Essay

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.