Ceramics 1
Rachel Spicer "Baseline Project"
6" x 6" x 3" , Earthenware, Glass, 2022
The idea of this piece was just to create something new and to know where I was starting. I really wanted to start with something clean and easily changeable in case something went horribly wrong with it. There wasn't too much thought behind it, other than the fact that I wanted it to be a usable and unique piece. To start off making this piece, I rolled out a slab of clay and then draped it over a plastic bowl, which gave it it's end shape. I then pressed in a softer pattern on the outside of it and smoothed it before letting it be fired and then glazed. When people look at this, I want them to think about how you don't have to be perfect to be functional, beautiful, and have meaning. I struggled making this, and there are bits where it is a little bit wonky and crooked. The rim isn't even, and the glaze is patchy. Even with those traits, it still holds meaning to me as my first ever true ceramics piece, and it will work perfectly fine as a cereal bowl or candy bowl, and it is beautiful in it own and unique way. I want people to look at this and realize it holds a special place to someone, and that everything means something to someone. A number of things went wrong with this project, but I learned from each one of them. The bowl got stuck on the plastic while it was being made, and it took me many tries to figure out how to press in the pattern without messing up the shape. All in all, I think this realistic bowl turned out quite well and is very unique.
Rachel Spicer "Le' petĂt bol"
3" x 3" x 2", Earthenware, Glass, 2022
The idea for this bowl came from wanting a tiny dip bowl. I always thought having a tiny, personal-sized bowl for a dipping sauce, and having something of your own. Making this didn't take too much work, only consisting of rolling out a small slab of clay, rolling a pattern onto it and then slumping it over a foam ring. I later smoothed out the edges and then added a foot once it had dried a little bit. There really isn't much symbolism with this piece, being that it was a piece used for learning and that it is a bowl. I did struggle slightly with making it, mainly with adding the foot. The foot had to be so small and trying to attach it was quite difficult mainly because there wasn't much surface area to attach it to. I'd say this piece is also fairly realistic, being as useful as possible and it certainly has a touch of my style, being mainy blues and greens as my primary color choices.
Rachel Spicer "Slump Drape Plate and Vase"
Varying Sizes, Earthenware, Glass, 2022
My idea for these pieces was to make two functional pieces that went together well and could be used as both a decorative item or as a functional item. To start, both of these pieces started out as a slab that had a pattern pressed into it. Then, for the plate, I draped it over a foam ring and later cut it out into the correct shape. With the vase, I trimmed it in the shape needed and then folded it in half, connecting the two shapes together and then attaching a bottom by scoring both pieces and using slip. I then smoothed out all of the seams as much as I could without ruining the pattern and let it rest to dry. I then put on the glaze as heavily as I could with the plate because I wanted to try and eliminate the texture on the bottom of the plate so it could be cleaned easily if needed. The symbolism with these two pieces is that two unlikely things can go together quite well, even if not expected. Most wouldn't expect a vase and plate to be made as a pair, but these two works, even though they possess different patterns, go together quite well. The biggest thing that I struggled with this was trying to smooth out the seams on the inside of the vase, mainly because I couldn't fit my hand inside without breaking it. I learned from this that I need to smooth them out as I go instead of waiting to di it at the very end. These pieces are very simplistic, given that they have no color and are very clean with no extra handle or foot. They are about as basic as can be, and I kind of love that they are basic because then it will up to the owner of these to decide what they choose to do with them.
Rachel Spicer "Utilitarian Work"
4" x 4" x 6", Earthenware, Glass, 2022
Originally, this work was going to be a mug. I quickly overestimated my measurements and so it turned into a vase like container and it would work well as a cup for pencils or a case for small flowers. This work also didn't take too much technique. I started it as a slab and then used a wooden knife to cut it to the shape and size I wanted before cutting out a bottom and attatching that using slip. I then glazed it with two different glazes, and I love the way they turned out. My intention was to make the glaze look like the ocean, having varying depths and shades of blue, as well as unique textures, and it turned out just as I had hoped. The idea is for veiwers to take the time to look at it and notice all of the little secrets and imperfections it holds, and that there is much more to it than a first glance may show. The hardest part about this piece was trying to get the rim on it even, as I didn't use a template when I cut it out, and it lead to a lot of smoothing out weird angles and bits. This is a very minimalist piece that really shines with the glaze. Not much is there in the shape, given that it is a simple cylinder, but the blue-green glazes I tend to use really highlights it and gives it the unique traits it needed.
Rachel Spicer "Expressive Work"
Varying Sizes, Earthenware, Glass, 2022
I started this piece with the idea that it would be a decorative plate fo sorts. I quickly started out by making the base itself first, so it would have time enough to dry and be able to be pulled out of its mold without losing its shape. I then moved onto carving out the birds and doing the flower before glazing everything in the end. This whole piece shows unity because while it typically wouldn't fit together, it does and shows what some may interpret at a bird bath or a bird nest. Learning to carve out the birds was probably the most difficult part, but I learned quickly and it all ended up well. This is a impressionistic piece.
Rachel Spicer "Wheel Series"
6" x 5" x 4", Earthenware, Glass, 2022
These are the pieces that I did while working on the pottery wheel. I went into working on the wheel with very low expectations, not hoping for much to come from it. Everything went much better than I thought and I ended up with four wonderful pieces that I am very proud of. Unfortunately, the fourth piece, the mug with the blue drips was made because I had to remake a piece that broke, so it was more rushed than the other pieces. All in all, these pieces represent perseverance and practice, because, without either of these things, these pieces would not exist. I struggled the most when trying to center these pieces on the wheel, especially when the clay was not as wet as it should have been, but I learned quickly and improved from there. I also made sure to watch plenty of videos on how the process itself worked. These pieces are all utilitarian, being able to be used as a mug or candy bowl.
Rachel Spicer "Bunnies"
1" x 1" x 1", Earthenware, Glass, 2022
These were made as a sort of gift for my mother. I had to use a slip mold to create them, and I then spent quite a while smoothing out their seams before glazing them. The glaze ran a bit more than I would have liked it to, and the pale pink glaze I applied didn't show up, but I believe that still look professional. The piece itself shows how even though they are the same molds, they all ended up differently and have their own unique personality, and represent how even though you may be brought up in the same environment, you can still make your own way in it. I struggled a little bit with getting the slip the correct consistency when I was making these, but in the end, they turned out perfect. These are mostly realistic pieces. While they have the correct shape of a rabbit, the markings themselves aren't completely accurate.
Rachel Spicer "Slip Castings"
Varied Sizes, Earthenware, Glass, 2023
Rachel Spicer "Floral Life"
57 Secconds, Oil-based Clay, Wire, Paper, 2022
The premise of this video is watching someone plant a flower and then following it through the stages as it slowly begins to grow and gain life. The whole process took about a whole week, between crafting the clay and taking the photos. I was a little bit ambitious with this piece, but in the end, I managed to get it all done and I am super happy with the end product.
Stop Motion R.Spicer