Unit 4
Series of Cups/Next Level Slab
Handled Mug#1
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I used the slab-built method to construct my mug.
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I constructed the base in a triangular fashion and made the handle a triangle as well.
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I'm using frosty blue as a base for the underglaze and on top I'm using bright pink for little petals around the cup.
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Now that it's out of the kiln, I clear-glazed it and sent it back.
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It came out so pretty and smooth.
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Progress:
Reference:
Firing Ticket:
Handled Mug #3
Handled Mug#2/Poem Project
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For this piece I had a pretty easy start, I used the low-fire white clay. I accidentally made the base too thin so I added cute flairs at the bottom, but the next class they broke off.
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Throughout the next two classes, my cup broke 3 times. Each time, I found a way to moisten the bone-dry clay enough to reattach the broken pieces.
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Once my cup was fixed I began under-glazing it. I wanted to capture the sunset in my poem and the tree they were laying on looking up at the sky. Now it's on the firing rack.
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Once it came out of the kiln, I put clear glaze on it and sent it back to be fired again.
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Once it came out of the kiln, I realized that the clear glaze didn't process correctly. In some spots it was rough, and in others, there were pools of the glaze.
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I put more clearglaze on it and I'm hoping for the best waiting for it to come out of the kiln again.
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Progress:
Setbacks:
Reference:
Firing Ticket:
Handled Mug #4
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For this piece, I used the 412 clay. Personally, it was pretty easy to use and was very moist. Though, I would say it can be too soft at times and warp.
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I started out by using the slab roller and then cutting out the appropriate amount of clay for my mug. I used all the steps I would for my other mugs.
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I couldn't attach the handle to my mug this class because the clay was too soft and it affected the whole shape of the mug when pressure was applied.
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When I came back to class it was gone so I had to start all over, I used the same process.
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To make my handle I rolled out some clay and formed it into the shape I wanted with my fingers and scored and slipped it to the mug.
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Once it was done, I put it on the rack to be fired.
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I'm really sad, the cup came out and it won't stand on its own so I threw it away.
Progress:
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I started this mug the same day I started mug #3, I used the same process withthe slab roller. This mug was also missing so I had to restart.
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To make the handle I rolled out some clay and scored and slipped it to the mug.
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Once I was done forming the mug I put it on the rack to be fired.
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I'm really sad, the cup came out and it won't stand on its own so I threw it away.
Progress:
Lidded Box
Progress:
Firing Ticket:
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I started with a lump of clay and flattened it with the flattening machine.
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I cut out squares for the lid and bottom, then four rectangles for each side.
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Once they were lined up I scored and slipped them together. I smoothed the edges the best I could and added a rolled-out piece on the lid to stop it from sliding off.
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Once I was done messing with the clay I tried to underglaze it, but the clay was still too wet so it came out streaky. I left it outside and next class I'm going to finish under-glazing it.
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I let the piece bone dry and it was so much easier to paint.
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I put it on the rack to be fired. It came out, so I clearglazed it and sent it back to be fired again.
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it came out really ugly so I'm abandoning it.
Reference:
Progress:
2D to 3D Master Artwork
Starry Night By Van Gogh
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I chose starry night b/c it's a very beautiful piece. I wanted to make it a wall hanging as a present for my dad. I chose the diamond-shape b/c it makes it more unique.
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I came upon some problems with glazing when it came out of the kiln b/c there were some white spots left. I filled them with normal galze and sent it to be fired a second time. When it came out it was very pretty and smooth.
Firing Ticket:
Reference:
Unit 5
Bust Project
Progress:
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I started by molding a rectangular block of clay into shoulders and a thick neck that could hold up a head.
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Once I had the proper shape down I began working on the general shape of the head, I compared the shape to my partner's head next to me.
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To make the eyes, I carved out holes in the head that I thought were the best place for eyes to go. I rolled out two evenly shaped balls of clay and stuck them in. I attached the eyelids with thin strips of clay and then shaped them into a good form.
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I stuck a rectangular shape on the face for a nose and molded it to the preferred shape. I stuck a stick in the bottom to make nostrils.
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I accidentally messed up the lips, I thought the triangle was for the lips, not for the jaw shape and teeth. Instead, I used the triangle solely for the lips so the face ended up looking flat. Luckily, ms. Thompson checked my piece out in time for me to fix its shape.
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Once I thought the face looked smooth and all right, I began working on thinning the neck and fixing the jawline.
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I started the hollowing-out process by cutting a hole in the top of the head and working down. Once I couldn't reach any further, I began working from the bottom up.
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For the hair, I pictured curly ringlets on him. I rolled out some clay and twisted them in the shape of a ringlet. I then applied them around the head in different sizes as normal hair would look.
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Once I was done, I smoothed everything out and filled minor gaps in the hair. Now it's in the kiln.
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Progress:
Alebrije
To make my cat shape I started by molding a smaller space for the neck in between the body and head. It took a while to make better proportions, but once I had what I wanted, I molded the nose and added the ears. To make the tale, I rolled out a piece of clay and attached it by scoring and slipping. I let the clay bone dry so that the next class I could begin underglazing. It probably took about 4 classes to finally finish underglazing. Now it's ready to be fired.
Reference:
Firing Ticket:
Progress:
Mask Project
I started this piece knowing I wasn't going to finish it. I don't have a purpose for it in my house so I don't want to waste clay. I made a cat face for my mask. To prop the face up like a mask, I used a bowl with plastic on top. I used the slab roller to get my desired thickness and then I cut out a circle shape to fit on the bowl. I use the excess clay to make the higher points of the cat's face and ears. I know the ears look bad, I tried to fix them but they were just too high up.
Reference:
Current Artist-Inspired Piece/Useful Gift
Progress:
Reference:
Firing Ticket:
This piece is inspired by Will Bruno's Summer Scene, 2023. I chose this artist's piece b/c I think it looks very pretty. On my piece, I added the butterfly to my dish and I will end up adding the spring colors.
I fired my piece and glazed it with the deep turquoise glaze and clearglaze.