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

Worked on my second large platter today. It's been glazed (high fire) and now has to be fired. Here is a picture:

Okay picture isn't uploading but I'll post it later.

More Oil Paintings

Figure Drawings

I have started a second platter. Fingers crossed that this one comes out in one piece. I attached a lip to (hopefully) strengthen the platter and I will be firing it in a different way this time. I will post pictures before and after firing.

portfolio

Handle project

Here is a sneak peak at my handles project. Lots and lots of mugs to come! I've made a total of six so far, I think. Mrs. B says I have great handle making skillz :-) Hopefully I can fire and glaze a couple of them in time for the holidays. I am very proud of my skills on the wheel at this point. I finally got it down better this year! After three years of ceramics, I should be able to make a bowl or a cup on the wheel, so this is good. Now if I can get the surface decoration to be amazing these will be pretty nice cups!

40 Under 40 Platter Reflection

The platter I created based on Jenny Hart's style turned out better than expected in several ways. I was very happy with the texture, color, and glazing of the piece. The intricate pieces attached stayed on, which was good.
     However, the platter was too fragile to be fired the way it was and it did end up cracking. Next time I would use a different method to fire and maybe make the clay more thick to protect it from breaking.
     I plan to make another platter soon, as a part of my next project which will focus on surface decoration, and how to draw on clay and make aesthetically pleasing designs.

xx, Emma 

40 under 40 project

my platter was fired! sadly it broke while being fired in west Virginia. I love the way it looks otherwise. the color is really cool and it is a nice piece besides the crack.

nested bowls: done!

glazed and fired nested bowls are out. I think they look okay and demonstrate some ceramics skills, but they are boring too. if I did it over again I would use the same color scheme but change the details on each one

Self Reflection: Contemporary Ceramics as Fiber Art project

My project was a clay take on embroidery and fabric art inspired by artist Jenny Hart and other artists. I was also inspired by henna designs and artwork. My final piece is a large oval platter shaped work. I have finished the clay work and now it will be fired and then the surface will be decorated.

 Four things I learned during this project include: Making clay look like fabric is not easy, Working one class period to finish something time-sensitive is hard, I like embroidery and fiber arts, and symmetry can be difficult to achieve, especially with clay.

 I am proud of this project. Two things I am especially proud of are the scale of the piece and that I finished it in one class, and that I practiced beforehand and did a good amount of research.

 If I could improve something if I had the opportunity, I would make the center image more personal. It is a simple design, but I could make it more intricate with more time. The most difficult part of the project was the limited amount of time I had to finish it. The most enjoyable part was planning and executing the project.

 I would give my project a 3 out of 4 because it took a lot of work and research to execute it and the final product is good, but I think it could be better.

Contemporary Art Inspiration/Research

Marti Waller is a quilt maker and fiber artist.This piece utilizes unique shapes that inspired some of my designs.

http://www.santafeartquilts.com/large-view/all/1167681-5-0-/.html?thumbnails=on

Judith Gary is a ceramic artist whose textured tiles were inspiration for some of my designs. http://judithgary.artspan.com/index.php



Also, Sarah Maple is Cool http://www.sarahmaple.com

The mermaid pitcher is out of the kiln

Pictures to come. It didn't turn out exactly as I had hoped but it is satisfactory. Except for the handle, which yet again came off. I will probably glue it. Also the slip I used to reattach it last time is still showing and looks ugly. The skin color was way too pale as well. But the turquoise color turned out nicely.

Research!: Jenny Hart

Jenny Hart is a contemporary artist I first saw at the Renwick Gallery. She was featured in the "40 Artists under 40" exhibit. Hart specializes in contemporary embroidery-taking an art considered old and out of date and turning it into a sassy, young art form. I liked Hart's portraits like this:

 For my project I am using Hart's work as inspiration to create my own contemporary art, using clay to create a style that (hopefully) mimics her embroidery. Stay tuned for more research on henna designs and other symbols that I plan to incorporate into my designs and project!






(source: http://jennyhart.net/#8c6/flickr)