Embedded Files
Pitcher
Pitcher
Media: Stoneware & Glaze
Size: 9.5 x 5 x 9.5"
Year: 2023
My idea was to make a pitcher that could hold a liquid or be a decoration. I didn't look at any pictures that inspired me to make my pitcher look a certain way, I just started making it and went step by step. The first step I took to make my pitcher was to wedge a ball of clay and make it into a flat, smooth slab. Next, I cut an outline of the size pitcher I wanted with a paper cut out, rolled a flower design onto one slab, and left the other with no design. I then started to build the walls of my pitcher by shaping and curving the two sides together. Once I got the base of my pitcher together, I took some slip and sealed the edges together to give the walls a smooth look. After that, I took a damp sponge and started pulling up from the inside of the pitcher up. I also took the sponge around the outside lip of the pitcher to smooth and even it out. The last thing I did to make my pitcher was make a small pouring spout allowing liquid to drain out smoothly. I also took a small coil with some slip to wrap around the bottom of the pitcher to act as a foot. This piece of artwork shows how we can use what we make for different things. I want my audience to think about all of the art that surrounds them and how they use it in their daily lives. The most difficult part of creating this pitcher was making the pouring spout. I struggled with bending the clay to make a little spout without tearing or cracking the clay. I overcame my struggles by taking my time and being open to changing my original plan. If I had to start over I would have put a design on the whole pitcher instead of just one half. I think adding a design to the whole thing would give it more of a textured look all over. This piece of artwork is unique in my own way because no one thinks the same way. My definition of a pitcher and how it should look is different from everyone else's. No one creates artwork the same which makes everyone's artwork unique in their own way. I love the color of my pitcher and how the design starts at the top and then slowly transitions to a smooth base.
Octopus Cup
Octopus Cup
Media: Stoneware & Glaze
Size: 4.5 x 3 x 4.5"
Year: 2023
My idea was to make a cup with an octopus tentacle that wraps around the cup. I looked up different decorative pieces of clay artwork and came across a cup with an octopus tentacle. I thought the cup was very unique and wanted to try making one! The first step I took to make my cup was to wedge a ball of clay and make it into a flat, smooth slab. Next, I took the slab and cut off the edges to make a nice rectangular shape. I then started to build the cup by shaping and curving the slab together from one end to the other. After that, I took some slip to seal together the two ends so that the cup was enclosed. Then, I took a damp sponge around the outside lip and the outside wall of the cup to smooth and even it out. After this, I took a small coil of clay with some slip to wrap around the bottom of the cup to act as a foot. After all of this, I started working on the octopus tentacle that would wrap around the cup. I first started by rolling a long skinny rope of clay out and then loosely placing it on the cup to see how long I needed to make it. After I had the right length, I took some slip, rubbed it on the long piece of clay, and then started from one end to the next making sure to curve it some to look like an octopus tentacle. Then, I rolled out round, little circles of clay to place on the tentacle to look like the suction cups you find on the tentacles of octopuses. To be sure the little circles of clay stayed on the tentacle, I rubbed some slip on a little section of the tentacle and then placed the circles in different areas. This piece of artwork shows how we can express our own meaning of art and inspire others with our ideas. The most difficult part of creating this cup was placing the little circles on the tentacle. It was hard to place them in different areas so that they didn't end up lined up in a row. I struggled with not getting the glaze color I was painting the cup with on the octopus tentacle. I overcame my struggles by taking my time and realizing that it is okay to get a little glaze on the octopus tentacle. If I had to start over I would have made my cup a little bit shorter and not as long. Artwork is so unique and different because everyone thinks in different ways when creating something.
Mini Bowl
Mini Bowl
Media: Stoneware & Glaze
Size: 1.5 x 3.5 x 1.5"
Year: 2023
My idea was to make a little dish that I could pot a plant in but it ended up being a bowl I could use to put jewelry or other little objects in. I did not look at any pictures that inspired me to make this piece of artwork. The first step I took to make this bowl was to wedge a ball of clay and then throw it on the wheel. I started by making sure the clay was wet enough and then used the palms of my hands to cone the clay up and down 5 times. Next, I used the surface of my thumbs to make a little opening to start creating the bowl. As I was pushing down to open up the clay I also pushed my thumbs against the walls of the bowl to open it up even more. After I made my little bowl, I took a damp sponge and skimmed it across the inside and outside of the bowl to make everything smooth and even. I also took the sponge around the ring of the bowl to smooth out any bumps. The last thing I did was take a string and pull if through the bottom of clay to release it from the wheel. I then set my bowl on the table to dry for a few days before firing it. This piece of artwork shows that art can be all different shapes and sizes. A piece of artwork does not have to be large to be classified as artwork. I want my audience to look at this piece of artwork and see that the artwork does not need to look like it was complicated to make. Any artwork is beautiful in its own unique way! The most difficult part of creating this bowl was trying to make it deeper. Originally I wanted to make a flower pot but I was struggling to get the bowl to be deeper, so I ended up leaving it the way it was. I overcame my struggles by just being okay with the way my piece of artwork looked and turned out. If I could start over I would have thrown a bigger piece of clay on the wheel so I had more to work with and get the depth I wanted. This piece of artwork is unique to my own personal style because my way of creating artwork is different from others! I love the size of the bowl because it is perfect for putting little object in!
Frog
Frog
Media: Stoneware & Glaze
Size: 5.75 x 4 x 5.75"
Year: 2023
My idea was to make a mold that I could decorate. I did not look at any pictures that inspired me to make this artwork. The first step I took to make the frog mold was mixing water and clay to make a liquid slip, making sure there were no clumps. Next, I poured the slip into the frog mold and then tapped the mold to make sure there were no air bubbles trapped inside. Then, I let the mold dry for a few days before I took it out and trimmed it up. I took a sharp utensil to scrape off the clay line around the frog before I took a damp sponge to smooth it all out. After I trimmed and smoothed out the frog I set it in the back room to be fired. Once the frog was fired I took a small piece of sandpaper and smoothed out any sharp or rough spots also making sure the bottom of the frog was smooth so it wouldn't scratch any surfaces. The last thing I did was wash off the frog and glaze it a dark green color. This artwork shows that even a simple mold can be a beautiful piece of artwork. I want my audience to know that artwork does not have to be complicated to be considered art. The most difficult part of creating this mold was when I was trimming it. It was hard to not take off more clay than just the line that went across the frog. I overcame my struggles by focusing on taking a little off at a time because if I needed to I could always take off more. I would take some of the clay line off and then take a damp sponge and go over it. I kept doing this until I could not see the line anymore. I would not change anything if I could start over. I am really happy with how the mold turned out and it is one of my favorite pieces I have made. This piece of artwork is unique to my style because not everyone would pick the same glaze color and some people may even do a different color for the eyes, legs, stomach, or other parts of the frog. I chose to glaze the frog all dark green and not add a different color. I love the glaze color that I choose because it is not too light or not too dark and it matches well with the color that real frogs are. I also like that there is an accent color of gold in it to pop out against the dark green.
Bowl
Bowl
Media: Stoneware & Glaze
Size: 2 x 5.75 x 2"
Year: 2023
My idea was to make a bowl a cereal bowl. I did not look at any pictures that inspired me besides looking at different bowl sizes and what size I wanted to go with. The first step I took to make this bowl was to wedge a ball of clay and then throw it on the wheel. I started by making sure the clay was wet enough and then used the palms of my hands to cone the clay up and down 5 times. Next, I used the surface of my thumbs to make a little opening to start creating the bowl. As I was pushing down to open up the clay I also pushed my thumbs against the walls of the bowl to open it up even more. After I made my bowl, I took a damp sponge and skimmed it across the inside and outside of the bowl to make everything smooth and even. I also took the sponge around the ring of the bowl to smooth out any bumps. The last thing I did was take a string and pull it through the bottom of the clay to release it from the wheel. I then set my bowl on the table to dry for a few days before firing it. This artwork shows that even something as simple as a bowl is unique. I want my audience to know that no matter the size or difficulty, all artwork is unique. The most difficult part of creating this mold was trying to make the bowl deeper. I overcame my struggles by just focusing on slowly pitching and pulling the sides of the bowl making sure the edges didn't get too thin. If I could start over I would have made the bowl deeper and not as wide. The piece of artwork is unique to my style because if everyone made a bowl not one person's would look the same as someone else's, and that's what makes artwork so unique. I love how there is a little swirl in the bottom of the bowl because it adds detail to it.
Pot
Pot
Media: Stoneware & Glaze
Size: 3.5 x 7.75 x 3.5"
Year: 2023
My idea was to make a pot that I could plant a flower in. I did not look at any pictures that inspired me to make this artwork. The first step I took to make the mold was mixing water and clay to make a liquid slip, making sure there were no clumps. Next, I poured the slip into the mold and then tapped the mold to make sure there were no air bubbles trapped inside. Then, I let the mold dry for a few days before I took it out and trimmed it up. After I trimmed and smoothed out the pot I set it in the back room to be fired. Once the pot was fired I took a small piece of sandpaper and smoothed out any sharp or rough spots also making sure the bottom of the pot was smooth so it wouldn't scratch any surfaces. The last thing I did was wash off the pot and glaze it a dark blue color. This artwork shows that we can use what we create. I want my audience to look at his bowl and think about what emotion it brings or shows. The most difficult part of creating this pot was sanding it. It was hard to sand down all the bumps and raised parts on the pot. I overcame my struggles by trying my best to get the bumps all smoothed out but also being okay with some because it shows how no piece of artwork is perfect. If I could start over I would have made sure to trim down any bumps and smooth out any lines before firing it to make the sanding process easier. This piece of artwork is unique to my style because I was the person to decide how the pot would be created. I love the shape and color of the pot.
Midnight Bowl
Midnight Bowl
Media: Stoneware & Glaze
Size: 1.75 x 6.25 x 1.75"
Year: 2023
My idea was to make a bowl that could hold my jewelry. I did not look at any pictures that inspired me. The first step I took to make this bowl was to wedge a ball of clay and then throw it on the wheel. I started by making sure the clay was wet enough and then used the palms of my hands to cone the clay up and down 5 times. Next, I used the surface of my thumbs to make a little opening to start creating the bowl. As I was pushing down to open up the clay I also pushed my thumbs against the walls of the bowl to open it up even more. After I made my bowl, I took a damp sponge and skimmed it across the inside and outside of the bowl to make everything smooth and even. I also took the sponge around the ring of the bowl to smooth out any bumps. The last thing I did was take a string and pull it through the bottom of the clay to release it from the wheel. I then set my bowl on the table to dry for a few days before firing it. This bowl shows how simple but unique artwork can be. I want my audience to think about how artwork can be simple but still have a meaning behind it. The most difficult part of creating this bowl was trying to even out the top lip of the bowl. I used a scapula tool to help trim the lip of the bowl so it was even all around, but there were times when I would take a little too much off and the lip would become uneven again. I overcame my struggles by focusing on taking a little bit of clay off at a time because I could always go back and take off more. If I had to start over I would have made the bowl more narrow. This piece of artwork is unique to my style because this was how I imagined a bowl to be and not one other person would have made the same bowl. I like how smooth and shiny the bowl looks after it was fired.
Bear Movie.mp4"Berry Baking"
"Berry Baking"
By Avery Tapke & Alaina White
By Avery Tapke & Alaina White
Stop Motion, Modeling Clay & iMovie, 2023
Page updated
Report abuse