Transformation

In all my excitement of finishing up the previous project and coming up with plans for the next, I forgot to post last week. Tea pitchers turn out ok. I got some great feedback from crit and really want to make some more before the end of the semester. Next time I do these I will probably pull the handle and the ice cube catcher at the same time to better insure even thickness and marks on both parts. I've also figured out the forms look way better taller rather than more wide, and that the rule of thirds is something to keep in mind.
The transformation project really fits in nicely with my them and ideas for the fall BFA show. I will allow my son to inspire me to transform my work as well as my new home work setting. Through exploration excersizes with my son I've found he enjoys very basic activities with the clay. Cutting it, suishing it, poking holes in it, and stamping it. This has led me to revisit an older idea that I attempted a few semesters ago where handles for mugs were cut out of the rim and bent back. My home setting, with frequent family gatherings, has already inspired me to make objects that can be used for food. Whether their used to eat out of or cook in. I want to further explore that and make serving dishes. I would like to end up with one good serving dish that consists of a big platter with a smaller bowl inside for chips and dip, connected by the cut and bent rim of the bigger platter. I am aiming for 6 small individual plates with rim cut and bent for thumb handles to better hold plates.

Below is a pic of a greenware tea pitcher, a previously made mug, and a chip and dip serving platter that shows placement of where I plan to place the dip bowl inside the serving platter.

Tea pitchers

Slowly and steadly completing tea pitchers. I already have two finished that need to be bisqued and 4 mugs to match them. I worked on overlapping two others to make a three point pitcher but didn't like how they turned out. My walls twards the base were too thick to overlap nicely. I'm worried about cracking. I'm considering finishing a handle for one although I hate it.
I threw my first 10 lb ball of clay tonight and really liked the hight I got from it but it was hard to throw the walls nice and thin without it crashing and burning. For this one I will pull the spout of the rim then attach an ice cube catcher similar to the one below. I want to get one more 10lb pitcher thrown and would like to have 4 more mugs but Im not sure that will happen. Hoping for the best.

Home studio & throwing progress

This weekend I worked on tracking down a wheel for my home work space and some wood and supplies for shelving. Need to clear out my nook and start measuring and sawing. Ordering my wheel as soon asap and should have it by the end of the week.

I made plans with Dan to mix up some new flameware Tuesday. I want to get some stuff made with this! I must find a way to work in some time for my cookware prices. Wanting to make pizza stones, bread pans and skillets.

I didn't get to put in as much time as I hoped to this weekend. I managed to get in my 6 hours today, but extra dry clay made it difficult to wedge and get forms pulled up. I'm going to have to mix it in with a new batch tomorrow in class, and put in some extra hours tomorrow. Looking forward to some fresh clay!

I'm going to try to alter a cylinder for a different type of tea pitcher. I liked the mug in class the other day that was cut and overlaped back together. I've thrown a cylinder that widens at the top. Planning on cutting three times then overlapping. Handle will be on one side and spout will be the opposite corner. Wanting to make time to have a matching set of mugs. Hoping to have 2 orignal sketches and 2 altered, with at least 4 mugs for both ideas (8 total). But I'd really like to have 4 per pitcher. Maybe that's too ambitious.

techinical difficulties

Pics that didn't upload on the last post for some reason...

First blog of my last year as an undergrad.

For the throwing project this semester I want to push myself. I want to make more lightweight pots by paying attention to wall thickness. I am trying to be more delibrate in how my lids, handles, spouts, texture, etc. fit together to make a cohesive form.
I would like to make a few different types of iced tea pitchers. I plan on them having lids but after looking though other pictures I think I will try to make a couple without lids and a type of stopper for just the ice itself. I would like to have four mugs or tumblers for each pitcher I make. Realisticly I think I can complete 4 pitchers with 4 sets of 4 cups.
I'm hoping to carry through the forms and texture that I experimented with the past couple of semesters but plan to alter them as well. Hoping to be inspired.
Here's what I have after week 1.

Spring 2014

Working on making glazes this semester was cool this semester. I liked learning the science behind the glazes and why they look and act the way they do. I plan to further develop the glaze for my flameware I began working on this semester. And maybe even work on some different color shinos for future wildfired pieces.
I have been working on developing my throwing skills, and this semester really helped me get in more practice time to hone in on specific forms. The projects this semester gave me an opportunity to refine each category of pottery. Thining cylinder walls, creating a decent foot ring, pulling handles, etc. And figure out some placement and aesthetic issues like where the handle should attach and really think about placement of texture. All of the throwing will prove beneficial for the future.
There is always room for improvement. With that said I don't think I will be able to think of everything that needs improvement for this blog. I want to work on cleaning up the bottom of pieces, thinning walls, glazing (creating, mixing, application techniques), making some bigger pieces, applying conseptual reasoning behind why and what I make, and predicting how my flameware will warp.
As an artist I want to continue to make things. Work on refining skills, hopefully sell some pieces, have my own studio and means of firing. I hope to take what I learn through ceramics (time management, problem solving, critical thinking, and social skills) and help others see that they can improve their mental health through art. I hope to do this through art therapy.
My son, my family, my art, my housework and my alarm gets me up in the morning. I come to the studio to center myself and some clay and remind myself that no matter how crazy and off center the world (or my clay) gets, it can be shaped into something beautiful or at the very least useful with a little time, practice, and work.

Woodfire!

Its been a while since my last post. There's lots going on the last couple weeks of school. Since my last post I realized my cookers were combination forms that fit the requirements for the project. So I made 3 teapots and 2 lug handled lided cookers. Of those the biggest and in my opinion the best teapot and cooker did not survive the bisque.

The woodkiln has been fired and proved to be a fun and exciting time. Nervous and excited to fire without the kiln Whisperer. The bfa students are stepping up in the Woodfire world. I'm confident we can accomplish a firing on our own.

Work for the wood kiln overall came out awesome. I used Liz Kraus shino, stasha's crab claw, chucks shino, shaner shino, iron saturate, and some bisque flashing slip. I think I'm going to have to mix up some more chucks next semester. I really like the way it reduces to produce some grey spots with a little bit of crackeling in the shiny spots. Next semester I will also make an effort to glaze less work for tumble stacking. I liked how my peices turned out that survived the tumble. I got some great flashing and nice ash accumulation.