Ceramics 1

"Baseline"

Clay & Gaze, 2022 

My idea was to make some sort of holder, I wasn’t sure what kind of holder I wanted when I originally started making it, but eventually, I figured it out. I really just needed something to hold jewelry and whatever other small miscellaneous things I found around my room, so I eventually came up with a double-layered holder. The bottom layer has an edge around it, so nothing could fall off/out, while the top layer was just flat with no edge. I started by making each layer separately, starting with making the bottom. I used a circular object and sorta just traced it, then I made the outer edge with a sort of stringy piece of clay, attaching it to the edge of the circle. Then, with the top layer, I found a smaller circular object and traced that. Then I made the middle piece, which was pretty much just a cylinder piece of clay. I attached that to the bottom layer, then attached the top layer. After I smoothed everything out, I was finished. I think the most difficult part of this project was getting all the pieces to stay together. I had to remake the middle piece a couple of times to make sure it wasn’t too small or too big. I also had to remake the top layer a couple of times, so that it wasn’t too heavy, otherwise, it would keep falling off. I think the style is a combination of realistic and abstract, but more realistic, as it was sort of an abstract project but turned out to be something realistic. I think what makes it the most unique to my own personal style is that it’s not completely perfect, it’s a little rough around the edges and doesn’t have super equal proportions. I think I love that it just really represents me as an artist in a way; not the best, but not the worst; not always perfect, but has some perfect qualities to it.

"Chip and Dip"

Clay & Gaze, 2022 

I didn’t really have a specific idea for this, as it was an assigned project that I had to do. The process that I used for this was pretty much just rolling out the cay, putting the design on, and shaping it around a styrofoam circle. There isn’t really anything symbolic about this artwork. The most difficult part was definitely getting the shape right without creating any bumps or holes. I ended up redoing it a couple of times until it looked right. If I could change anything, I’d definitely change how I did the edges and the relative shape of the bowls, as they’re quite short and can’t really hold that much, I’d make it so they were taller and could be used for more things. I think this artwork is realistic, as it can be used in day-to-day life. I think was makes it unique to my own personal style is the pattern and color. I’m not sure about what I really love, but I do like the overall outcome of the bowls. 

"Pitcher"

Clay & Gaze, 2022 

I didn’t really have a specific idea for this, as it was an assigned project that I had to do. The process that I used for this was pretty much just rolling out the cay, putting the design on, cutting the shape of the pitcher out, putting it together, and creating a bottom/handle/and spout. There isn’t really anything symbolic about this artwork. The most difficult part was definitely attaching the bottom to it and making the handle so it’s actually strong enough to be held. I ended up redoing it a couple of times until it looked/felt right. If I could change anything, I’d definitely change how I did the handle, I just think that I could’ve added more to it and made it a little more unique. I think this artwork is realistic, as it can be used in day-to-day life. I think was makes it unique to my own personal style is the pattern, color, and pearl I added. I think I just love the pearl the most, I think it just adds a little more uniqueness to the pitcher.

"Utilitarian"

Clay & Gaze, 2022 

The idea that I had for this piece was pretty much just from my dad telling me that his girlfriend needed a new pitcher to water her plants, so I just decided that I would make one for her. I started by just rolling out the cay, putting the design on, cutting the shape of the pitcher out, putting it together, and creating a bottom/handle/and spout. I think the most difficult part was definitely attaching the bottom, as this pitcher was quite big and the clay was a little too soft and I didn’t want it folding in on itself or breaking at all. If I could change anything, I think I’d just make it a little smaller and not use as soft of clay. I think this artwork is realistic, as it can be used in day-to-day life. I think what makes it unique to my own personal style is the pattern and color. I think I just love the overall piece in general, rather than one specific thing.