Irregular Joined Forms

 
 For our last thrown project, we are to construct "irregular joined Forms" as I call them.  Basically, we are to create froms using only the wheel.  Just like any other time when we are on the wheel, we start with a ball of clay, get it aligned to the wheel and then find the center.  After creating many shapes such as doughnuts, we are to then take these forms and join them to one another.  Last class, Brian showed us how to make these doughnuts.  We can use the whole doughnut or we can cut it in half and use two pieces instead.  He is wanting us to take everything we have learned this entire semester and utilize it for this project.  He doesn't mind what we come up with as an end product as long as it is completed on the wheel.  The wheel is going to be the "main" tool for this project.  In the 1st ceramics class, we worked with only hand-built projects. If we wanted we had the option of throwing on the wheel, but none of our projects required it.  This 2nd ceramics class requires both hand-built and hand-thrown projects.  We are now on our last project for both.

     I am not really sure as to what my hand-thrown irregular joined vessels will look like.  I am just going to play it by ear.  I plan on creating somethings that look real weird, others not so much.  I like to jump around a lot.  One thing about my artwork is that it is different everytime.  I go from doing weird stuff to more everyday things such as elephant feet, tribal heads and bowls, etc...

3rd Project

  

      Because my initial plans for my 2nd project (dog head) got pushed back to now, I would like use this opportunity to talk about it since it will be used as my 3rd project.  This year I've noticed a few people in class who have been sculpting thier clay forms.  Whether they were babies, possums or dogs, I found myself rather intrigued by the process.  In ceramics, I've done many different forms of handbuilding.  Of the different handbuilding techniques, sculpting happens to be the one I've yet to start.  I've watched as other students would sculpt their figures, using delicate procedures to get the job done.  Like other methods, sculpting also requires the hollowing of objects.  When an artist takes a large piece of clay and creates art out of it, that piece of greenware when it comes for bisque firing cannot be completely solid when it is put into the kiln.  The reason is because pressure will not be able to move freely throughout the piece; therefore, exploding when reaching high temperature.  We hollow the object(s) out so that this pressure can move easily through the piece.  It is always smart to poke a few holes in the piece so that pressure can escape the object, preventing exploding endings. 
      I will be hollowing my dog head after I have completely sculpted it.  Because I am dealing with only a solid piece (head), I will not be needing to remove and hollow out legs and arms because they will not exist in my piece.  The dog I have chosen to sculpt is my favorite breed of dog, the Bull Terrier.  These dogs have been featured on Target commercials as well as other movies:  "Next Friday" as well as Tim Burton's 1984 short film, "Frankenweenie".