Final Portfolio: Overall Progress

I felt that I grew a lot during this semester in terms of my work with clay. At first was unsure and did not really know what I was doing and I didn't have many ideas of what to make. Throughout the course, however, I think I learned a lot of good technical things that made it easier and made me better at working with the clay and I grew in my ability to develop ideas and apply them. In the beginning I was very engaged with my work and ready to work hard to develop my skills. During and after Unit 2 though, I got a little discouraged because I felt overwhelmed with the semester's work piling up and I lost focus a little bit. Then when we started doing the platters I was more engaged again and with the objects in clay that we made I got excited about building again. By the end of the semester I felt like I really had a rhythm going with my work and I was able to work well and manage my time in an efficient way. What I could have done differently in this course was to work outside of class a little more because I don't feel that I put the full 8 hours in that we were supposed to outside of class. I think the course could be improved in that there could be less units and more time spent on each unit. That way we wouldn't have to feel rushed into doing things. Also, it really helped me to be able to see my classmates' work and I think more critiques during the process of making the things out of clay could have been helpful to me. Also more demonstrations would be helpful. All in all, I think the course went very well and I am glad that I was able to have this experience with art.

Final Portfolio Final Unit: Self-designed

With this unit, I got a lot more practice making slabs. Making the boxes was really fun for me as well as making the little pigs. I found a version of this piece online and I thought it was interesting. I decided to make the boxes different colors so they would look like blocks that a child could play with. The pigs are more serious though because although they look like they can be toys as well, one of the pigs looks like it is dead and another one doesn't have a head. It is a metaphor for broken innocence or a forgotten childhood. I decided to make the boxes so it was a continuation of what I did in Unit 2 only it has a totally different story attached to it. I was connected to the work but felt a little rushed again. If I had more time I probably would go deeper into the idea and continue making blocks and maybe other toys as well.

Final Portfolio Unit 4: Objects in Clay

In this unit I reproduced objects by making them out of clay. I am happy with how this piece turned out. I think I used good craftsmanship for the birdhouse. One thing that I struggled with was making the sphere on the gumball machine. I made it too small at first and then I made it again and it was too big. I learned that you have to pay attention to proportions when you are copying another piece of work. I felt connected to this piece because I enjoyed making something that was already laid out for me and just reproducing it. The birdhouse is especially visually appealing to me and I enjoyed painting the piece as well.

Final Portfolio Unit 3: Platters/surface design

In Unit 3 I learned how to make platters. It was easy for me but at first my platters were warped and uneven because I took them off of the hump mold too soon and they were not dry enough. I learned how to control the drying process of the clay and know the difference between leather hard and too wet clay. I made five platters in all and the last platters I made turned out better than the first ones. I enjoyed making the platters but I felt a little rushed during this unit and like I had to get a lot done. If I had had more time I would have made the designs on the platters more intricate and spent more time with surface design.

Final Portfolio Unit 2: Personal Narrative

Research: http://tombartel.net/about/artist-statement/


In Unit 2 I learned to build on a larger scale which was very helpful. It helped me develop both my coiling and slabbing techniques because I had to coil the hand and make big slabs for the box. I struggled with making the fingers. I felt connected to this piece because I like the story it tells of breaking free from society and I find it aesthetically pleasing. I am happy with how this piece turned out and I enjoyed building it.

Final Portfolio Unit 1: Form Assemblage

In this unit I learned how to coil and make slabs. I was struggling with coiling and that is reflected in the lopsided shapes you can see in my work. At first I was building really small, enclosed, solid figures and as the unit went on I started making bigger things, using different shapes and colors and more open, organic and geometric figures. I was not very connected with the work because I did not really know what I was doing. It was my first time using clay and I was kind of lost, but I learned the basic techniques needed to make things out of clay.

Historical Influences

White Mountain red ware
http://www.clayhound.us/sites/mogollon.htm

Pinedal Polychrome
Location: Arizona and New Mexico
Date: 1275-1350
Material: Clay is white to gray, or yellow to orange
Paint: Mineral-based on thick limonite slip
Firing: Oxidizing atmosphere

What I like about this style is the intricate details in the bowl. Some of the first glaze paints were used in this White Mountain red-ware type and that is also interesting. I like the color of the clay and the overall feel of the form. I might want to do something like this for my project.