Ceramic Cylinders

This project is designed to help students control forms on the wheel. The goals are to make your cylinders have even wall thickness throughout, an even top edge, and straight walls.

Each student will make 4 cylinders. One you will cut in half in front of the class, one you will save and create an interesting surface design on it, and the other two you will put into the pug mill. We are also learning detachment with this project--not to get too attached to your projects, as sometimes it is best to recycle something and try again if it did not come out as good as you know it could have!

Use these examples to get ideas for your cylinder that you will save...piercing, wax resist, sgraffito, overglaze experimentation, lids....all great ideas for making your cylinder spectacular!

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 reflection is due Friday, January 13th

5 extra points if passed in before due date!

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?

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!

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!

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.

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!