Ceramics
 
My two large pieces are done, they spent a long time drying and are now being fired. 
When taking the "bulb" pot off of its base to turn it upside right, Tamara was with me, helping me hold it because at this point it is not only heavy, but unwieldy. That is when she discovered that I had used a round ceramic throwing bat (really just a flat round disc that you place your clay on when using the wheel) to build the clay up,to keep the opening of the pot circular and even until I got a good base to continue coiling the clay. I just forgot to remove it after I got going. 
She was surprised to find it stuck in the opening of my pot when we turned it around.... and she gave me an odd look, then turned to another student near us and said she thought it was a brilliant idea and had to remember that the next time she was working on a project. Whew! Here I had a brief moment of panic what with the way she looked at me, thinking I was going to be in trouble somehow. 


We are already on to our third project and I don't even have the first two completely done. 


The second project is based on the word "set" in any of its definitions or connotations. 
This project will allow us to work using the slab construction method.  
A long list of definitions, and subtle connections was given to us. The first one that really jumped out at me was where set was used in reference to square dancing. As any particular dance movement is considered a set. Ok, what with me and my literal mind, I envisioned squares dancing. 

Although, as you can see, they morphed into rectangles dancing.


I showed these drawings to Tamara, the instructor, and she sighed, wiped her brow, and said "This will be a challenge. But it can be done." Have to admit, that sent a small charge of fear through my heart!


I started working on this out of class time when I went in to the ceramic studio. Tamara had given us a great demonstration on preparing our slab of clay. The most useful idea I found was using two flat sticks on either side of your slab, allowing you to roll the clay to a uniform thickness. Brilliant! 
I also adjusted my idea after I actually reread the assignment and discovered that it should also reflect a botanical theme.
So, I cut flowing leaf shapes out of my slab and started fitting them together in an upright manner. The clay is extremely soft so I used plaster molds to form and drape the clay to set the shapes and then set them in front of a fan for awhile. 


After they started to firm up, I took one piece and cut a section out of it to mold it to the other piece. Still a challenge as it was hard to keep them in an upright position as I worked to join them. 


Things are not working quite right. I eventually find some foam, prop the pieces on that and cover it all with plastic and store it until the next week. Only not realizing that leaving it on a slab of drywall board will absorb a lot of moisture, so that the next time I get back to it the pieces are way too dry.


 As Tamara explains it.."never leave it on the drywall, unless you cover it with plastic first. The drywall will (now here you have to visualize her puckering her lips together and sucking in the air) pull all of the moisture out of the clay, never leave it on the drywall." I really like Tamara!


Well, now it is way too dry, so Tamara suggest I put some plastic under it, spray the clay with water, leave it sit, and repeat until the clay becomes workable again. I have done this three times, not workable yet. And I am getting discouraged. 


I can't sleep, my mind keeps mulling over the project and other possibilities. I get up at 5am, go downstairs and sketch. 


I decide to try another idea. So next time I go in for some studio work, I construct a shape similar to a pitcher plant, by using the cup template I had made earlier. I made two, and joined the two larger openings together so that the middle of my piece was wider than the top and bottom. 


I made two more pieces, smaller in size, and joined all three shapes together to make a single piece. Added some texture and some curling leaf fronds around the three shapes. Photo to come soon! 


And I am thinking I just may dispose of the first one... it is just not working.