mixed media 2013

For the mixed media project I wanted to continue to work on throwing. I had seen a teapot with a wooden handle a while ago and have been wanting to make teapots so I thought it was fitting.

I made four bodies with lids and numerous spouts. The spouts were giving me trouble at first. Having to make them thin and long and then transfer them was a hassle. Discovering the heat gun was a savior.

Of the four bodies, two survived the trimming phase. 








I am still working on some spouts. These are probably not the spouts I will use but they could be. I really like the shape of this first spout with the body so I might keep that one but I'm still not totally satisfied with the bottom one.














I have two more in the works and will work on more. I think I will end up throwing two or three more just so I know I will end up with at least one.
I am also considering making some teacups and saucers. Note that none of these teapots have handles. I plan to soak wood and incorporate it in a way that acts as a handle and decoration. If I do end up having time to throw cups and/or saucers I will come up with a way to incorporate the wood as handles for them as well.

Totally blank on for next project ideas until a conversation with Thea today. I first thought about doing a tea pot with tea cups and sugar holder. but i wanted the viewer to be more involved. gave some thought to creating almost a 3d wallpaper and having each viewer either taking a piece down or putting a piece up. depending on when it was viewed the viewers would each get a different take on the piece. I also considered creating something like a castle and cutting it into sections and having some kind of diagram so the viewer would have to put the pieces together to view the whole piece. I also considered creating different vessels from movies and having the viewer guess which movie its from. I would have a photo of the vessel in the movie its from inside the vessel. the viewer would record what they thought it was from. each guess would be recorded under the vessel so that the next viewer could see what other people thought. examples would be the honey pot from whinny the pooh or the lamp from Aladdin.

After talking to Thea, i think i have decided to do a tera cotta wine chiller with goblets. Some kind beverage would be in the wine chiller and the viewer would pour their own goblet. The viewer would be getting the drink out of the chiller, choosing their own goblet, and filling them then drinking from it. The viewer wouldnt be as involved in the creating process but would be very involved with the final product. Plus i would be able to get more throwing practice in which is one of my goals for the semester.

Reference pics are below.

thrown pics

Better late than never.

multiples nearly complete

my vessel chandelier project idea has undergone a slight modification... I couldn't for the life of me manage to throw a vessel talker than a few inches.I am also having to substitute candles for lights instead of a bulb as orignaly planned...so my chandeliers have become more like lanterns. But I'm considering combining a couple to make them a little taller. I plan to assemble all of the slices with a thin copper wire wrapping around them opposed to a rope or type of thick string. Everything is cut and ready for assembly tomorrow. I was in a rush and forgot to take pictures tonight. They will be up tomorrow morning. While cutting my thrown pieces that I had worked so hard on, I had thoughts on other ways I might like to do in the future. I would like to cut out patterns on future thrown pieces to make them more decorative...I think the shadows cast on walls would be interesting. I enjoy patterns. I've also been thinking on ways to incorporate senses into my work...particularly the since of smell. I will keep these things in mind...as well as the previous project. I liked the swinging motion being present...might try to think of a way to incorporate it.

Multiples

I'm considering throwing some vessels then slicing them like bread...waiting for them to become leather hard then threading them onto a fishing wire or letting them hang off the wall from a stick or something....kind of like the baby ring toy that stacks from biggest to smallest.

wheel progress

My plan for the multiples project, is to make "lanterns".
I've been putting together some vessels at home by coil building. I have another going thats slab built.I have also been practicing throwing on the wheel. My hope was to be naturally talented in the throwing area to get a few plain cylinder shapes together fairly quickly so that i would have multiple groups of multiples. Throwing is going slow but i have made progress. Results are as follows.

Vessel #1.....
not too bad. a little wider and not as tall as i want them

  

 Vessel #2...
Way too small but i liked what i ended up with so ill keep it.



Vessel #3...Fell apart while i was taking it off the wheel head. darn bats.

final

Number 1

Orignal

Number 2

Panels with sheer cloth over top.

Number 3

They began to represent something further out in the sky, supernova and other galaxies.

I began with cloth. When we work with ceramics, our tables are covered in cloth to absorb moisture and keep the clay from sticking to the surface as much as possible. I decided on black cloth because slip is a light color and I wanted some contrast. As I started the project it was more just experimenting. As I moved into the second I started thinking about the act of swinging.When you swing it kind of gives the sensation of falling or flying, which to me is a very freeing sensation. While in the process I realized that the act of just swinging a balloon around on a string was kind of freeing as well. In a sense that you didn't really have to think about anything too complicated or stressful. I just let the paint/slip mix fall where it wanted. When we swing we look at the sky, or at least I do. Its kinda unavoidable. Which led me to connecting what I was doing to the cosmos. Very pleased with the results. #3 is my fav.