Two more weeks.

This semester has definitely had its ups and downs, but I'm a little sad it's coming to a close! We've past the wet cut off date so all the mugs are ready to be bisqued and I have quite a bit of glazing in my near future. I'm doing an experiment with my "test" textured mugs-trying a clear glaze on the outside texture while glazing the test with a opaque glaze. Even if the clear glaze doesn't turn out how I planned I still believe that a regular glaze with allow the texture to come through and still be visible.

As for my second round of spools, I decided on incorporating them into a domestic space. I'm going to be using a small spare bedroom and filling it completely. The final project will be a single or various images of the room capturing the suspended spools of thread.

5 Weeks to go.

Crazy. It feels like school just started, right? Spring break begins next week, and with wet ware cut off date right around the corner, I'm started to feel the pressure!

I've been working on two projects for the past couple of weeks. One, our final project-Texture. And two, miniature tea sets. During my first semester I had thrown a small vessel (actually, it was the first thing I ever made on the wheel) and done texture on the outside using a loop tool. I began to think of ways to incorporate texture onto a utilitarian piece of stoneware and I came back to this idea.

I plan on making a set of mugs as well as a set of bowls with the same texture and style. The mug above is my test run of my design.

In addition to mug-making, I've been busy with tiny teacups. Growing up, I had always wanted my own tea set that I could actually use as well as having one that was "my size." I am going to make 5 different sets for my nieces, complete with cream dishes, plates, and teapots.

Keeping up.

It has been a whirlwind of catching up for the last couple of weeks. With a new job and a new puppy, I'm not really sure where time has gone. We're getting ready to complete our third project, throwing five "perfect" cylinders. Which I might add, it definitely alot harder than you would think. I'm beginning to think the perfect cylinder is a myth...at least for now.

Although I loved the dark gray stoneware I used last semester, it was not rendering itself useful to throwing. I had seen some images of red stoneware and decided that I would give it a try. My fellow student, Rebeka Trapp made a batch last week.

The clay body looks beautiful and is fairly easy to throw (thank goodness), I'm definitely excited to see how it fires!

As for throwing, after a week of some discouragement, I finally was able to make cylinders that survived.

And the cylinders made with the new red stoneware are definitely improving. Pictures of the new red clay cylinders will be posted shortly!

Spools and Spools and Spools

My week in ceramics has been composed of mainly spool casting. My goal still stands at 200 new spools to add to the ones I already have. 

 Progress! (I require 2-3 tables in the studio to be productive...)

And if taking up space in the studio were not enough, I have also set up studio in my kitchen, which seems to work fairly well. Having two molds makes the process move so much more quickly!

To help keep my sanity and improve my throwing skills, I have been trying to make mugs and tea sets for my family. The mug below is my pride and joy of the semester so far, my handles, however, are going to need some serious practice (note the sad handle at the bottom of the image). Thank you, Rebeka Trapp, for letting me steal yours!

This week will be another week of mold-casting, installation site hunting, and practice on the wheel. Pictures to follow!

Thoughts on mixed media project.

As I mentioned in previous posts, I plan on expanding on my spools (from last semester's multiples) for the mixed media project. My goal is to make 200 new spools. To help the process move a little faster, I made an addition mold Thursday. I think of making another 1-2 make the process go even more quickly.

Location is still a bit iffy.  I want to have them once again suspending from the ceiling but in a semi-public place where the viewer must interact with the piece, either by walking through or around the piece. I am going to have to take a trek around school to find an appropriate setting.

To Disguise.

The critique had a few more bumps and confusion than I was hoping, but I think that I did receive some useful feedback. I connected my verb and my finished piece in my mind, but fellow students didn't seem to make the same connections. I need to work on piecing my thoughts together in a more logical and followable pattern, which will make it easier for people viewing my work (including me) to understand what I'm trying to convey and where I want the piece to go.

Some addition images from the project:

the business of creativity.

The spring semester has started off with a bang, with the end of the first project nearing, I'm curious to see where my body of work will go this semester.

I plan on continuing my spool project, hopefully doubling or tripling the amount that I originally started with. To start out the week classmate, Tamara Franks, and I make porcelain slip, which turned out beautifully. The spool production will hopefully resume in my kitchen/makeshift studio this week!

A definite first for me was making clay by hand. I have been curious about working with porcelain this semester but with both clay mixers down, it comes down to just mixing it with your hands. After two hours of intense upper body work, a fellow classmate and I finally finished with about 30 pounds of porcelain. Although it was good experience, I think I have a new appreciation for the mixers.

The verb project 2.0
 Since my work has been exploring concepts behind coverings of clay, I wanted to yet again expand my reasoning behind it. I have a curiosity about the concept of personality. There are always aspects of ourselves that we hide from others, and perhaps, even ourselves. We seem to strive toward blending in, to disguise ourselves into the mix, covering the things we think are unacceptable.

 Instead of working with my usual dark clay I decided to try working lighter and from a different angle. The final project will feature the human body disguised in slip.

I'm looking forward to editing and choosing which photos to use, but not to spoil the final presentation...more pictures following the critique!