One Million Bones: Project Reflection

This year we worked on OMB through National Art Honor Society and with the help of the PTA we had support to buy clay.

It looks like we made about 145 bones over the year! This was with the work of about 15 students, usually working on a bi-weekly or monthly basis one day a week. I am very happy with this number. This means we raised $145 for CARE, and also raised awareness for genocide happening in the world today.

Carrying the message of One Million Bones to my school was the goal. Even more students heard about the project through a large assembly held in April. The impact of the project could have been improved if more students outside of art and NAHS had been able to make bones, and if I had organized a larger event and advertised it school-wide. Time was limited, however, and this did not happen, but with the resources and people available I think we did well.

Words of Advice for Incoming Ceramics III Students

• Practice practice practice! Spending extra time in the studio and putting effort in during class is the only way to improve your skills
• Watch videos to learn more techniques 
• Have patience when it comes to projects. You never know when a mistake could even improve a piece, and getting to a final product takes time. 
• If you aren't happy with the way something turns out, try again.
• Have fun! Ceramics can be a great class for making things and using creative ideas

Fourth Quarter Project Proposal: Bones

Bones bones bones. I've been involved with an organization called One Million Bones for several months now, and I've made my fair share of bones out of clay. Through this project I plan to explore more about bones, skulls, and the skeleton. I plan to make a skull and other bones that together can form a sort of deconstructed figure. I will draw inspiration from several artists who have used the skeleton to create distinct pieces of artwork.

Some source links:
 http://www.imamuseum.org/visit/100acres/artworks-projects/funky-bones
http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2012/03/a-skull-of-books/
http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2013/01/skull-made-from-repurposed-skateboard-decks-by-haroshi/

Tea Pot Project Planner

Topics investigated: How to use multiple techniques in one project to create a successful set?

• How can I make a good teapot?
• How will I make the spout, handle, and other parts? 
• How will I use wax resist to create a design for surface decoration? 

My reflection:

I referenced the "Expression Clay" textbook and other sources in the creation of my teapot. I used the wheel to create the base and then used handbuilding techniques to create the spout, handle, and lid and attach everything. If I was doing the project again, I might make the tea pot a little bigger. But the size was satisfactory for what I was trying to achieve with a simple look. I made the cups for the set on the wheel to be simple in a similar way. 

Next I will update with the progress of surface decoration for the pieces in my project!

Artistic Inspiration for Teapot Project: Anne Mette Hjortshøj

Anne Mette Hjortshøj is a ceramic artist in Denmark. I used on of her sets from a February 2013 issue of Ceramics monthly as inspiration, seen below:

The goal for the look of my project is to use black wax resist and glazing to create a similar surface decoration. Hjortshøj uses the wheel and stoneware clays to create her pieces and glazes them with unique patterns. The natural shape, color, and aesthetics of her pieces were the basis for my ideas for my project, to create a simple but unique tea set. I used a different process to create the handle of my teapot but I plan to use these ideas for surface decoration as the next step in the process. 

Here is second tea set created by Hjortshøj: 

Independent Study Tea Set

My latest project is making a tea set using multiple techniques (throwing, hand building, making handles). I plan to make a teapot and several cups, and decorate them with a wax resist pattern. My inspiration for this was a teapot made an artist from the February issue of Ceramics monthly.

Currently I have completed the teapot and I am in the process of making cups. My next step will be to work on surface decoration.

In progress teapot