Ceramics 1-Progressing Nicely--Coil and Slab

These are the "coil method" projects(two-fold).  One was to have the coil shape as part of the design, which is below(the bread basket).  The other was supposed to demonstrate the joining of the coils, with the coil shape not as obvious(ship/bowls).  These coil viking ships have been fired and  glazed, since this photo, - but not  fired a second time, to my knowledge

  I drew a sketch of what I wanted to do prior to commencing the project.  The little pot did not resemble the sketch enough so I started again.  I went back and completed the first attempt. This  second completed project was not for a grade.

 This picture shows the pots prior to their first firing. (Leather hard, approaching greenware)  The pot on the left is for the assigment.  There is a sail motif on the other side of the ship/pot.

This, above, was trashed.

To be sure that drying is slow, we add plastic to thinner areas, to keep in moisture.

I painted this with slip, to many of the areas where the sections join together.

This is my bread basket.  This is also prior to the first firing. (greenware stage)  When this was created, the top of a kettle was uses as a form.  My first attempt was trashed as I forgot to line the inverted lid with plastic, to facilitate removal of the piece!

 All three pieces survived and progressed to being bisque ware.  I offered my retired father the chance to choose the color of the basket.  Glaze was applied prior to Thanksgiving vacation.  It should be reddish orange when I check it out tomorrow--Unless, of course, there was no firing.

Our next project is also two fold.  We are using the slab method.  One is soft slab, which I do not have a picture of.  I draped a soft slab over 3 spheres, a tennis ball, a super ball and another middlesize ball.  After it firmed up I attached tiny ball and worm shape figures on it. It resembles an enlarged bacteria.  I am excited to see how it will come out.  I will have fun picking out colors.  Above is the hard slab method.  It is an impression of the front of my hous.  It is not an exact replica, but it is close.  

Update on Ceramics- Pinch Pots!

On Friday at four pm the little ceramic projects came out of the kiln, at Finger lakes Community College.  I am an adult learner art student, embarking on an adventure in ceramics, in case you are new to my blog.

I was interested to learn that the kiln has to run at a very high temp--1600F or so for 24 hrs to change the chemical composition of the pots so that they are no longer "greenware".  I am unsure of the exact temperature, but fortunately the temperature can be monitored and the professor can control it via a computer.   There are different types of ceramic ware. There is earthenware, stoneware and porcelain, and all require a different temperature for firing.  We are working with stone ware.  My pine pot and the little bears came out of their second firing, post glazing.  I have yet to see how they came out.  But here is the prior to the second firing photo.  Tomorrow, on Sunday, I am going to go in to work on my coil projects and I intend to check on the pinch pots.


Pinch projects prior to glaze application: "bisque ware"

I applied a coat of blackish copper oxide on this also to darken it.

These are the glazes.

Update on pinch pots one year later!

Ceramics 1

Now, I shall exhibit my Ceramics projects.

Pinch pots......
We have learned how to wedge clay--or as I call- smashing out all the bubbles!

The requirement for our first assignment was a pinch pot at least 6 inches in one direction.  I have a little bear pot and a large vase or wine cooler.

They have improved- but I did not take photos.  the cooler is not quite as peanutty looking!  The bears have more detail and a little tray under them.  I am planning to use the bear pot to put a small plant in, maybe babies tears!  I put in a drainage hole.  I should check them in the morning to be sure that they are not drying too fast.  I have a fear of being the student who did not expel all the bubbles out of the clay.  Do you know what happens??!  The piece explodes and breaks other peoples pots in the kiln during firing. :-(

The wine pot is inspired by my white pine in my back yard.  I even took "inspirational" photos.  The photos guided me in the pine needle inscribing.

The next piece will be coil.  I am excited because I have a great idea....viking ship..I shall share....

These are the evolutionary sketches as my idea comes together!