Showcase

The showcase went very well. I was able to sell a few things! There was a huge turnout of people and it was busy all the way to the end. It was nice to finally see everyones work together as a concentration.

Crunch Time

So, there is only 1 week left until the showcase and I have a ton of stuff to glaze. I am currently running out of ideas on how to glaze pieces and since 1 broke in the raku kiln I am one down. Hopefully everything will get done in time!

Here is a photo of the broken piece for your entertainment (due to a broken regulator value on the propane tank):

Three Weeks Left

Only three weeks left till portfolios are due! I have begun to glaze like crazy. I am going to do a horse hair firing next week as well as a few raku's. The time crunch is on to get everything done in time, but it is hopeful.




Here is a cool picture I found that resembles Carl's skull, but its raku fired:

A Break

Just got back! Over spring break, art and school were lost in the sun. I will probably end up having a lot of dried out items when I return. I ventured to California for spring break and did the typical college road trip. Nothing too exciting, but it was helpful to see what colleges are there in California.

Here is a photo from our Spring Break trip:

Here is something art related! (A glaze I want to try):

Pottery

So, we just got done with a critique and I have been starting to think about what I want to do for the rest of my glazing. On another note I have also begun making more "tall" pieces. They were always a challenge and rewarding to make and see finished. I will update as I make more progress:

(I think this ball is amazing haha)

Work

Today I worked for a few hours and ended up getting 3 projects done. Short blog. Yay!!

Reaching the end of concentration pieces!

We only have a few more pieces left for our concentration, yet I still feel like I have soo much to do! I am backed up on glazing and that takes time. I recently got the first of my four "large" pieces glazed and it looks fairly good, only a few flaws. We also got back the pit fired pieces. Something went wrong this time, we thing it might have been the sawdust, but my piece turned out ok!

I am working on starting two more projects for this month, so more to come.

Here is a picture of the pit fire towards the start:

 Here is a photo of the first of four tall pieces (as tall as our kiln can hold):

END OF SEMESTER!

So, the semester finally comes to a close! This second semester is going to be stressful until we finish and submit portfolios! I realized I have a lot of glazing to do, especially on the four large pots, and I still need to start the projects for this month. At this point I am getting tired of my concentration but will push through till the end. Pit fire is this weekend, hopefully it doesnt get ruined by the LO Fire department again...

Last Day of the Semester!!

Finally the first semester has ended. I feel that this first semester of AP I have accomplished a lot of work that I can use in my portfolio. I now need to start worrying about how to glaze my pieces, especially the large ones, and how the glaze will pull them all together to form a concentration.

This weekend is the pit firing! I hope it goes well and all of the pieces turn out good!

End of Semester

So the semester is coming to a close and not much is going on right now. Just finished a vase but its been moved to the kiln, thus I did not get a photo of it. Not sure if we even have to do a blog this week but if we do here it is!

Bloggggg

Been working on a circular vase, formed from a doughnut, foot, and vase top. Not much else happening right now except AMY IS LEAVING!!!

Have a quick birth Amy :)

(Fetus Blake Burnham)

January Work

I am starting to think about glazes this month and how I want to glaze my concentration. I am thinking of doing a tribal theme on all of my pots and keeping it simple with neutral colors and bare clay on most of the pots. I like this glaze job on this pot:

Break

Not much this week, just finished another tall vase.

1 Week Left

This week I did not really do too much throwing in the studio. I have the first half to another "tall" vase done but thats about it. I have been going through and photo editing some photos in photoshop as well.

Photo From Nicholai and myself giving posters to The Stafford:

Us posting one off of Lakeridge:

Same Old

Lately I have been throwing away. I made another "large" (as tall as the kiln can hold) vase and continued making tiny vases until I had 12.

So far things are backing up for glazing so that will have to come soon, as I have 5 projects waiting to be fired as well as a large plate.

Here is a photo of all three of the tall ones, besides the one that broke so far in the loft.

Still Debating Concentration

So I am going back and forth on my concentration. I know I want to do vases, but I feel it needs to be developed more. I am not sure If the coherence should be in the glaze job, or in the pots them self.

This week I made two different and completely different shaped "large" pots and four mini vases today. The mini ones I will probably develop and make around 20 of them.

Photos:

So I finally finished my tallest vase to date. It ended up being 32.5" tall, just tall enough so when it shrinks it will hardly fit inside the middle kiln. It turned out really great I think, and was fun to make. I attempted to make a second similar one of the same height yesterday, but the recycled clay gave me some issues, and although I finished it, I am not sure I 100% like the craftsmanship and form. I will see how it looks after trimming and see if it needs to be destroyed.

Here is a photo of the first one that I made: (sorry for the person in the photo)
Let me know what you think!

Photos (more)

 

 

Concentration and Photos (a lot)

So for my concentration I was thinking about doing Vase forms. I don't know if I am going to make any slight changes to it, but that is the general idea.

My 10 mugs, started with 12 and broke 2, should be coming out tomorrow morning and Ill get those ready for the wood firing. I also have 1 vase that is going to be pit fired, and I have slapped some random stuff on that and wrapped it up!

After School today I started a vase form, that might go into my concentration or not. I am working on that same idea of stacking sections to a pot to create a large form. This is my largest one yet, and I am planning on adding another two or three sections to it tomorrow, although I may have to work within the size limit of the kiln. So far it is coming along perfect, I just have to hope the recycled clay holds out :)

Below are photos of the vase so far, and photos from the trip to Japan when I visited the Anagama:

Wood Firing

In preparation for the upcoming wood firing, I am beginning to prepare many mugs, as well as a vase for pit firing there as well. After visiting Japan, China, and South Korea over the summer and getting to visit a Japanese Anagama kiln I am more excited than ever to get to take part in the wood firing. Over the summer I got to visit and see a Japanese Pottery master producing Karatsu ware, in a famous pottery village, this inspired me to create  some pots, and play around with the ware that can come from participating in a wood firing.

**Later on I will upload photos from the kiln, and studio.**