Simple Coil Cylinder

For this assignment, we learned the new technique of how to create a pot from coils, and then how to carve a design into it. For this design, I decided I wanted to highlight a very natural and Maine signature look on my piece. This is why I chose pine trees. Because Maine is a pine tree state! I also wanted to incorporate textures and different colors to show that some trees don't look the same as others, and felt I could accomplish that with two different color glazes.

To create this piece, I first started by rolling out a huge pile of coils. Then I rolled out a flat slab, and cut out the base I wanted, and began wrapping the coils around the base, every four coils attaching them and smoothing it all out. Once I finally got to the height I wanted, then I was able to let it dry. After it reached the leather hard stage, I covered it in a green underglaze, V-353, using three coats, and let that dry. Next, I carved out my tree designs, used a needle tool to add little holes in some of the trees, and scratched out anything I missed. Then it was bisque-fired. After it came out of the kiln, it awaited its glazing and final firing. After being glazed with a light green color, SM-44, it was glaze fired and photographed as a finished piece.

There was a lot of revision that went into this piece. I started out by using the wrong underglaze, and it did not turn out to be the color I wanted after it was fired. To solve this problem, I chose to carve out more than I had initially planned, but eventually didn't like my design and changed the textures and the type of carving I did. I also initially glazed the cylinder the wrong color again, after it had been bisque-fired, but ended up liking the green and keeping it. Overall I am not the most proud of this piece but like it better than when I initially started.