Winter Break

Unfortunately, I recently broke my phone which was my only camera that I would have used to take pictures of me posting my empty bowls sign and unfortunately I keep forgetting to grab a poster to give to Grimms. I will do this tomorrow and give it to them over winter break, but I'm not sure how I'll get a picture. Maybe you can just take my word for the empty bowls sign, amy? Or just see my creation of bowls and overall un asked for volunteer hours as my contribution to the event? :)

For my last two projects, I stayed on the theme of geometric shapes. I threw seven bell shaped cups. These were fun to throw, although i struggled making four that were exactly the same size. I guess ill have to use some fun photo taking tecniques or try to throw one or two more that I can use for my concentration. I also threw three jar shaped vessels that had a disk ribbed in the middle. I then stacked these on top of each other to create a form that would be my third project. While creating these projects while balancing other college apps and other things was difficult, I am glad that I have it done and can somewhat enjoy my winter break! The picture above somewhat represents the concept of my third project, except more symmetrical!

Time is running out

So I am about one and a half projects done still, as I am not liking any of my designs for lids of my little jar type things. I need to throw one more of these forms and make two lids and then call it good for that project. For my third one, I think ill make another slab built form that represents some sort of geometric shape and will fit in nicely with the rest of my pieces. This one is not going to be as direct though, and im thinking of making a diamond shape or possibly something with multiple shapes. Tomorrow and friday, I need to complete my second project and do some sketches for my third one. I also need to go take pictures of myself doing all sorts of crazy stuff for my next blog post. Word.

1 down, 2 to go

So basically, I am not exactly sure what I am going to do for my last two projects before Winter Break. I thought I was going to stack some different pot shapes, but I haven't really thrown anything I want to stack. However, I got bored and made a cookie jar type of thing and I have thought about making a few lidded vessels to go with that theme. I really haven't made anything lidded, so it would be a challenge. I threw the basic shapes for a few small ones today, and maybe I will go with that for one of them. Over the next few days, I'll have to sketch some other ideas for my third project. Time to just focus on cranking out some quality work before winter break!

Truckin Along...

So this week my main focus was to get one project hand built and nearly completed so that it could start drying in time for the upcoming deadline. I also wanted to get settled on what I am going to do for my next project and get started on that as well. I just completed making the form for a three sided pyramid vase/bottle thing, and now I just have to let it dry and decide what else I want to do to it before it gets fired. I have just the form made, and am trying to decide what type of lid and design to put on it. The next project I want to work on is a vase with multiple spherical forms stacked on top of each other. I plan on throwing tomorrow after school, and with what I hope is a work day coming up on Friday, I should be able to get everything thrown and put together by the weekend. If I could get the forms for my two projects done before Thanksgiving break, I know it would make my life alot easier. 

Concentration

I believe that I have settled on some sort of a geometric shaped containers/vases idea for my concentration. I like to build with slabs, but this description gives me the freedom to wheel throw pieces as well as handbuild. I am also able to use other forms of media if I please. Now, I am just going to start to make things and see what other characteristics I can come up with so that my pieces will all tie together and flow smoothly. Gotta make up for lost time though, as two projects are due by the end of the month. Woot!

Empty Bowls and Concentrations



Today was the Empty Bowls event "Throw-a-thon". All of the schools best wheel throwers got together and threw lots of bowls. Our goal was three hundred, and based on my guess, we were somewhat close to that goal. This is always my favorite service event of the year, and I had fun on the wheel.

Now, I am forced to figure out what I am doing for my concentration. I am mainly a handbuilder, but I want to do something that includes the option to work on the wheel. Working on the wheel is much faster, so I want to have that option. For those who have seen my prior clay work, what do you think I should focus on for my concentration? Any suggestions will be deeply considered.

Oh, and we have 4 projects due in a month in a half. FML.

Almost done!

As the greenware stage for my family project is coming to a close, I am now left with a few uncertainties and questions. I cut my vase like form into five pieces in a sort of unsemetrical pattern. This worked out well, excpet the slurry created from the vinager and wetting of each piece caused the cracks I was trying to create to fill in. I dug them out with a needle tool to make them a bit more visible, and now I am just hoping that they will become more prominent once it is fired. This is my main uncertainty. The question I have now is what glaze/firing tecnique should I use in order to make the cracks convey the message I want. The picture above is a bowl created by Jeff Campana, the artist whose idea I am trying to emulate. This project was fun to create because it allowed me to portray a message about family while also finally being able to use clay, which is my preferred material. I look forward to seeing how it turns out.