Yesterday our Franken pot came out of the glaze kiln. We glazed it black with white drops which ended up turning blue after being fired.
0 Comments
This project is the largest bowl I have made so far. It is about 6 inches wide and 5 inches tall with a deep bowl shape and a simple white glaze with black and green drips all along the sides. For this bowl I used quite a bit a clay but I found it easier to work with especially when it came to keeping it centered. I am still trying to improve my bowl shapes so I really made an asserted effort to make the form as uniform and practical as possible when shaping the bowl. I wanted it to be a gradual curve outward as it created the bowl space so that it wasn't awkward to eat out of. I tried to use a different technique with the rib tool to create this shape by holding it a different way as I shaped the clay. However it didn't turn out as I wanted it to. Although the form of the bowl did not turn out as I had hoped I made sure to make up for that when it came time to glaze. I wanted to also focus on the movement of colors amongst the rounded shape of the bowl so I decided to add drops of black and green along the outside as to give contrast to the simple white base. Originally I was very proud of how big I was able to throw when I made this bowl but I then realized that the base was too thin to foot so I ended up having to leave it without a foot ring. Also somehow as my bowl was drying before it went into the bisque it became very lopsided which just threw the whole project off. While it is true that this is probably the biggest project I have thrown it is also ironically my least favorite... in the end though this bowl taught me that everything in life is a learning experience and just because things do not always turn out as you expect them to doesn't mean you should let that get you down or stop you from trying to do better next time. There is always room for improvement. This is my set in lidded vase. It is about 3.5 inches wide and 4.5 inches tall with a narrow neck and a wide base and a rustic blue/green glaze. For the vase of my lidded I had to throw a tall cylinder which I then shaped into a vase using my rib tool and my hands along with choking to create a narrow neck. I really wanted to improve my ability to make a better shaped vase so I really tried to make the vase one that had character but was still pleasing to the eye. To do that I made sure to leave two-thirds of the vase wider and gradually make it skinnier as it went up. Putting a lot of emphasis into making sure my project was pleasing to the eye gave the finished vase a sense of unity as the whole piece fit together so well. For the lid I actually made a first one but the knob was much too big so I decided to make a second one which turned out much better as it was actually proportionate with the rest of the lid and the vase itself. When it came time to glaze my project I decided to do shadow green for the vase and lid however I then went back and sponged on Sydney blue around the top half of the vase to add movement of a different color around the project. I'm very proud with how well my lidded turned out as it was my first time making two different 'projects' on the wheel and then combining them to create something so harmonious. I'm also very happy that the lid actually works with the vase as I think it adds a new sense of detail to the vase. For this project I made a planter. It is about 5 inches wide by 4.5 inches tall with a nice circular plate and a dark blue glaze. When making this planter I made sure to pull my first wall while still leaving enough room and clay for the plate. Because this project requires a second wall I had to make sure I was thinking ahead so the finished product didn't end up cracking from being too thin. For this planter I made sure to focus on creating a more proportioned plate to cylinder to that the overall feel of the project was more balanced. I also wanted to make the form more uniform and functional so that the tray would have a nice shape to hold water. With the glaze I decided to do cooler tones of blue so I glazed my project Sydney Blue and then I took Cobalt Blue and dipped just the rim of the cylinder in. However after firing the dark blue ended up fading into the lighter blue making the contrast between the two become more of a blended look. Nonetheless I love the subtle hints of deep blue along the top and side of the cylinder part of the planter. All in all this project was the first one that really made me realize that I have progressed in ceramics, especially since last semester when I was a beginner. When looking at this new and improved planter I am able to see how much my skills on the wheel have advanced. Overall when I see this planter I feel more confident and a sense of peace that with time all things will get better. You just have to be willing to see it. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
June 2017
Categories |