Final Exam
Question 2)
I have a couple pieces that i’m not proud of the the one that I don’t like is the figurative piece. I wasn’t feeling confident in the idea I picked to do. Once I started it and messed up I thought that I was too far in to start again or pick another object to do. If I was to redo this project I would spend more time on it. Like I said, once I messed up I started getting lazy with it and sort of rushed through it so I could work on the next project. I was really behind on other things so I tried to just get this project done and out of my way. Also i would make sure to clear out the inside of the piece first and not make it solid. I realized it was solid when I felt how heavy it was. I was already a good amount into the project so I didn’t feel like starting over. I decided to try and scrape the extra clay out of the bird, it didn’t work how I planned it to. I ended up messing it up even more and had to quickly fix it so I can put it in the kiln to be fired. I tried to fix it the best I could, and you could tell it’s a bird, it is just a bit messy.
I have a couple pieces that i’m not proud of the the one that I don’t like is the figurative piece. I wasn’t feeling confident in the idea I picked to do. Once I started it and messed up I thought that I was too far in to start again or pick another object to do. If I was to redo this project I would spend more time on it. Like I said, once I messed up I started getting lazy with it and sort of rushed through it so I could work on the next project. I was really behind on other things so I tried to just get this project done and out of my way. Also i would make sure to clear out the inside of the piece first and not make it solid. I realized it was solid when I felt how heavy it was. I was already a good amount into the project so I didn’t feel like starting over. I decided to try and scrape the extra clay out of the bird, it didn’t work how I planned it to. I ended up messing it up even more and had to quickly fix it so I can put it in the kiln to be fired. I tried to fix it the best I could, and you could tell it’s a bird, it is just a bit messy.
Required Question 1)
I used the needle tool, ribbon tool, wooden potters rib, and the steel scraper. They helped a lot with making my pieces look more neat and even. I used the steel scraper for almost all of the projects because it helped even and smooth things out. The needle and ribbon tool usually are used for details and the scrapers are used for smoothing and making things even, at least what I used them for.
Required Question 2)
I definitely learned a lot about sculpture and how to work with clay. Before in other past art classes I would use random tools and use them for whatever I thought they were used for. When I did that I would always be confused on why it wouldn’t do what I wanted it to do, not knowing it was the wrong tool. Now I know what tool is used for a certain thing and it helps me get the results that I wanted.
Question 1)
I believe my most successful piece was definitely the sgraffito pieces. I was going for flowers or plants kind of theme which I did for two out of the three I made. The last one doesn’t match the other two because I was going to give it to my sister. I was trying to make it look like marble and I think it turned out good. Sgraffito is really easy and fast to make, which is why it’s easy to make multiple. First you decide what shape you want your piece to be. I chose to do two plates and a tray but you can also do a box. Next make the shape with clay then you have to wait until the clay is dry, not too dry or it won’t work. When it’s dry paint it w black underglaze then wait for that to dry. While it’s drying you can decide what design you what to do on it. Scrape the design on the plate when it drys and then glaze it. After it’s glazed just put it in the kiln and that’s it!
I used the needle tool, ribbon tool, wooden potters rib, and the steel scraper. They helped a lot with making my pieces look more neat and even. I used the steel scraper for almost all of the projects because it helped even and smooth things out. The needle and ribbon tool usually are used for details and the scrapers are used for smoothing and making things even, at least what I used them for.
Required Question 2)
I definitely learned a lot about sculpture and how to work with clay. Before in other past art classes I would use random tools and use them for whatever I thought they were used for. When I did that I would always be confused on why it wouldn’t do what I wanted it to do, not knowing it was the wrong tool. Now I know what tool is used for a certain thing and it helps me get the results that I wanted.
Question 1)
I believe my most successful piece was definitely the sgraffito pieces. I was going for flowers or plants kind of theme which I did for two out of the three I made. The last one doesn’t match the other two because I was going to give it to my sister. I was trying to make it look like marble and I think it turned out good. Sgraffito is really easy and fast to make, which is why it’s easy to make multiple. First you decide what shape you want your piece to be. I chose to do two plates and a tray but you can also do a box. Next make the shape with clay then you have to wait until the clay is dry, not too dry or it won’t work. When it’s dry paint it w black underglaze then wait for that to dry. While it’s drying you can decide what design you what to do on it. Scrape the design on the plate when it drys and then glaze it. After it’s glazed just put it in the kiln and that’s it!
Question 3)
I hated the paper mache project. I liked the idea of the butterflies but I didn’t like the process. Making the paste was gross and having to dip the paper towels or newspaper in it was even more gross for me. Also because the butterfly was big it took a lot of time to finish, it was also hard because both me and my partner was barley in class. I definitely sucked it up because I wanted to get it done. I feel like because the butterfly was so big and it took a long time to finish, I got bored of it quickly. Since I lost interest in it quickly I stopped caring about how it turned out and just wanted to get it done. My partner was barely there so I did most of the project alone. The painting part was probably my favorite part if I had to pick a favorite part. The only thing I have to say about the painting job is that the 2 wings look different from each other, they’re not symmetrical. The reason for that is because we each did one side and weren't the same exact color/ fade. We both had the same idea for the design to do on it but I guess we weren’t paying attention to what we both were doing. It also got the the point where we both were trying to get done with it because we were both behind.
I hated the paper mache project. I liked the idea of the butterflies but I didn’t like the process. Making the paste was gross and having to dip the paper towels or newspaper in it was even more gross for me. Also because the butterfly was big it took a lot of time to finish, it was also hard because both me and my partner was barley in class. I definitely sucked it up because I wanted to get it done. I feel like because the butterfly was so big and it took a long time to finish, I got bored of it quickly. Since I lost interest in it quickly I stopped caring about how it turned out and just wanted to get it done. My partner was barely there so I did most of the project alone. The painting part was probably my favorite part if I had to pick a favorite part. The only thing I have to say about the painting job is that the 2 wings look different from each other, they’re not symmetrical. The reason for that is because we each did one side and weren't the same exact color/ fade. We both had the same idea for the design to do on it but I guess we weren’t paying attention to what we both were doing. It also got the the point where we both were trying to get done with it because we were both behind.
Figurative project
I started with a handful of clay then slowly started making it into a bird shape. When I got the basic shape of the bird, I started to dig out the extra clay that was in the bird. After doing that I continued to touch up the bird and try to make it look smooth. Then we put it in the kiln and when it was done I glazed it, for it to go back into the kiln.The wings didn’t turn out how I wanted them to look and the first time I did the wings they actually fell off so I had to make them a different way. This project was difficult for me to do because of how small I made it. The details were hard to do, because of the size, and about half way through I remembered it’s not supposed to be solid, so I had to carve out the extra. When I carved out the inside, it ended up getting larger that I wanted it to be. Also I think I rushed a bit because I was doing this while still doing the butterfly project. I thought I did a good job painting/ glazing it. It looks smooth and shiny.
Throwing on the wheel
I don't have a picture because I didn't finish. I like the pottery wheel but it is a lot more work than I thought. It takes a lot of patience and arm work to do it. I don't have patience, although I thought it was fun. I just got frustrated when it didn't do what I wanted it to do.
Sgraffito piece
1. Sketch
2. In progress
3. Finished
2. In progress
3. Finished
Making a sgraffito piece was easy and fast. All you had to do was create the shape you wanted, (box, plate, or tray) paint it with black under glaze, and when it dries you carve out the design part you want to be white. After that all you have to do is put it in the kiln.
I though the process was easy, neat, fun, and fast. You could get a lot of it done in less than 2 days.
I personally think my pieces turned out good. I really like the plates but I feel like I could've done better with the tray design instead of rushing to try and get it done. If I were to do it again I would take more time on the tray and the plate with the flower on it. I think the plate with the flower on it was good but I could've made it bigger and neater. Also the tray I could've tried harder and done it neater.
I though the process was easy, neat, fun, and fast. You could get a lot of it done in less than 2 days.
I personally think my pieces turned out good. I really like the plates but I feel like I could've done better with the tray design instead of rushing to try and get it done. If I were to do it again I would take more time on the tray and the plate with the flower on it. I think the plate with the flower on it was good but I could've made it bigger and neater. Also the tray I could've tried harder and done it neater.
Final Pit fire piece
I don’t have mine
Group Butterflies project
Finished photo
,
In progress photo
I taped the body, put a layer of newspaper and 2 layers of paper towels on both the wings and the body. My partner hot glued the cardboard to the wings to make indents and helped a little putting the newspaper on the wings.
The process is long. There are different was to do it but based on the one I did you started with a cardboard cut out of the object you want to do. For the thing I was doing, we cut out butterfly wings and the body then smaller parts to hot glue on both sides of the wings and body. The put aluminum foil around it all and masking tape around that to secure the foil. The you make the paste and put strips of newspaper on it. To make the paste you have to mix flour and water until it is like a pancake mix. After applying the newspaper, wait for it to dry then add the strips of paper towels. When it's all dry hot glue/ add any extra pieces. Sand if to make it smooth and then paint it.
As easy as it might sound, I found it difficult to make the paste. I would always make it either too thick/ lumpy, or too liquid/ runny. Also it was pretty hard to hot glue them together because it was just me doing it, my partner wasn't here. It did take me double the time it took other groups because I did the majority of it by myself, my partner wasn't here for most of it.
The process is long. There are different was to do it but based on the one I did you started with a cardboard cut out of the object you want to do. For the thing I was doing, we cut out butterfly wings and the body then smaller parts to hot glue on both sides of the wings and body. The put aluminum foil around it all and masking tape around that to secure the foil. The you make the paste and put strips of newspaper on it. To make the paste you have to mix flour and water until it is like a pancake mix. After applying the newspaper, wait for it to dry then add the strips of paper towels. When it's all dry hot glue/ add any extra pieces. Sand if to make it smooth and then paint it.
As easy as it might sound, I found it difficult to make the paste. I would always make it either too thick/ lumpy, or too liquid/ runny. Also it was pretty hard to hot glue them together because it was just me doing it, my partner wasn't here. It did take me double the time it took other groups because I did the majority of it by myself, my partner wasn't here for most of it.
Textured Tripod mug
The process was actually really easy. First you rolled out a big piece of clay. The you rolled it to connect the two sides using slip and score, depending how wide you want it to be. Next you have to press the bottom into a triangle and squeeze the sides in until it all touches. All you have to do after is smooth it out and shape it then press your pattern into it.
I didn’t make a handle because I’m going to use mine to hold makeup brushes or pencils.
I thought the glaze/ the color of the glaze turned out really good. Also the shape of it. If I was to do it again I would fix the top to make it more smooth and even.
Clay Slab: A method of making pottery in which a thick flat slice of clay is cut into shapes which are joined to form an object. You use score and slip to join them.
I didn’t make a handle because I’m going to use mine to hold makeup brushes or pencils.
I thought the glaze/ the color of the glaze turned out really good. Also the shape of it. If I was to do it again I would fix the top to make it more smooth and even.
Clay Slab: A method of making pottery in which a thick flat slice of clay is cut into shapes which are joined to form an object. You use score and slip to join them.
Pit fire piece
in progress picture
I used coiling to make my piece. All you do is get a hand full of clay and roll it out into a long worm-like shape, make multiples, then stack them on each other using the slip and score technique. As you put them on blend them together so the lines don’t show and it’s smooth. The thing I found most difficult so far was making sure the sides are equal and come out the same distance all around. My design definitely changed as I started working on it. I thought I was going to have a lid but half way through idecided not to. Also I made it much wider and shorter than I intended to. That actually happened accidentally and I ended up liking it! The only thing I have left to do is to make it shinny.
Greek pottery paper
The vase we made is a Psykter vase. The vase was usually used for holding wine. I cut the vase out and colored some of the bricks and the white middle part.
Sgraffito: form of decoration made by scratching through a surface to reveal a lower layer of a contrasting color.
Register: a horizontal level in a work that consists of several levels arranged one above the other.
Sgraffito: form of decoration made by scratching through a surface to reveal a lower layer of a contrasting color.
Register: a horizontal level in a work that consists of several levels arranged one above the other.
Practice clay stamps
I found that the round circle stamps worked best. I think they worked good because they were easy to press down and roll. Practicing and looking at other people's stamps helped me make mine because it helped me find out want design would work good or better. Out of the 5 stamps I made I believe the heart stamp and the circle stamp would work best because they're easy to use. The stamp with the swirls and the rectangles pressed in might not work that good. It was hard to make the heart stamp because the top part kept coming off. The circle was probably the easiest to make because I made a ball and pressed a marker top into it.
Inspired artist
Sakir Gokcebag uses everyday objects like brooms, toilet paper rolls, and the object that got my attention, shoes. He was born in 1965 in Denizli Turkey and has his own art website (https://www.sakirgokcebag.com/HomePage.aspx). The piece that made me want to learn more was probably seeing the art pieces he makes with shoes. I found it interesting because in almost every piece were he uses shoes, he always cuts off the front of the toe or shoe. Gokcebag does this to attempt to play a trick on the viewer as the try to decode the image. He is most famous for his artwork with shoes.