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The Half Blind Potter | Tim Clark | Episode 1140
Tim Clark | Episode 1140
Tim Clark, also know as The Half Blind Potter. Tim lost the vision in my left eye in Dec of 2020 and discovered pottery in late spring of 2021. Ceramics has played a huge role in Tim’s recovery and has actually provided two different avenues of advocacy and giving back to the visually impaired community. In 2023 Tim started the “Blindfold Challenge” to benefit The Fun Eye Fund. It is a charity that raises money for those that are in need of a prosthetic eye but may have a financial challenge in covering the cost due to lack of insurance or insurance not covering the cost of a prosthetic eye.
SPONSORS
You can help support the show!
GRPotteryForms.com
diamondcoretools.com
Number 1 brand in America for a reason. Skutt.com
For all your ceramic needs go to Georgies.com
How does depth perception impact your making?
You just kind of adapt things as you need, as you know. For me depth perception, like when I trim, if I have a light source from the side when the shadow of the tool meets the clay I know when it’s hitting. There’s no guesswork. If that makes sense. So it gives me a reference point.
If you are throwing repeatable work what kind of tools are you using to be able to throw to a specific height?
I have used a throwing gauge and I always hate them. They always seem to get in the way. So I use a tripod and a laser level has a crosshatch laser on it, so when I throw coffee mugs I throw cylinders that are 4 inches across and 5 inches tall , so I just make the corner of that laser right there in the corner of the mug and it’s just spot on every time.
What is there in ceramics that you can’t do only because you have one eye? Is there anything that limits you?
Not that I have discovered yet. I guess ceramics would be a pretty frustrating art if you were seriously dealing with ADHD, there’s so many different avenues in ceramics. So there’s a lot of things that I haven’t tried. I haven’t done the slip casting yet or raku. I haven’t done sgraffito, little things like that. So far I haven’t run across anything I cannot do.
What is one bit of advice would you give to someone who has become visually challenged and may feel like life is coming to an end?
That’s a tough question. I know for me personally that was my first concern when I first got my diagnosis. I don’t know about your experience personally but for me there was next to no patient education coming out of this. So I remember when I left the doctors office I didn’t know if I could legally drive. So I ended up doing a lot of research by myself. It took me a long time to find an occupational therapist that dealt with vision issues. I had to aggressively pursue that. That definitely helped. Get connected with people who have been through it. They make great mentors and are helpful and encouraging and inspiring.
Book
Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon
Contact
halfblindpotterycompany.com
Instagram: @thehalfblindpotter
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By Show Notes – The Potters CastTim Clark | Episode 1140
Tim Clark, also know as The Half Blind Potter. Tim lost the vision in my left eye in Dec of 2020 and discovered pottery in late spring of 2021. Ceramics has played a huge role in Tim’s recovery and has actually provided two different avenues of advocacy and giving back to the visually impaired community. In 2023 Tim started the “Blindfold Challenge” to benefit The Fun Eye Fund. It is a charity that raises money for those that are in need of a prosthetic eye but may have a financial challenge in covering the cost due to lack of insurance or insurance not covering the cost of a prosthetic eye.
SPONSORS
You can help support the show!
GRPotteryForms.com
diamondcoretools.com
Number 1 brand in America for a reason. Skutt.com
For all your ceramic needs go to Georgies.com
How does depth perception impact your making?
You just kind of adapt things as you need, as you know. For me depth perception, like when I trim, if I have a light source from the side when the shadow of the tool meets the clay I know when it’s hitting. There’s no guesswork. If that makes sense. So it gives me a reference point.
If you are throwing repeatable work what kind of tools are you using to be able to throw to a specific height?
I have used a throwing gauge and I always hate them. They always seem to get in the way. So I use a tripod and a laser level has a crosshatch laser on it, so when I throw coffee mugs I throw cylinders that are 4 inches across and 5 inches tall , so I just make the corner of that laser right there in the corner of the mug and it’s just spot on every time.
What is there in ceramics that you can’t do only because you have one eye? Is there anything that limits you?
Not that I have discovered yet. I guess ceramics would be a pretty frustrating art if you were seriously dealing with ADHD, there’s so many different avenues in ceramics. So there’s a lot of things that I haven’t tried. I haven’t done the slip casting yet or raku. I haven’t done sgraffito, little things like that. So far I haven’t run across anything I cannot do.
What is one bit of advice would you give to someone who has become visually challenged and may feel like life is coming to an end?
That’s a tough question. I know for me personally that was my first concern when I first got my diagnosis. I don’t know about your experience personally but for me there was next to no patient education coming out of this. So I remember when I left the doctors office I didn’t know if I could legally drive. So I ended up doing a lot of research by myself. It took me a long time to find an occupational therapist that dealt with vision issues. I had to aggressively pursue that. That definitely helped. Get connected with people who have been through it. They make great mentors and are helpful and encouraging and inspiring.
Book
Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon
Contact
halfblindpotterycompany.com
Instagram: @thehalfblindpotter