Final Reflection

The project that I'm most proud of from this class is my set of two pinch pots with lids from the pinch technique unit. I am most proud of these because I think they really reflect my taste as an artist. They were incredibly fun to make but they also feel useful to me. I love the way that they look. This was our first real project for this class in terms of creating a large 3D form and while it was harder than I thought I was very careful while creating these, especially when I was carving them which is what I'm most proud of them for. I think the contrast of the white clay, against the black underglaze, with the clear, shiny glaze over the top is pretty unique and I wish I had done most of my other projects in a similar manner. I took my time making these mugs, and although they have their quirks and imperfections, I can be proud of a set that also shows me where I started, and how I improved over the semester.

Ceramics was a lot harder than I initially thought it would be. There are many things to think about which I hadn't even taken into account before. Before you even start creating your piece you have to think of exactly how you want it to be when you're done. How thick do you want it to be, do you want to carve it,  or underglaze it? Will it have handles, feet, and a lid? How am I going to create it, pinch, slab, or coil? So much planning goes into each individual thing, and timing, something that I struggle with, is of the essence. Not only is the planning and thinking ahead something you have to adjust to, but the learning curve from always creating something 2D using many different tools, to creating something out of a blob that gets plopped down in front of you was quite challenging to overcome, not just creatively but also physically because so much technique is involved. After taking this class I now appreciate 3D art much more and actually have a better concept of what it is, what goes into it, and how the process really affects someone's final product. 

I honestly have no recommendations for improvements to this class other than I wish it lasted the whole year rather than just one semester. There was the perfect amount of guidance so that everyone knew what they were doing and how to do it, but everyone had the freedom of creativity and the deadlines were flexible which pushed everyone to take their time and make their projects the best they could be.