This semester was my first semester of Advanced Ceramics and my main goal throughout the semester was to get better at skills. I worked hard on centering, pulling up smoothly, and footing so that my projects were of better quality. Once my skills improved I was able to focus on different things to make my projects unique and creative.

I started trying different things with design, using glazing techniques or using hand tools to carve or draw on the surface. When I made my candle holders, I carved out spaces so that the light would shine through. After I made the three candle holders I decided I wanted to do hand and wheel projects for my theme. I did my hand and wheel projects by first throwing the project on the wheel, then changing my using my hands and hand tools.

After my candle holders, I made a vase with a palm tree on it, which I carved into the surface. I also made a vase that I carved a dream catcher into and The feather that I carved wrapped around the bottom of the vase. After that I made two projects just carving swirly designs into it, a bowl and a vase. Then finally, in the last week of wet clay, I made a vase with a cat and "meow" carved into it.

The hand and wheel projects took a couple days for each project, which was a slow process. I wasn't able to make as many projects because each one took a long time, but I liked the detail that was put into each project. My theme helped me improve my skills, and forced me to become more creative and thoughtful with my projects. So overall I accomplished everything I wanted to this semester and made some remembable projects.

 

This semester was my first semester of Advanced Ceramics and my main goal throughout the semester was to get better at skills. I worked hard on centering, pulling up smoothly, and footing so that my projects were of better quality. Once my skills improved I was able to focus on different things to make my projects unique and creative.

I started trying different things with design, using glazing techniques or using hand tools to carve or draw on the surface. When I made my candle holders, I carved out spaces so that the light would shine through. After I made the three candle holders I decided I wanted to do hand and wheel projects for my theme. I did my hand and wheel projects by first throwing the project on the wheel, then changing my using my hands and hand tools.

After my candle holders, I made a vase with a palm tree on it, which I carved into the surface. I also made a vase that I carved a dream catcher into and The feather that I carved wrapped around the bottom of the vase. After that I made two projects just carving swirly designs into it, a bowl and a vase. Then finally, in the last week of wet clay, I made a vase with a cat and "meow" carved into it.

I used negative space, and detail. I used a lot of detail. Some of my projects, like the cat, were narrative and very specific. Others were focused more on design.

The hand and wheel projects took a couple days for each project, which was a slow process. I wasn't able to make as many projects because each one took a long time, but I liked the detail that was put into each project. My theme helped me improve my skills, and forced me to become more creative and thoughtful with my projects. So overall I accomplished everything I wanted to this semester and made some remembable projects.

 

i. Theme

Hand and Wheel
  • carving on the surface
  • creating negative space by carving

ii. What

  • Set of Three Candle Holders
  • Palm Tree
  • Bowl with Rounded Carving Designs
  • Dream Catcher Vase

iii. How

  • Throw basic shaped projects
  • Then carve or use hand tools to change the surface and design
  • Carving out clay
  • Carving a design

iv. Why

Through out the semester I have been throwing simple shaped vases, bowls, etc., but I wanted to make my projects more complex and interesting, still keeping the simple shape. I had the idea to make candle holders, and carve out shapes so the light would shine through when the candles were lit. After I made those, I liked them and decided I wanted to do more projects with carving. I made the Palm Tree Vase, Bowl with the rounded designs on it, and the Dream Catcher Vase. These three projects I made by just carving on the surface instead of carving all the way through the project. I liked the design it added, and how it turned a simple project into a complex project. 

v. Conclusion

I liked throwing simple projects on the wheel, but carving allowed me to make them more complex. It also forced me to be creative and think about the shape of the project and what would look good to match it. On my Bowl it has a round shape, so I carved a curvy design. On my Dream Catcher Vase I wrapped the feathers around it, to compliment the the movement from throwing it on the wheel. As my throwing skills improved, so did my carving skills using hand tools. I was able to work with the clay in a different way than just throwing. 
 
My theme is going to be hand and wheel projects.  I am going to projects where I carve into my project after I throw it. I have already made candle holders, a vase, and a bowl that I used hand tools to carve. 
 

I want to do something with carving my projects. Things like my candle holder, where I change the surface by carving.

 

    So far this semester I have learned a lot of skills, art elements and creativity. I have improved on basic skills and learned new ones. Centering used to be really hard for me but I have really improved on this and learned how to center larger amounts of clay. I watched a video on centering large amounts of clay and from it I learned two things. It makes it easier to seperate the clay into two pieces, center the first piece then put the second piece on top and center all of it. Using my forearm has also really helped. It is a larger and flatter surface. I have also learned new techniques for pulling up. In my beginners semester I just pulled up with my hands. Now I know how to pull up with my knuckle, rib tool and sponge. This techniques are much easier for me now and the project is smoother and nicer looking. One thing I wanted to learn this semester was to throw bigger projects. Just by practicing and throwing more I was able to do this. I learned that with big projects you have to have small and thin bases. I made a base too thick on one of my vases and it exploded in the kiln. Since then I make sure my base isn't too thick. I also started to throw projects with different and more complex shapes like vases. This semester I have been adding art elements to my projects. I learned how to add texture, and positive and negative space. This makes my projects more creative and interesting. I have also been using contrast or emphasis on my projects. I do this through the colors I glaze my projects. I have been inspired by ideas from pictures online and other people's projects. This has helped me be more creative with my own projects.

    The amount of effort I put into this class has effected the outcome of my projects. This is my favorite class and I always want to get as much done in the class period as possible. So I am always on task and working on my projects. When I do talk to other people, I ask them about their projects or techniques they use for inspiration on my own projects. I don't get off task because I want to improve and focus on ceramics. I have come in after school multiple times to put in more time. The time after school has really helped me improve because there are no distractions at all and I can completely focus on what I am doing.

    Next quarter I want to continue to build my skills and improve. I want to start throwing with different types of clay like red clay and porcelain. I like how other people's projects look like who use these types of clay and it will make me more comfortable throwing if I experience different types of clay. I also want to get more creative with my projects. My glazes are getting kind of boring and I am running out of idea on how to glaze my projects. Looking at other projects have given me ideas but I want to experiment more with different styles of glazing. I also want to try throwing some more creative projects, like pitchers or projects with lids and handles. I also want to start adding more positive and negative space to my projects. I can add thing to the outside or carve in things. I think this will make my projects more creative and force me to try new things, overall improving my projects and skills.

 

What I Expected To Learn

  • how to center bigger amounts of clay
  • how to throw bigger projects
  • new glazing techniques

What My Teacher Taught Me

  • how to make a close project
  • how to use tool for better technique
  • how to use negative and positive space
  • through the videos--how to make different kinds of projects

What I Actually Learned

  • how to use tools for better technique
  • different techniques for pulling up (knuckle, sponge, rib)
  • how to center better
  • how to throw bigger and taller projects
  • how to make a plate
  • how to foot projects with thick bases and make them thin