Unit 1
Project 1 - Stamp
My plan for my stamp was to roll out a coil large enough to be easily handled and then flatten the bottom of it keeping the top rounded. So I wedged a small block of clay cut a small piece off and I rolled a short round coil and then pressed one side down on the table to flatten it. After that I used the needle tool to neatly sketch out a heart and P, when used the needle to to carve a deeper engraving into it. For my first ceramics piece I was really proud of this, maybe I would have made a little more elaborate stamp something that is more unique but i think I was just excited to start the other projects.
Project 2 - Face
My plan was to follow the demonstration that was shown in class, starting with shaping the head setting and putting in eyes, then eyelids, and so on. I started with a piece of clay the size of a grape fruit then shaped it to show a prominent chin, then using my fingers I placed where I thought the eyes would best go and rolled and slipped eyeballs in. Then scored and slipped on coils to rub out into eyelids, and this is as far as I got. i really struggled making a realistic looking face and was getting frustrated with the difference in the eye sizes and the disproportion in the eyelids. Thats when I decided to throw it in the slop bucket and not continue to stress myself out. I think the head shape went well, I think if I wasn't so hard on myself and would have just let the process roll and see what the out come would have been before trashing it I think I could have completed this prokect.
Project 3 - Slab Decorated with Underglaze
My plan was to make something super easy to focus on the main point of the assignment which was the painting, so i though a large coaster or hot plate would be efficient. I started by wedging clay, packed it into a ball, and then using a rolling pin I rolled out a thin and even slab and then using a boll and the needle tool i traced around the bowl, then using the fettling knife I cut it out. I used a soft pin underglaze and a lighter green and painted tulips because it is a intended gift for my grandma and those are her favorite flowers, and I did three to four coats to get a vibrant color. i think the painting came out really well I think next tome I would make a thicker slab and focus more on making sure its a even and flat surface.
Unit 2
Project 4 - Small Animal Sculpture
My plan was to make a sardine but it turned into a creation of a sardine dinner. I rolled out using a rolling pin a flat slab of clay and then free handed with a needle too the sardine, lemon, and fork, as well as the small plate. Using the fettling knife I carefully cut these all out and started making a small edge around the perimeter of the plate, then scored and slipped the fish on the plate. Using the needle to I engraved a small slit for the gill and then engraved a ring around the eye as well as a small pupil. then i scored and slipped the fork on and gave it a small detailed engraving with a needle tool, scored and slipped the lemon on which i had detailed with a needle tool. Using underglaze I painted the fish a mix of white and grey, which I plan to use a blue opalescence on to add a glimmer, and painted the paint a vibrant yellow and the bottom and sides a really pastel blue to contrast. Making the fork a simple white color with the detailing the pastel blue to kinda come together. I think next time I need to focus more on the fish adding more detail and realism, I think that the urn out of the project is really cute though.
Project 5 - Pinch Pot Cut in Half
My plan was to just follow along to the video. So i puncture the middle with my thumb and need the bottom slowly to the top lengthening and widening it, and continued doing that until it shaped a small bowl/pot. I didn't spend too much time on this, if I would have I probably would have worked harder on making it larger and not so thick, but it was an even thickness throughout which I was proud of.
Project 6 - Pinch Pot into something Useful
My plan was to make a large soup bowl like mug, but it turned into a small plant pot. using the pinch pot technique I formed a large base and then slowly stretched the sides of the cup to make a tall mug like shape, and then for the detailing on the sides I used a loop toll to add depth to the un scored pieces and for the scored pieces I just used a needle tool to engrave lines. I used a sponge to smooth out the inside and the flat sides of the pot. This was suppose to be a mug but the sides were much to thick so I turned it into the pot by poking two draining holes in the bottom. Next time I would ask prior to fully decorating the pot if it would work as what I had it intended for, but I was very happy with the turnout as a pot and my my loved it as a present.
Project 7 - 2 Pinch Pots Put Together
My plan was to make a teapot, but it didn't end up working. I started by making two pinch pots and relatively the same size and width, and using the scoring tool I thoroughly scored each pots top, slipped and then smushed them together enough for the extra clay that was slipped to kinda smear out the sides. Then I smoothed it down and got a decent looking, shape, after my first try being not really understanding what I was suppose to do. I didn't end up using the pot and put it in the slop bucket because it was difficult, I was getting irritated, and I didn't want to was the time and resources on something I didn't like. next time I would have asked fro help on how to accomplish the two pots put together and on what I could have used them for that I would have enjoyed and actually used.
Project 8 - Relief Tile
My plan was to make some sort of food related food tile, and the idea of hanging chili peppers was perfect for me. So I rolled out a small slab using a rolling pin and then free hand cut out a square. Breaking off small pieces of clay I shaped and formed the pepper shape first before scoring and slipping what would be the stems on, then scoring and slipping them onto the square. Using underglaze so the colors were vibrant and detailed I used a bright reddish orange for the peppers and used an avocado green for the stem, and thought a contrast of the almost white looking light light blue would look really nice. This assignment was really fun I liked having the flat surface to build off of and in to, and am excited to see the outcome of the piece once fired and glazed. Next time i would make sure that when I left it out to dry I would have made sure it was perfectly fat, it dried awkwardly and doesn't lay fully flat.
