Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Our next project will be a coil project based on the pottery of Maria Martinez and her son. Maria was a native american potter living in New Mexico and making coil pots for a living. Though she is no longer living, her pottery is world-renowned now, and we can learn a lot from her talent!

*Please watch this video if you will not be in class the first week back in January, as we will be watching it when we get back:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S95t9Z9ev44

Monday, December 12, 2011

LUMINARY MID-POINT SELF-ASSESSMENT

Please answer the following questions in your journals and pass them in by Friday, Dec. 16th

1. What steps have you completed for your luminary project so far?

2. How is your project turning out compared to your sketches? Has anything changed, and how are you dealing with these changes?

3. Which underglazes/overglazes are you thinking about using on your project? What interesting glazing or painting techniques do you plan to try on this project?

Monday, November 28, 2011

Luminary Project Sketches

In preparation for your Luminary Project, you will be doing sketches in your notebook or on the blank page provided in your assignment packet. Please be sure to include all of the following aspects in your sketches in order to receive full credit for the assignment!

1. Write 2-3 sentences describing your dream. Include why you have chosen to represent this dream, and how you will show the viewer what your dream is.

2. Draw your luminary box and color it in! Include details like where you will cut out shapes.

3. Draw each side that you will need to cut out and write the measurements of each. This will make it easier to create a paper template in class.

This assignment is due Friday December 1st, or early for extra credit!

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

CLASS DISCUSSION: COMPLETED PROJECT
HOMEWORK DUE FRIDAY NOV. 4th

Please answer the following questions (neatly handwritten or typed) in preparation for our group discussion in class on Friday. Be prepared to show your project to the class and give a brief description of your process.

1. Describe the project you have chosen to show to the group: what assignment it was, what forming techniques you used (ex. slabs, slipping and scoring, wheel) what glazes you used etc.

2. What was the most difficult part of making your project? How did you fix this problem?

3. What ceramics techniques did you learn while making this project that you think you will use again?


Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Cup and Saucer Assignment Due Friday, October 14th

Your next project in class will be to create a cup and saucer based on a word of your choosing. This word will help you determine the colors, shapes and overall mood of your project. See the examples to the right of past students' projects!

*Your homework assignment is to choose three words that you might want to use for your cup and saucer project. *

Choose from the list below, or choose your own! Write down your three words in your sketchbook, leaving space for your sketches.

In class, we will draw out ideas for how each word could be turned into a sculpture that you might be able to use for your pinch pot project.

(If you want to start your sketches at home, you will get extra credit!!)

Remember that there is a cup and a saucer--how could you relate the two together? Think about whether you want your cup and saucer to be functional or sculptural.

acidic wiggly aggressive joyous silent tinystormy tired fluffy curly loud lovely slimyunruly precious dazzling elegant cloudy deliciousmysterious grumpy lucky puzzling enchantedancient valuable heavenly graceful dreary alivecrooked lacy rotten strange spiky poisedovergrown sleepy friendly

Monday, September 26, 2011

Since we are currently working towards making projects on the wheel, I would like each of you to find
an image of a bowl or mug
online, in a book or magazine and bring it in to class by Friday Sept. 30th
(if you bring it in early you will get extra credit!)
Choose a picture that inspires you and gives you ideas in terms of surface design or decoration

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Tremendous Texture Tiles!

For this project, you will create tiles with an image drawn, carved, pressed and/or painted onto the surface. You will need to bring in at least 3 items to press into the clay to create textures (think leaves, sticks, lace, buttons, old jewelry, etc.) Your central image will be a narrative (based on a story, true or fictional). Choose from literature, or create your own story (but you have to write it down!) You have two options for what type of tiles to create:

Single Tile: One tile, approximately 6”x6”, square or irregular outside shape.

Must include: at least 3 textures, at least one area of 3D sculpting, even background tile thickness

Multiple Tiles: Three or Four tiles, connected through a central image. Each tile is approximately 4”x4”.

Must include: at least 3 textures, at least one area of 3D sculpting , even background tile thickness

Your projects will be graded on the following:

Craftsmanship: Neatness, careful control drying (no warped tiles), glazing

Creativity: Well-planned ideas based on a story, careful application of textures

Community: How you relate to your peers, cleanup habits, attendance