So I got an email from one of my Facebook Fans… Kate Chenok, a potter from the San Francisco area. She told me she was traveling for business and would LOVE to stop by my studio to meet me. She gave me her travel schedule and it aligned with the classes I teach on Mondays & Tuesdays. She suggested I check out her website to see her work… so I did. And I saw these wonderful little “folded mugs” on her website. And a plan started to develop…
Sure, she could easily stop by the studio and sit-in one of my classes while my students were working during Week #9. But I had a better plan… I figured it might be fun if Kate Chenok stopped by and then do a quick demo for my students! Perfect timing. Perfect plan!
So I asked her to swing by the studio on a Tuesday night. We’re in Week #9 of the ten-week session, and I thought my Beginner’s might like a little handbuilding “break” from the wheel. Kate got here a t little late… so we did a quick tour of my studio and Lillstreet… and then it was right into my classroom. Quick introduction and she was on for the demo.
We threw some quick slabs, and she showed how she adds texture using assorted texture forms, vinyl placemats, corrugated cardboard and more.
She then shared the patterns she uses to cut our a shape from the slab. Carefully aligning her textured design with the shape of the cut-out pattern.
And then that cut-out shape was carefully rolled and seamed together with angled edges… carefully seaming the seam with as little fudging & smudging as possible. The cutout darted sections are also scored, slipped and stuck together. Basically folding in the bottom of the cup.
After the darts are connected, she took a second to smooth out the interior and double-checking the security of the seam. All the while trying to keep the exterior pattern as clean and smudge-less as possible.
The square bottom “hole” that is created by the folding in of the darts needs to be filled. Another small piece of textured slab is scored and slipped into place.
After securing the bottom, a little refining of the rim is in order.
And then there’s the question of the seam. Is it smooth enough? Does it need to blend in better? Or should it be made more apparent?… or even decorated with little stamped buttons?!
After Kate finished her demo, we encouraged my students to step up and give it a go. Some of them were very excited… you could see it on their faces during the demo. So they pulled out their slabs and texture tools and dove right in!!!
Kate was great… so sharing with her knowledge and time. Helping my students through every step of the process.
Such focus and determination by Carmina and Grace…
And here’s one of the “finished” pieces… a very sweet little pitcher that Grace made. She’s become quite the master of texture… and even added a bit of slip detail on top of the textured surface!!!
Huge thanks once again to Kate for stopping by and playing with my students. We all had a great time and learned a lot from her.
To see more about Kate Chenok and her work,
including her wonderful folded mugs, click here for her website.
Kate’s superb craftmanship and zeal are a direct copy from her late Mother’s creative genes, who would have been as pleased today as her appreciative Dad.
FABULOUS!!!!!
Thank you Kate for a fun and fabulous demo!
Kate has a love of life that shows in her work and her approach to others. So glad you and your class took this chance to see her in action!
I am David’s mother’s cousin – didn’t know there was another potter in the family! I have become very enamored – potting in a more focused way only in the last year or so. Wheel and hand building.
What beautiful work! I know how much patience it takes and what an exacting process this is – my hat’s off!
I’m intrigued by the glaze – the blue and white and would love to hear how that was achieved– getting the texture to stand out so beautifully.
Kate is a talent, and apparently quite a good teacher too!
hermoso trabajo!
puede compartir molde por favor?
muchas gracias
saludos desde Chile!