oddly enough, the small bag the woman had brought always provided the amount of rice they wanted, enabling the couple to lead a happy life. Time went by and one day, the woman asked her husband to set up a workshop for weaving. He borrowed money and had a special room built. Thereupon, the woman entered the room, saying, “Please never look in here for seven days”. And for exactly seven days after that, only the sound of a loom was heard from within day in and day out. The man felt as if he were waiting for as long as one or two years, but remembering her request, he did not peep into the workshop.
The seven days passed and the woman came out somewhat haggard. Held in her hands was a roll of resplendently beautiful cloth such a he had never hoped to see. “Now,” she said to him, “I have woven a roll of cloth. Please take this to the town market. It will sell for 100 “ryo” (a big sum in terms of ancient Japanese coinage).” The next day, the man went to town and the cloth brought a surprisingly high price just as his wife had said. Startled and delighted, he hurried home. Upon reaching home, he found his wife already closeted in the workshop, and only the sound of the loom was heard. He wondered how she could weave such beautiful cloth apparently without treads. Soon he could no longer contain his ardent desire to see her, and stealthily peeped into the workshop, breaking his promise never to do so.
To his great surprise, he could not find is comely wife there. Only a crane was weaving cloth with white feathers plucked from is body. Promptly realizing that the man was looking in, the crane stopped weaving, staggered towards him and said: “Well, my dear husband, you have seen everything. Now that you have found out what I really am, I can no longer stay here, to my great regret. I am the crane who was saved by you. To repay your kindness, I have so far served you in the shape of a woman. But from now on, please regard this half finished cloth as myself and keep it dearly.” The crane then flew up with her remaining wings and vanished into the sky, never to return to the man.
Daniel
www.teafox.com
The Story of a Crane Wife
(Tsuru no On-gaeShi)
Once upon a time, there lived an honest young man in the countryside of Japan. One day, while he was tilling a paddy field, a crane suddenly came flapping down from the sky. It was a white crane with truly beautiful feathers. The bird was apparently wounded, and did not fly away, but came reeling towards the man and weakly fell to the ground. Wondering, the man checked the crane’s feathers and found an arrow stuck in the base of the wings. “Poor crane! That’s why you can’t fly!” So saying, the young man pulled the arrow out and washed the wound clean.
The crane soon recovered and showed its delight by flapping its wings. “Now,” the man said to the bird, “be careful never to be spotted by a hunter again”. Thereupon, the crane circled over his head three times as if to express it’s thanks and then disappeared high into the sky after uttering a shrill cry.
The young man resumed his work, deeply contented that he had done a good thing. At nightfall when the stars began to appear, he returned to his home. To his great surprise, however, he found a beautiful young woman, whom he never seen before standing at the entrance. She greeted him, saying, “Thank you for your day’s hard work”.
Startled, he wondered if he was entering the wrong house, but the woman said with a smile, “This is your home and I’m your bride," "I don't believe it!" the man shouted. "I'm so poor no woman will ever agree to marry me. "Besides, I have only enough rice to feed a single person!" "Don't worry"; the woman replied. "I have brought rice." So saying, she took rice out of a small bag and began to fix supper. The man finally consented saying, “How strange that you should force me to marry you! Well, do what you like!” and thus the woman came to live with the poor young man.
Oddly enough, the small bag the woman had brought always provided the amount of rice they wanted, enabling the couple to lead a happy life. Time went by and one day, the woman asked her husband to set up a workshop for weaving. He borrowed money and had a special room built. Thereupon, the woman entered the room, saying, “Please never look in here for seven days”. And for exactly seven days after that, only the sound of a loom was heard from within day in and day out. The man felt as if he were waiting for as long as one or two years, but remembering her request, he did not peep into the workshop.
The seven days passed and the woman came out somewhat haggard. Held in her hands was a roll of resplendently beautiful cloth such a he had never hoped to see. “Now,” she said to him, “I have woven a roll of cloth. Please take this to the town market. It will sell for 100 “ryo” (a big sum in terms of ancient Japanese coinage).” The next day, the man went to town and the cloth brought a surprisingly high price just as his wife had said. Startled and delighted, he hurried home. Upon reaching home, he found his wife already closeted in the workshop, and only the sound of the loom was heard. He wondered how she could weave such beautiful cloth apparently without treads. Soon he could no longer contain his ardent desire to see her, and stealthily peeped into the workshop, breaking his promise never to do so.
To his great surprise, he could not find is comely wife there. Only a crane was weaving cloth with white feathers plucked from is body. Promptly realizing that the man was looking in, the crane stopped weaving, staggered towards him and said: “Well, my dear husband, you have seen everything. Now that you have found out what I really am, I can no longer stay here, to my great regret. I am the crane who was saved by you. To repay your kindness, I have so far served you in the shape of a woman. But from now on, please regard this half finished cloth as myself and keep it dearly.” The crane then flew up with her remaining wings and vanished into the sky, never to return to the man.
Daniel
www.teafox.com
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
In Japan, most tea is drunk out of small cups called Yunomi. These teacups don't have handles like their western counterparts. Instead, the cup is supported by a raised foot on its bottom.
While living in Japan and studying pottery, I had many opportunities to make Yunomi. In fact, one day after I had been studying with my teacher for some time, he told me that I would begin my “professional lesson.” He told me that my professional lesson was to make Yunomi. He went on to say that I would only make Yunomi. I would make only Yunomi, until I could make 100 in a day.
What follows is a series of photographs of me showing how Yunomi are made on my homemade Treadle Wheel in my studio:
Notice how the Yunomi is formed at the top of a large mass of clay.
The cup should be formed with as few steps as necessary.
After the cup is lifted from the mound of clay, the top of the mound will be re-centered and a new cup will be formed.
One difference between Japanese and Western methods is that the wheels in Japan rotate in the opposite direction from those in the U.S. and Europe. Therefore, my teachers in Minnesota assumed I was left handed when they saw my throwing style that I acquired in Japan.
Another major difference I noticed was that cups are "thrown off the hump" meaning many cups are made from a single mass of clay that is centered on the wheel. Here in the U.S. cups are usually made from small single balls of clay that are each centered individually.
Yunomi are a joy to drink Japanese green tea from. I have some of my cups available in the Teafox Shop. My wife likes to use them as stemless wine cups. If you want to learn more about my pottery, please visit my pottery website.
Daniel
Bringing you Japan's finest green tea
www.teafox.com
While living in Japan and studying pottery, I had many opportunities to make Yunomi. In fact, one day after I had been studying with my teacher for some time, he told me that I would begin my “professional lesson.” He told me that my professional lesson was to make Yunomi. He went on to say that I would only make Yunomi. I would make only Yunomi, until I could make 100 in a day.
What follows is a series of photographs of me showing how Yunomi are made on my homemade Treadle Wheel in my studio:
Notice how the Yunomi is formed at the top of a large mass of clay.
The cup should be formed with as few steps as necessary.
After the cup is lifted from the mound of clay, the top of the mound will be re-centered and a new cup will be formed.
One difference between Japanese and Western methods is that the wheels in Japan rotate in the opposite direction from those in the U.S. and Europe. Therefore, my teachers in Minnesota assumed I was left handed when they saw my throwing style that I acquired in Japan.
Another major difference I noticed was that cups are "thrown off the hump" meaning many cups are made from a single mass of clay that is centered on the wheel. Here in the U.S. cups are usually made from small single balls of clay that are each centered individually.
Yunomi are a joy to drink Japanese green tea from. I have some of my cups available in the Teafox Shop. My wife likes to use them as stemless wine cups. If you want to learn more about my pottery, please visit my pottery website.
Daniel
Bringing you Japan's finest green tea
www.teafox.com
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Perfectly Imperfect!
When I began studying pottery in Japan, my teacher told me he would teach me starting with the most basic of lessons. I began by learning the correct way to hold my hands when wedging the clay to remove air bubbles. When he felt I was ready, he took me to the pottery wheel and showed me the correct way for form a “teacup.” Once I could make this simple form, we moved on to the bowl. After the bowl, I learned to make a plate. I was not allowed to learn to make a new form until I could successfully make the one I was working on. As the months went by, I learned to make a variety of pots including bottles, urns and many large pieces. I began to wonder what I would learn next. On a chilly day in November, I arrived at the studio and met my teacher. He told me that I would begin my “professional lesson.” I excitedly agreed and waited to find out the complicated form that would be the start of my professional lesson. He told me that my professional lesson was to make the “teacup” (the form I had started with.) He went on to say that I would only make teacups. Everyday I would make only teacups. I would make only teacups, until I could make 100 in a day. He would watch me and correct me, until I could form the teacup in just 5 movements of my hand.
Working in this way, I became very efficient. I began to reach a point where I could form the teacup without conscious thought. The forms were not the result of cleverness. I was freed from my Ego. They were unique to me, but not because I had sought out to create unique forms. They were unique to me, because I had simply made them. They communicated a part of me that could not be explained by words. These are the purest forms that I make today. They are the most genuine. If, when making a “teacup,” I should accidentally place a “flaw” in its surface, I simply leave it. There are no “flaws.” Each imperfection leaves the piece uniquely perfect!
When I began studying pottery in Japan, my teacher told me he would teach me starting with the most basic of lessons. I began by learning the correct way to hold my hands when wedging the clay to remove air bubbles. When he felt I was ready, he took me to the pottery wheel and showed me the correct way for form a “teacup.” Once I could make this simple form, we moved on to the bowl. After the bowl, I learned to make a plate. I was not allowed to learn to make a new form until I could successfully make the one I was working on. As the months went by, I learned to make a variety of pots including bottles, urns and many large pieces. I began to wonder what I would learn next. On a chilly day in November, I arrived at the studio and met my teacher. He told me that I would begin my “professional lesson.” I excitedly agreed and waited to find out the complicated form that would be the start of my professional lesson. He told me that my professional lesson was to make the “teacup” (the form I had started with.) He went on to say that I would only make teacups. Everyday I would make only teacups. I would make only teacups, until I could make 100 in a day. He would watch me and correct me, until I could form the teacup in just 5 movements of my hand.
Working in this way, I became very efficient. I began to reach a point where I could form the teacup without conscious thought. The forms were not the result of cleverness. I was freed from my Ego. They were unique to me, but not because I had sought out to create unique forms. They were unique to me, because I had simply made them. They communicated a part of me that could not be explained by words. These are the purest forms that I make today. They are the most genuine. If, when making a “teacup,” I should accidentally place a “flaw” in its surface, I simply leave it. There are no “flaws.” Each imperfection leaves the piece uniquely perfect!
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
See my work at the MIAI am very excited to share with you the news that I will be part of an
art exhibition at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts! My artwork was
selected by a jury panel that included members of the MIA curatorial staff. This is a tremendous honor for me, and I am thankful to all of you for the support and encouragement you have given me.
The exhibition is entitled "Art Perchance" and will take place on the
second floor atrium of the Target wing of the MIA from September 19
through September 27. On Friday, September 28 the artwork will be moved to the Third Floor Reception Hall for a "Main Event" where all of the artwork in the exhibition will be auctioned off. All of the procedes go to the Friends Transportation Fund, which provides bus funding for thousands of metro area schoolchildren to visit the MIA.
The week of the exhibiion in the Target wing is free, as is museum
admission. The "Main event" and auction where Patrons can win donated art is not free.
If anyone is interested they can go to the museum website at
http://www.artsmia.org
and click on the link to "Art Perchance" to get more details.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
I want to thank everyone who came to visit me at the Uptown Art Fair this year. Many friends and family came to show their support and I am very thankful. I met many new people, and visited with friends I had met at other shows like Michiko and Aya from Japan. The weather was perfect, even though it rained and was chilly one day. Many people left with what I feel is the best work I have produced. I hope that these pots will be a source of happiness for many years to come. I was also encouraged my the response I received from people regarding our upcoming tea event. At this event, you will have the chance to drink and learn about the green teas of Japan. We will be sampling Hojicha, Genmaicha, several Sencha teas, Gyokuro, and even have a few bowls of Matcha tea! I will have more information about this once the date is set. I am planning on putting on this event at the end of September or the beginning of October. In the meantime, I will be busy getting all of the teacups made!
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Minneapolis Uptown Art Fair:
I am very excited to be a part of the Uptown Art Fair this year. It was my first year of applying to this event, and am honored to have been chosen to be one of its invited artists. It is one of the top 10 art fairs in the nation and the second largest event in Minnesota second only to the Minnesota State Fair. There are 350 amazing artists featured at this year's event. There will be an estimated 350,000 guests attending during the three days that the fair takes place. The dates of this event are August 3-5. I would be very happy to see you come visit me at booth #105. Please email me if you have any questions or go to the Uptown Art Fair website:
http://www.uptownminneapolis.com/art-fair/
Thank you all for your ongoing support!
Daniel
I am very excited to be a part of the Uptown Art Fair this year. It was my first year of applying to this event, and am honored to have been chosen to be one of its invited artists. It is one of the top 10 art fairs in the nation and the second largest event in Minnesota second only to the Minnesota State Fair. There are 350 amazing artists featured at this year's event. There will be an estimated 350,000 guests attending during the three days that the fair takes place. The dates of this event are August 3-5. I would be very happy to see you come visit me at booth #105. Please email me if you have any questions or go to the Uptown Art Fair website:
http://www.uptownminneapolis.com/art-fair/
Thank you all for your ongoing support!
Daniel
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