Thursday, December 15, 2011

Please answer the following questions for FRIDAY DECEMBER 16th:

1. What steps have you completed for your hollow form project so far?

2. How is your project turning out compared to your sketches? Has anything changed, and how are you dealing with these changes?

3. Which underglazes/overglazes are you thinking about using on your project? What interesting glazing or painting techniques do you plan to try on this project?

Friday, October 21, 2011

Altered Wheel Forms

In class, you have seen demonstrations of different ways to change forms made on the wheel. We practiced faceting, squaring, cutting darts and attaching two pieces together. Here are some examples of pieces made on the wheel, then altered!

Have fun practicing these techniques--remember to use at least two pieces or techniques in your final project!

Monday, October 3, 2011

HOMEWORK--DUE THURSDAY OCTOBER 6th

In your journal, write down the answers to the following questions. Please be ready to pass them in at the beginning of class on Thursday for full credit!

1. What object have you chosen to use for your micro to macro project? Why have you chosen this object--What personal significance does this object have to you?

2. How will blowing this object up change its meaning to the viewer? Think about its original intent or use--would you still be able to use it in its intended way? Does it become funny, scary, etc. when it is large?

3. What do you think will be the most difficult part of making your object? Write ideas of how you might solve this issue, so we can troubleshoot before beginning!

Monday, September 26, 2011

CLAES OLDENBURG * ARTIST STUDY

Our next project will be based on the artwork of Claes Oldenbeurg. He took objects that were small and blew them up to a much larger scale, putting them in outdoor settings or in large museum halls, so when the viewer looked at them the original intent of the object became obsolete, and gained a new feeling or meaning.
We will do the same thing in clay--take a very small object and blow it up 5 to 10 times its original size!
Think about what meaning your sculpture will take on as you decide which object to use. How would it feel, for example, to be confronted with a thumbtack a foot tall?? Or a penny the size of your head??
By Friday, you need to bring in 3 objects that could be used for this project.
We will watch a video on the artist and discuss possibilities for sculptures on Friday in class.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Spirit Animals!

Choose an animal that represents you, or has qualities you wish you possessed. Beginning with a pinch pot, create a small version of your chosen animal that fits in your hand. Focus on craftsmanship and creativity...Be able to explain why you chose your animal!

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Welcome to Advanced Ceramics!

Each student has now been introduced to the basics of ceramics. In this class, they will have the opportunity to deepen their understanding of each technique, as well as develop a personal style with the medium. I encourage students to take risks and push themselves to the limit to improve on their basic skills! In this class, we will develop our basic skills further through both handbuilt and wheelthrown forms. We will focus on surface decoration as well as craftsmanship, as we get more and more familiar with each new technique. In addition to the class work, students will have bi-weekly assignments reinforcing the techniques we are studying, such as printing out images for a project idea, or sketching forms out before beginning a project. I am so excited to have each of you for a second semester, and I look forward to seeing all the unique and beautiful artwork you produce!

Monday, May 9, 2011


Your final for this class will be a personal reflection.
Please write an approximately one-page personal assessment of your Ceramics career; be sure to include the following:

*What technique do you feel you have improved the most on in your two semesters as a ceramicist?

*What projects have you found to be the most challenging?

*What are some of the “lessons” you have learned as you have taken both Beginning and Advanced Ceramics?

*Which of your projects are you most proud of?

*Define a theme for your work in Ceramics. What has your focus been on, mostly? Surface decoration? Handbuilding techniques? Wheel work? And within that specific area, how could the viewer tell that each of your pieces is “yours”?

This will be due Friday, May 20th

10 extra points if passed in by May 13th

5 extra points if passed in by the 19th

Monday, April 25, 2011

WRITTEN REFLECTION & PROJECT CHECK-IN
Due Thursday April 28th

Please answer the following questions in your notebooks:

1. Where are you in the process of making your companion project? What do you still need to do/what are your plans for glazing?


2. How comfortable are you feeling on the wheel? What specific aspects do you feel you still need to work on?

3. What challenges have you run into while handbuilding this semester? How did you overcome this challenge to make your project better?

Monday, March 14, 2011

Homework Due Wednesday March 16th:

Find and print an example of a ceramic project that could be a Companion Project.

Find objects that look similar in form, surface design or both!

Bring printouts to class and paste into your journals.

Monday, February 28, 2011

Homework Assignment: Personal Reflection

Due Friday, March 4th

Write in your notebooks responses to the following questions, in full sentences:

1. What areas of this class do you feel you excel in? This could be techniques, studio jobs, etc...

2. What areas do you feel you need to improve upon in this class?

3. What specific things can we do as a class to create a positive and productive classroom atmosphere and community? What do you feel you add as a positive member of the studio?

Friday, January 28, 2011

Advanced Ceramics

Each student has now been introduced to the basics of ceramics. In this class, they will have the opportunity to deepen their understanding of each technique, as well as develop a personal style with the medium. I encourage students to take risks and push themselves to the limit to improve on their basic skills!

In this class, we will develop our basic skills further through both handbuilt and wheelthrown forms. We will focus on surface decoration as well as craftsmanship, as we get more and more familiar with each new technique. In addition to the class work, students will have bi-weekly assignments reinforcing the techniques we are studying, such as printing out images for a project idea, or sketching forms out before beginning a project.

I am so excited to have each of you for a second semester, and I look forward to seeing all the unique and beautiful artwork you produce!

Monday, January 3, 2011

Your final for this class will be a personal reflection. Please write an approximately one-page personal assessment of your Ceramics career; be sure to include the following:

*What technique do you feel you have improved the most on in your two semesters as a ceramicist?

*What projects have you found to be the most challenging?

*What are some of the “lessons” you have learned as you have taken both Beginning and Advanced Ceramics?

*Which of your projects are you most proud of?

*Define a theme for your work in Ceramics. What has your focus been on, mostly? Surface decoration? Handbuilding techniques? Wheel work? And within that specific area, how could the viewer tell that each of your pieces is “yours”?

This will be due Friday, January 14th