Month: May 2018

 

The Tree Cactus : Up Close Project

For this project, I chose to use two different plants to tie into one… the cactus and the tree.  The finished project,  ‘up close’ it looks to be a branch and when you zoom out you can see its a cactus.  Artist Reflect:  This was my 2nd to last  project.  Analyzing my work I have seen my progress, from the piece becoming smooth, to the layering and blending of the glazing. I have learned smoothing and glazing techniques.  For smoothing, I would not only use my hands but also the wooden tools provided to get into small curves and crevices.  For glazing, I learned how to layer the glazes properly so that they would blend well.  Artist Create:  As you may see in the picture, the “veins” of the tree are actually projecting off of the vessel itself.  I used a coil technique to bring the “branch” idea more alive.  Smoothing it was a challenge and took time but it definitely payed off.

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Matthew 7:8 Cylinder

This was my second slab project.  After running my slab through the slab roller, I used a fettling knife get the correct size and square shape needed for this project.  After the clay was wrapped correctly around the cardboard cylinder I used the serrated-edge scraper and smooth-edge scraper to make this piece very smooth so the sgraffito would been easily visible.   I used under-glaze instead of a regular low fire glaze so that I could sgraffito onto the vessel.  After the sgraffito was finished and it came out of the kiln the first time, I used a clear glaze to make this piece come out shiny, very appealing.

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Sea Bowl

This was my 3nd coil bowl.  I was having issues making the bowl round and smooth.  Instead of starting over I decided to work with the piece and give it a curvy “wave” lip.  I used two different shades of blue to give the bowl an ombre effect to show some of the different colors of the ocean.

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Fade Ring Bowl

This was my 2nd coil bowl.  You can actually see the “ridges” in the bowl where the coils were joined.  At first this is not how I wanted it to appear though it ended up having a nice texture and look.  I used two different greens for a fade effect.

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Lantern/Oil Burner

This is my final project, the second attempt (the first idea actually being the 2nd attempt.. being the successful project).  Originally I had wanted to carve an elephant into the cylinder, but had decided it would end up being a thicker carve which would pull lots of light and heat out.  Therefor, I decided to carve a thinner safari  animal -the giraffe.  Being excited and not thinking ahead I did not realize after carving out the giraffe around its tall legs, how thin the remaining clay would be in between the carvings.  One of the problems I ran into was making sure those areas would dry without cracking or falling off. Now, the other problem being the oil tray.  In the beginning I was very satisfied with my oil tray but decided to trim it when it was leather dry and I actually ended up poking through to the other side.  I proceed to make another one which the walls ended up being too thin but I decided to try it anyhow.  Hmmm.  All was fine UNTIL it was bone-dry and I decided to take it outback to take a lovely picture.  Only until after taking the picture did I realize one of the thin areas in between the carvings had popped off.  I came back inside disappointed with the results and set my piece down, that is when the oil tray decided to crumble…. yippe.  It was clear I needed to re-start.  For the second attempt, I went with the first idea, the elephant.  After all it is my favorite animal.  The results are seen above.  I am overall satisfied… though the elephant is a bit round, I think it shall be just fine with the amount of heat and light that will come out.

NOTE: NEVER TRUST THIN WALLS.

 

 

Matthew has been a studio artist for 14 years.  “What matters in the making is to keep a continuation and a sense of flow throughout daily changes” -says Matthew.