Today my only contact with pottery making is often TV competitions, where everything is executed within a ridiculously tight time frame. Almost guaranteeing there will be catastrophic misjudgements. Its makes for better TV. So the reality of a professional potters actual style of work practice will be a revelation.
In the current vogue for slow ASMR videos, I've recently encountered Shinobu Hashimoto's You Tube site. Its packed full of these carefully edited half hour condensed film pieces, just showing you him making a clay pot. Now if you think edfitingvis cheating and for true slow TV you have to show the whole process unediuted. Then there are one and two hour plus versions. Some have no explanatory commentary. But you have ones like - How to make a plate which do.
What got me hooked was observing Shinobu's attention to detail, to every single bit of the process. He establishes the basic shape, but keeps checking proportions are correct, even before the lump of clay has been formed into anything like a familiar pot shape. He knows what size it needs to be when its just a rough stupa shaped clay blob on the wheel.
Once it is dried, but not fired, he carves away excess clay with such skill its stunning to watch. Tapping the pot all over, testing its overall resonance, it needs to make a particular sound. Until he gets it he just keeps removing more clay. If you thought making a successful piece of pottery was all about sensitivity of touch, think on, its sound too.
I enjoy watching these early in the morning. There pace abd unhurried way suits that time of day. Its only whilst viewing these videos that I realise quite how hurried a pace my own making process is. Its as if I have my own internal productivity monitor, which prohibits taking your time, to give things proper attention, to enjoy the process of making more. Plus, make things to a better level of finish too. Oh, if only.
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