My first cognizant encounter with ergonomics came quite a while after I began the pottery journey. Of course there is an initial learning curve and things are not expected to be usable, but even beyond that point I strayed from actually using my own work. This was a serious mistake, and partly due to formerly being a 2D artist where art was just for the walls. Pottery seemed to me too special for cereal. It wasn't until I read an article about a teacher that had every student buy and use a piece instead of a textbook that my ideas were changed. For about 3 months I used this bowl for every meal and it became so familiar to me. I began to note the best uses and the inconveniences. The foot ring is far too shallow making the bowl wobble and -with encouragement- spin. And a perfectly wide mouthed popcorn bowl makes for a cold soup bowl. By living with and experiencing your work you begin to create better work; ceramics that not only fit well with your hand or cupboard but also that fit into your life.
So the next time you can hold some delicate fine China, note its perfection, weight, curves, and grace. After all what was pottery made for anyway? Experience it.
Kommentare