I make my live difficult because I can

Over the last two weeks I've been working myself to death...I had the "skeleton" of the piece finished by Thursday and I spent the weekend working on the finishing touches. Critiques are Wednesday, I hope the profs like what I've done. 

He's made of mostly coils except for the arms, the base and a few other odds and ends, where slabs were more appropriate. I have a strong idea of how I'm going to glaze it but some details are yet to be worked out. It needs to slow dry for a couple of weeks before it can be put into a bisque kiln.  

Where is the time going?

A lot has happened in the last couple of weeks, some of the more important things are, I finished the construction of my large sculpture. I know I said that I was going to make to, but my other classes took up a lot more time than I anticipated. I'm not completely sure how I am going to glaze it, but the class is talking about doing a Soda firing in the next few weeks... that could be kind of interesting. 

Bruce gave the class a demo on how to throw a large platter, we start that project after the break. And the third years are doing a wood firing, I managed to get one of those cups I made as test tiles into the firing, Its right in the sweet spot. I'm so excited to see the results of slip under the Shino Glaze I put on. Soon I'll start decorating all those pots that I've been making, thank the gods too, I'm tired of them taking up all my shelf space. 

What does it mean

Linda assigned us 5 sculptures to make. I started making them and really enjoyed working with the slabs..I made 9, just because I could. 

A flat slab base is rolled and cut to size, I take hard slabs and attach the two together. I then take soft slabs that are then laid over, I start to blend the edges and manipulate the clay. I started working with the contrast of line and light/shadow as my main concerns. 

The next step is to take one of these 12'' ones and turn it into a 24'' one...by wednesday, I'm going to try making 2, just because I can. 

Cups, Jugs, slips, Jars, and some sculptures

Marc Egan was giving us a lesson on slip decorating techniques...everything under the sun. Marc is an expert using the cuerda Seca decoration technique. Heres some of his work. 

http://64.34.111.241/~davidk/wordpress/?page_id=19

I've also spent the last week killing myself trying to get projects done my classes, the mugs are test tiles for slip techniques, the sculptures are ida builders and the jars/jugs will be used for maiolica samples. 

Texture, Texture, more Texture...oh look a wall

We hit the ground running these last two weeks. For our three ceramic related classes there are a number of assignments due each week, so the entire class has been staying late and coming in on the weekends to get the stuff done.

These are some test tiles for Mark Egan's studio technology class. I found that the more you cut, tear, re assemble, throw, paddle, squish, press, and roll.... the more interesting textures you can make.

We've been making simple forms for Lindsey 's class The plan is to make three of each plus some of those tall pitchers I posted earlier. They'll all be decorated using maiolica.... I think I may also incorporate some coer de decal.  

Getting that form just right

Today the studio began a group commission, we need to make 150 mugs, some of us had some time so  we started, we're up to about 40 so far and its looking pretty good. This is the first shape is a basic trumpet form thrown to a gage with 1 1/4lb of clay, I threw 15 and then helped put the handles on. Its interesting throwing someone else's cup design, there's a lot more pressure to get that form just right...I think I could grow to like this kind of production.  

                        

Hugh had a rubber stamp made, we can press it into the clay or if we want we can use it with underglaze. I think this commission will lead to many for our department.

The Moment of Creative Inspiration

I took the weekend to sit down and catch up on those things that we all tend to forget about. My Biography, Curriculum vitae and Grant writing. While I was searching for my originals I came across this quote that was given to my ceramics class at Beal Art. This always get my gears turning.

      "Nothing is original. Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination. Devour old films, new films, music, books, paintings, photographs, poems, dreams, random conversations, architecture, bridges, street signs, trees, clouds, bodies of water, light and shadows. Select only to steal from that speak directly to your soul. If you do this, your work (and theft) will be authentic. Authenticity is invaluable; originality is non-existent. And don't bother concealing your thievery--celebrate it if you feel like it. In any case, always remember what Jean-Luc Godard said: "Its not where you take things from-- its where you take them to."      -Jim Jarmusch

This is a jug that I dreamt about then when I made the original, one of my professors asked where the spout was, my quick reply was "jugs don't need spouts" and I quickly pointed to one of his whisky jugs that didn't have one....he came back an hour later and told me that I was going to put a spout on it, and he showed me how to make one like this. Cut out a circle clean it up and cut a "U" shape on the main body, attach and let dry.