I know many potters keep journals of pottery ideas, possible new mug shapes, vases, decorations, all of that. I envy them that ability. Some of the journals I've seen are wonderful collections of art all by themselves. I don't have the kind of talent or persistence that results in notebooks full of imaginary or future pots. But I have now found Zen Brush, a 99-cent app available for iPhone or iPad and a wonderful tool for speculating about pot designs and, I'm sure, any other thing you might want to draw.
Its line is infinitely variable, from a sharp pencil line to a wide brush, and can work in a variety of tones and on a wide range of (virtual) paper surfaces.
This thing is really cool.
When we're watching a British murder mystery on Netflix (we've seen more Brits killed than anyone who witnessed the London Blitz), I'm working at the iPad, trying fat pots and teabowls, tall necks and wide ones. The next step is to take the idea to the studio. Once there, the drawing is a starting point.
That's what the jar in the photo below is about. As is the drawing from my iPad.
These pots were thrown yesterday from T3 clay, a new body for me, borrowed from my friend Kim Medeiros when my supplier was temporarily out of B-Mix.
