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.
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