Thursday, October 22, 2009

For Sheila P. Where'er She Be

#4 - Draw a Mug or Cup

My personal experience with pottery ended in the eighth grade, which not coincidentally was the end of art instruction in our local public school. We were allowed to play with fired and glazed clay only once a year, and I considered my seventh grade project (a lumpy maroon bowl I'd propped up on a stem and daringly christened a "wineglass") to be a huge success. I immediately began planning for next year's ceramic opportunity. It would be a trinket box, a horse's head on the lid, the neck in low relief, but the poll-to-nose surface turned high toward the viewer, cunningly forming a handle. It would be the envy of Unit District 226, teachers and students alike -- Oh, it would be grand!

A year passed and we filed down to the art room. As the slabs were passed out, an assignment was given. It must have been near Halloween because we were told to make (oh, horrors!!) a monster face. I begged for my own artistic vision, but was denied. I reluctantly made one scary face, then I quickly and surreptitiously did another because my friend Kathy, sporting a new mood ring and fresh nail polish, didn't want to sully her fingers. Unfortunately this second piece was so sloppily made that it blew up in the kiln. Miss Doty was livid. She had carefully instructed us to beware of the possibility of air bubbles expanding in the intense heat. When the next class came about she made Kathy stand in front of the class and apologize for "her" carelessness, to the two other students whose work had been ruined. That had been myself and a stolid farm boy named Jeff. Apology given, we were told to respond. I said as far as I was concerned, the accident had only improved my work. With nasty shards sticking out of its face, my monster was only scarier, right? Jeff said he didn't care, because he thought the monster face was babyish and stupid and he had been planning to use his for target practice, anyway. Most of the class must have agreed with Jeff, as he went home with several other faces donated to his cause.

This story of thwarted creative ambition may explain why I collect discarded school projects from other people's kids. This cup, for instance, is one favorite. While it doesn't function very well to hold coffee (it's both unnaturally shallow and wide; the brew would cool too quickly. And the ornate "S" curve of the handle, while esthetically pleasing to the taste of prepubescents, makes the cup hard to pick up and balance) I love the craftsmanship and thought that went into the making. I also love that the artist etched her name, Sheila P., boldly across the front instead of discreetly on the bottom with the notation "Gr. 8." She also figured out how to make three colors from one glaze, by leaving funky geometric motifs bare, and utilizing a double coats of glaze in wide stripes, making both a deep blue-green and a soft moss green in the final firing. I like to think of the unknown eighth grader feeling the same jolt of pride in all these little ideas and touches that I would, had my equine geegaw been finished.

So now this cup resides near my drafting table holding odds and ends that I would loose track of if I put them away. I see it every day, and sometimes I take the time to think, "Hey, Sheila -- ya done good, kid!"

12 comments:

Alex said...

Wonderful post and welcome back! Your work is awesome, and I really admire your hatching skills, and the way you color is just fantastic =) I'll just hope that you'll keep posting and sharing with us.

andrea joseph's sketchblog said...

great drawing!

Shirley said...

Wonderful composition! Glad you're back on EDM.

Kirstin said...

Welcome back. I loved the story. Unfortunately, there was no kiln to be found in our entire school system so I missed out but I certainly treasure every single piece that comes home from my kids art class (at least through 5th grade-then the program ends unless you don't take music-so sad).

Dan Kent said...

Great drawing - love everything about it, including the very uniquely shaped "frame"! I also very much enjoyed your story, reminds me of my one and only art class where I was so excited - I wanted to draw, draw, draw - and our assignment turned out to be a paper mache' hippo. Ugh. My blog started about six months ago so I have really been deprived! Welcome back!

Patty Ruthe said...

Welcome back (even though I wasn't here when you left). Love the mug and the story.

Timaree said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog. I really appreciate the comments I get.

I can't believe anyone would let their child's handwork go! Wow. I could see how hard it was for my daughter to let her son give me a candle screen he made out of clay as he seldom makes anything. But I took it because he did want me to have it (and she'll get it back some day). I am so glad someone is appreciative of the kid's efforts and it looks from your very nice picture, that it is a nice mug.

So sorry you had such a horrid experience. I really can't understand how they do things like this to kids. My eighth grade art teacher sent me home at the end of the year with all her extra supplies and projects she didn't want anymore (her own stuff, not the school's). I was one excited kid, I can tell you. That was treasure, and a boost to my artist's soul.

Timaree said...

Looking back at your older posts, I realize you've been gone a year! Welcome back. I sure enjoyed your drawings before and will again.

Angelica said...

Yea!!! A drawing and post from Christie!!

Aloha Girlfriend - you did good!!

Blessings, Angelica

Kate (Cathy Johnson) said...

this is lovely, Christie!

Tammy at Witt's End said...

I love reading blogs from great artists who are also great story-tellers. Fun, Fun!

Aurileide Alves said...

I didnt have much time to read all your texts because I´m in a hurry right now, but the draw is adorable. Congratulations!