Week 8

Week 8 so far is a little boring. We were introduced to the new project "Fantasy Function" and I still don't have a solid design for it. I still might try a better ash tray but a peer helped me think up a jewelry organizer idea that I might run with. In the mean time I threw a few bowls to help me think. On Wednesday we reviewed glaze calc notes and looked at our fusion tests. At the end we discussed our ideas for the new project and came up with the final 4 that I would like to do. My idea for a jewelry box is my top pick at the moment. I honestly think I'll make the top three picks and see which I like more and submit that. Monday I have to set up my installation for Wednesday critiques and Apologia will be done.  We also have a quiz on Wednesday that I probably should study a bit more to get a better understanding of terms and the materials associated with them. That's about it for this week.

Week 7

Week 7 has come and gone. This week was dedicated to finishing the line blend and triaxial tests. Personally I love the result of my glaze and wouldn't mind remixing the base glaze to use. It has some crazing which is something I am fond of in utilitarian pieces, particularly mugs. The resulting glaze is something similar to a glaze I was hoping to make. My favorite glaze from high school was gun metal green and now I have a very gun metal-ly glaze with blue undertones. I finished my triaxials on Sunday night so I have yet to find out what the results look like. My test variables ended up being wood ash, soda ash, and frit 3195. Hopefully these increase the crazing and running in the glaze and it doesn't look horrible. If they don't come out as expected I might try and make a whole new glaze that I have my eye on. I believe we have at least one more kind of glaze test to do and we are being introduced to our new project. My initial idea is to make a more efficient and eye pleasing ash tray but I'm not sure if I will stick with it or possibly make two ideas for this project. As for Apologia it is ready to go into the kiln after that I will get to do the installation.

Week 5

It is now week five of this semester. We are being introduced into glaze chemistry it is a little confusing and scary but very exciting. I appreciate the freedom we are being given to make our own glazes and alter it. The triaxials seem to be the most difficult but also where we get the most freedom to experiment so over all I am pretty excited to work on this project. I am still wrapping up Apologia I think I will be finished with it this week and do the installation parts after the base is fired. The top or the cup part of the sculpture result is really beautiful and to me. Truly I am pleased with this sculpture and at this point I hope it makes it through the kiln.  I am going to leave it wrapped up just to make sure I'm not missing anything I want from this sculpture  as well as clean up the last bits that need attention.  Other than that I need to look at types of glazes I would like to do for glaze chemistry and throw some cups or bowls to use my glaze on.

Week 6

Week six. We are fully immersed in glaze chemistry it is a little overwhelming with all the new terms the readings help though, not as much as talking with my professor and peers. We made our test tiles last week and are doing fusion and line blend tests this week. The fusion tests from other classes has struck some curiosity in me with the "frits" I hope to get to use this in my pottery weather its a new glaze I make or something else I am not sure. The fusion tests are fun and a bit satisfying with the perfect little balls of powder in each tile. I am not able to do my line blend tests yet because my test tiles are in the kiln for a bisque fire so instead I decided to throw on the wheel and do some research on what glaze I would like to make. I also did the final touches on my stump and decided to leave it wrapped for one more week so I can watch it a little closer throughout the school week. 

Week 4

 Its week four and I didn't get much done this week as school was called off on Wednesday which none of this I mind as I think I'm at a good slow down point.  I have all the vine work done on the stump some spots just might need a good clean up and that's about it. I did however start looking at where to install my piece. I think in one of the corners under the stairs or the window at the end of the hall or even off the loading dock.  The progression of my cup this week is the most interesting of the progressions this far. Other than adding a porcelain rose or two is all that I might add to the base piece and then I think it would feel complete. After those are attached and fired all I will have left is to make more roses, mushrooms, and vine work to extend from the base piece. These I am considering of leaving completely raw to accent the stump piece.  I think I will do all of these in one class period for installation.