Reference:
August - October
MUGS!
Planning: Go on the wheel and create a deep mug. Underglaze flowers and leaves with an uncolored background. Matt clearglaze over the rest after the bisque fire.
Progress: So far, I have made a shallow mug; I couldn't lift it up without it becoming uncentered. I glazed it all sapphire float because I didn't want to do the glaze pattern on this shallow mug.
It came out of the kiln and I love how it turned out, the glaze looks like a starry sky.
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UPDATE: I created a slab-rolled tumblr cup with a lid for my morning chai, and so far I've fired it once, underglazed it with the small flower pattern, and clear-midfire glazed it. It is now waiting to be fired.
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It came out of the kiln, and I love how it turned out. Next time, I'd make sure the shape was more circular around; otherwise, I'm happy.
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Jewelry Dish
References:
Finished Piece:
Planning: Slab-roll clay, build up on the clay to create ridges for petals. Fire once, glaze an ombre on the rest.
Prodress: I've slabrolled the clay, I built up on the petals and created the stem in the middle. I've been smoothing the bottom and the edges. I fired the piece and created a balayage pattern similar to that on the reference and fired it again.
I am happy with how my piece came out, I just wish that I had built up the edges more for jewelry to stay in and that it was more pink.
Sun Wall-Hanging
References:
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Planning: I slab rolled a flat piece of clay and built up the areas that were more plump in the face, like cheeks, nose, eyebrows, and the chin. I smoothed these areas and added finishing details. I rolled out different clay tubes and scored/slipped these pieces on so they wouldn't fall off. I fired it once, and then I glazed it yellow and orange to resemble the sun, but I also added pink for makeup.
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Now that it's out of the kiln, I've noticed that in certain areas the glaze is more matte than others, which could mean that I may not have glazed the area as thoroughly. The "makeup" I used on the cheeks, eyelids, and lips also turned out very harsh and did not blend like I hoped. Overall, I am very happy with how the piece turned out.
Soap Dish
References
Planning: I want a soap dish where the water can run off into the sink and ridges where the soap can stay up out of the water.
Progress: I used terracotta clay for the firts time and I love it, it's so smooth and easy to work with. I slab rolled a piece of clay out and cut out a circle as the base. I then cut out a rectangle for the wall around the base. I slipped and scored them together and used a rubber tool to smooth them. I then used a thin coil to make a swirl on the base where the soap would be propped up out of the water. I used a wood tool to smoosh the clay in a rough pattern, which I kept because it looked cool. I cut out a piece of the wall and added a piece of clay that would act as a slide for the water to fall through. Once it was fired, I glazed the inside with sapphire float, but not the outside, so that the beautiful clay would show.
References
Flower Vase
Planning: I want to create a vase with the coil technique, because I think it's easier than throwing a large vase, and it's sturdy.
Progress: I used the extruder to make my coils. I attached each coil by smoothing the inside of the vase as I created the structure. Once I was satisfied with the shape of my base, I slipped and scored flowers and bees on the outside of the base for the 3-dimensional aspect. I am waiting for it to be fired.
Chicken Platter
Planning: I want to make a tray that fits eggs. I will use the egg carton we have as a slump mold.
Progress: I slab-rolled a thickish piece of clay, and I dusted the egg carton with corn starch. I then layered the clay over the carton and began to press it into the carton gently so it wouldn't rip. Halfway through, I realised that I missed a hole, so it was soff-centered. I decided to make this a happy accident by putting a chicken with chicks in the blank spot. I removed the clay from the mold and smoothed the bottom. I created the chicken and chicks and slipped and scored them into place. I fired the piece. I then glazed the base with rosey posey and the chicken and chicks with underglaze (brown, red, and yellow) and clear glaze over that.
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Now that it's done, I wish that I had smoothed over the areas where I scored and slipped the chicken because it looks messy. Otherwise, I'm happy with the piece.
