whats going on in class!

SO! now that i am on to phase two of containment, i need some time to sit down and throw 6 vases. two that are 10 inches, two that are 8 inches and two that are 6 inches. i need to throw them at the same time becuase they all need to be the same hardness. also, i will need to trim and cut them at the same time so that again they are all the same hardness and in order for them to match when i cut them they all need to be there.

Next topic is!!!!!!!!!!!!! trimming.
AHHHH i do not know how to trim! i end up ruining anything that i make when i trim it! yes things do look nicer when they are trimmed but i am sick of ruining things when i trim them! so my solution to this is to keep just making things to ruin them and trim them and maybe maybe when i get to ruining my hundred thousandth peice, i will learn how to trim. OR there is one other solution is the throw the bottom small and wood stick A LOT so that they are not so heavy.

Glaze!
yay i am glazing all of my vases that i have right now so hopefully it will be a good firing!

past, present and future!

in the beginning, there was a chunky formless heavy black thing sitting on my shelf. i was a begginer so i produced begginers work. i am am not mad or sad that i went through this phase becuase it was necesary for my learning process. i then learned how to take weight out of my pot and how to pull walls that were center and had form. i moved up to half and half clay which helped my glazing process. i am now at the point where i can pull a ten inch cylinder with ease add form and smooth it so the glaze will come out beautifully. i get compliments on my work which is appreciated considering the hours it took for me to get to this point. i now throw in b-mix which also shows i have progressed. and next i plan to be able to trim and throw more advanced. like with ten pounds of clay or plates and bottles. next for me is crystaline and surface technique. this class has rewarded me in so many ways and i thank lisa for giving me an outlet and a haven when i need it.

A fourth of the way done!

I am one fourth of the way done with my senior year! i am feeling very sluggish when it comes to producing pots but i think what i have made is quality here are some picutres of my 9 exploratory forms for the containment project! also another note is that i only keep pieces that i think contain the elements of a good pot i am no longer a hoarder of my horrible pots! :)

Working!- what is working is b-mix clay! it is amazingly smooth and my pots are very soft and light! also what is working is my form and my altering the tops!

NOT working!-TRIMMING. hmmm this has always been a struggle of mine and while i would agree it does make my vases look a whole lot prettier i cannot do it. i end up ruining something that could have been beautiful. it is very frustrating to ruin things so i NEED to learn to do this.

Guest Artist!- Lynda Ladwig

I enjoyed our visit from the guest artist Lynda Ladwig. She believes in simplicity in her work which is something i can really relate to. Her and i share the same belief that what ever the pot is containing should add the color and details. her work aside from being handbuilt is functional. i enjoyed learning her techiniques and also the little houses she brought to share with us :)

I really loved her foot ring technique becuase it seems like the pot is trimmed but it is square!