Small Animal Sculpture
Planning:
- I looked through pintrest pictures to gain inspiration for this project. I decided to make an elephant because the shape of the legs made it so that I could sculpt them in a way that would be strong enough to stand on its own and be able to be fired.
Progress/ finished Pictures:
Firing ticket:
Construction Description:
- I hand sculpted a ball of clay into the shape of an elephant, starting as a rectangle shape for the body, attached to a circle shape as the head. I molded the shape more specificly, and carved out body and the head by going inbetween the legs. I then attached a tail , and continued to smooth it all out. I also added a piece of clay onto the face to made a more dimensional mouth. I tryed to use a sponge with the glaze to add texture like fur.
Reflection:
-I really liked how this piece turned out, and it was really fun and satisfying to watch it come toghether into a recognizable shape. I dont think my sponge idea for hair texture worked, it was kindof an after thought to make it textured. In the future I would not smooth out the clay as much before firing it.
Pinch Pot cut in Half
Planning:
I watched a video and listened to Msr.T’s instructions on how to make a pinch pot
Firing ticket:
I did not fire this piece because it got cut in half
Construction Process:
I made a pinch pot, starting with a round sphere of clay, and pushing into it to reach the opening and the shape of a pot.
Reflection:
This was the first pinch pot I made, I think I did a good job at balancing the side thickness and the bottom thickness. I also did a good job making the outside and inside smooth, and it didn’t take that long.
Pinch Pot made into something
Planning:
I needed to make a pinch pot piece, and I wanted to experiment with some clay carving and glazing.
Firing ticket:
Construction Process: I made the pinch pot carefully like I had been doing before, starting with a round chunk of clay, and pressing it into a cup/ bowl like shape. I then underglazed an ombres color effect to see how that you come out after being fired, and did some sgrafifto carving into the sides making different random designs.
Reflection:
I had fun making this piece, carving designs into the clay was satisfying to see come together as the colors came off the clay. I think I did a better job with the underglaze than I did on my sun slab piece, but it was still light coverage, but a lot more coverage than before. The carvings were ok, they were not very even, and I was trying to make it symmetric all around, and that did not quite happen. It also had a lot of buggering going on, and could have been more smooth.
Two Pinch Pots put together
Planning:
The planning for this piece was not super in-depth. I was practicing building pinchpots. I had to think about what I could turn the two pinchpots into, and it was between an animal or a vase like structure. I figured I would rather have a piece that I can use in my house than an animal that was made out of pinchpots that might not look the best, and will not be used.
Firing ticket:
Construction Process:
The construction process for this piece was forming two pinchpots, one slightly bigger for the bottom, and one slightly smaller for the top. I then bend over the bottom pinchpot towards the outside to attach the top pinchpot onto by scoring and slipping and smoothing together everything. Then creating a hole in the top so that it turned into a vase. I then glazed the entire thing in one solid color making sure to fully coat the entire thing all around.
Reflection:
The shape of the vase came out really well, and was very smooth all around which I was really happy about. The coating and coverage of the glaze was very good. But the color of glaze I used was kind of an experiment, and I really dont like the shade of green that the glaze fired as.
Relief Tile
Planning:
The planning started from inspiration pictures from Pinterest, just to get a general sence of what relief pieces look like. I then thought about what things have different levels to them in real life, and thought of a lillypad pond with lily pads floating on top of the water. I then found a picture of a coyfish in a lillypad pond to made the piece off of.
Firing ticket:
Construction Process:
I started rolling out a chunk of clay with a rolling pin because I wanted it thick enough to be able to carve into. I then cut out a rectangle base shape from that. I then cut out the shape of the fish from the rolled out clay, and cut it in half so that it wasn’t as thick as the base. I then carved around the lily pads, and carved out water marks into the base. I then attached the fish onto the base by scoring and slipping it all together. I then underglazed all the details in the water, and on the fish, and on the lily pads trying to add definition to the water and surroundings.
Reflection:
This piece came out really well. It was a good experience to teach myself how to effectively carve shapes in the clay to make things pop up, and mix it with shapes they go into the clay. The clay shapes all came out really well, and the glaze job also came together really well. I played with mixing colors, and adding white marks into colors to try to do some highlights in the leafs and water. This piece is probably my most proud piece I have made this year. That is why I selected it for the poem entry piece.
Historically Inspired Piece
**see slab slump mold project in unit 3
