Teach ME!!!!!!

[collette dotson]

ok, so who wants to talk about where to go, who to study from for someone who just wants to learn more to just make stuff... i don't really want to take on jobs anymore unless its something super cool... i want to b able to make a shop for myself at my home and do small jobs for fun oh and fill my friggin house with this stuff LOL... I want to learn how to make them lighter,  the best tricks for pouring in place and molds ... how to save on dry polishing pads for a pour in place... ect... plus when ur concrete is its weakest, when its finally unbreakable and how to not need ladder wire, does this glass fiber stuff really work on anything long and thin... come on guys... i want to know MORE! Im a stay at home mom addicted to this new art!

[Father V]

Collette, altough many here are willing to help and give advise you might not want to open up this particular can of worms. Everyone will have there own opinion on what to do and what not to do it can make one CRAZY. Just look my cementitious brothers and sisters on this forum... Including myself. If you want advice on fabricating concrete I strongly suggest you start by reading as much as possible but try and not make it harder than it is. After all it is just concrete.The more advise you get the more difficult it will become. By the way nothing is unbreakable and "YES" this glass fiber stuff really does work GFRC. A piece can be poured at  5ft.w X 10ft.l @ 1/2 inch thick with no worries... or bigger with no ladder wire needed. If you have any direct questions please do not hesitate to ask. 

[collette dotson]

thx!!! I have seen the fire in some of these comments LOL!  I did open my mouth and bite back a lil :)  I have read and watched and tried... i poured a hearth and was told about the GFRC, it broke :(  i revealed it at 36 hours... not sure what i did wrong, temp or too early, too late, too thick too heavy :)  i went back to the ladder wire :)  I will b watching and learning from u :)

[collette dotson]

thats what I've been doing :)  I've made 15 or so molds and that was my first to break... again not doing this for money, just art, me, family and friends!! But of course i want more knowledge! LOL If I'm doing it i want to do it to the best of my ability :)

[Father V]

I have to say you have the right temperament for this forum and appreciation for concrete as well. Get your hands dirty keep producing pieces and you will learn more every pour/cast.   "ask and she shall recive" 

[Rick]

who should I pick??' This is my question along the same lines.  Most of the answers are worth a read.  They bring up valid pionts. 

 I know what I am doing for the level I am at.  The repeated question to me from others is "what do you need to learn the most?"  I am putting thought into this and deciding from there who will get my money for teaching.  They can't all be the best, but I am sure most of them have some very valluable information.  The worst case is you get to a class to find you have a higher level of knowledge than all the instructors.  Mostly, I would go with the comment of read a lot and learn everything you can, and then decide where to go for teaching. 

[Dave McVey]

If concrete is just going to be an artistic hobby,  it is possible to learn as you go.  If you want a class we recommend, Buddy Rhodes, Concrete Countertop Institute, or Tommy Cook.   Tommy can also offer telephone consultation.

[collette dotson]

HEHE thats what I'm asking... who from ;)  thats y i listed what i was trying to get out of a class :)

Gore Design Co. said:

Practice - or take a class. You aren't going to become a better craftsperson from a forum. We all pay to play in one way or another. 

[Mike Lokar]

Colette you seem inspired by a vast array of artists on the forum. From Cody's awesome work to Digerati's profile..and fairly quickly too, I might add.

It might help if you could expand on what inspired you by these particular artists or perhaps you could find out who may have inspired them.

Mr. Gore maybe? He does amazing work! Very artistic and original, don't you think...

[collette dotson]

i like all sorts of things :)  anything thats unique!  i love clean lines and i love simple and crazy and colors and just plain beautiful... I'm an artist so i have an eclectic taste.  as far as learning goes, really i just want to learn how to make MY art last and be made ti the best of its potential :)  there r a lot of pages i haven't been to yet... I'm getting there!!!  and yes I'm checking out mr gore now and i have some comments to post! 

[Mike Lokar]

Well good luck with everything!

[Mike Lokar]

i'm not buying this

[Mike Lokar]

...or we are having fish tonight :)