Ceramics2017

I think that this pinch pot is very creative and unique.   I like the way that the artist created shark teeth as well as the fins.   As this product is still in the “greenware” phase and is therefore still raw, I am certain that the final product would look very nice with a glaze coating after being fired in the kiln.   I am excited to learn the techniques of making a pinch pot in class.  

I looked up some images of pinch pots since that is what we will be doing in class. I really like this piece that I came across. It has been glazed with 2 colors that almost blend together. The design gives it a sense of texture, instead of it being a smooth surface. I like how for the most part, the artist kept the design symmetrical from what we can tell going around the pot. Also the top piece looks as if it was added to the pinch pot once it was completed.

This unique coil pot shows a lot of dynamic interest. The shape and design of this is very appealing to the eye. If this pot was sitting on an end table or in a gallery it sure would be a show stopper. I get a beachy vibe from the piece because of the blue glaze.  The tan rim around the edge reminds me of the sand at the beach as the blue glaze and coil design represents the ocean. I think this piece is very inspiring as it can remind people to relax during a stressful time in their life.

This is a very nice painting by Modigliani.

This fish pinch pot I found on google reminds me of some of my very first pinch pots. Back in high school I took ceramics for two years and some of the very first pieces I made were pinch pots of monsters/animals with big mouths such as the image above. They are very easy and fun to make. I just thought that it was cool that there are other people that made similar pieces.

I was searching differnt types of ceramic pots online and i came around to this pot here. Out of all the pots this one stood out to me more than the others that i saw. i just like the elegance about the pot. the negative spaces in the pot and the curves the pot has to resemble leaves. i also like that it is not colored in. the plae white color gives it a nice sculpture elegant feel to the piece. 

I had searched through images of different ceramics and this pot stood out to me for its ocean blue color. Upon further investigation, I discovered that this is a teapot that was sold on Etsy. It is listed to be a Darshan Teapot that was thrown on the seller's potter's wheel, glazed in lead-free glazes, and then fired in the seller's kiln. The teapot is said to hold 40 oz. I find the look of the pot unique and I really like the pattern of the ocean blue colors.

   The slab method is a technique used in pottery building in which thick pieces of clay are first rolled out, flattened, then cut into shapes and joined together to form an object.  A famous slab ceramic artist is Lisa Pedolsky. She constructs her slabs in Terra cotta, a low-fire, earthenware clay. She adds depth and design to her pieces by applying multiple layers of clay, slips, stains, various colors of glaze, and carving into the clay. The second picture above is an example of Pedolsky's work using the slab technique.

Archeologist have discovered human-made ceramics that date back to at least 24,000 BC. These early ceramics were made of animal fat and bone mixed with bone ash and a fine claylike material. The first use of functional pottery vessels for storing water and food is thought to be around 9000 or 10,000 BC.  Early pots were made by what is known as the "coiling" method, which worked the clay into a long string that wound to form a shape that later made smooth walls. Ceramics is so durable and unique it is one of the most abundant evidence left from vanished cultures.  

  This is a glazed ceramic pot. The glazed coating on the pot leaves a smooth and shinny texture. I think this pot is interesting because of the indents on the sides. It gives a uniqueness to the piece especially with the colors. The red and brown components are faded at the top and increase as it gets closer to the bottom. I like the cooling component of the solid light green with the added intensity of the red and brown colors that engulf the smaller bottom frame.

Pinch pots have been around long before the potter's wheel ever existed. It is one of the most basic methods of pot making. Creating a pinch pot is as simple as pushing on the clay and having it respond. What I enjoy most about the pinch pot above is its simplicity and practicality. It is the most direct method of working with clay and yet can give you one of the cutest pots as a result.  

I think these pinch pots are adorable. I like how they are not colorful. They are very practical because you can put small plants in them. I have an aloe plant that is in a mug right now. I would love to make something like this to place them in. 

I think coil ceramics is awesome. I particularly love this image because of its vibrant colors and unique pattern. This piece does not necessary need to serve a purpose and would make a great decoration in one's home or even displayed in an art gallery. I also like how there are small details on the individual coils. I think this piece can be a great conversation starter.

The pinch pot method is one of the most commonly used techniques to create ceramics.   To create pinch pot ceramics, artists simply use their fingers to mold shapes and vessels they desire.   My favorite aspect about this particular method is that it only takes an individual’s hands and our fingers to act as tools to create such piece of art.   In this particular artwork, I like the simplicity of the idea and how the artist created a realistic flower out of clay to serve a purpose.

The ceramics pictured above were composed by the artist using a coiling method, one where the artist stacks layers of clay on top of each other to form a larger object.  This pottery has many purposes, and is not just an aesthetic art.  The pottery is also glazed giving the art a nice clean finish.  

Glazes are used to decorate ceramic pieces.  Your brush on at least two coats before firing in the kiln. The heat creates some type of chemical reaction that changes the final look of the glaze, sometimes the color. A vast majority of glazes have a shiny look after firing. It can be used to seal ceramic pieces but its main purpose is give it that finishing look.

I became interested in porcelain due to mom's collection but was fascinated when I saw them in China this past January. Chinese porcelain has been around for several ages, and is known for expressing its delicate texture, pleasing color and refined sculpture. These "fine China" expresses its history from the earliest China in the Han dynasty to Qing dynasty.  What I love about these fine China are its unique texture of basic body, color of glaze, decorative pattern and style.

I am very much looking toward to getting to work with ceramics in the studio tommorow. While searching ceramics on the internet I came across this beauitful piece. This very intricate piece of cermaics was awarded the  Winnifred Shantz ceramics award. Christopher Reid Flock created this piece, he  began working with clay when he was 23 at the Burlington Arts Centre. 

This article from the NY times talks about the recent surge in market for ceramics in the home. I personally found this article very interesting for a few reasons. Being a very old but yet practical form of art, why is becoming so popular now? The author of this article attributes this to the movement from the cool sleek look of stainless steel, to the move back to the homey, handmade look and feel that ceramics gives. Also I find interesting that an interior decorator in the article states that having ceramics gives a feel of dimension and soul in a space. Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/17/fashion/why-handmade-ceramics-are-white-hot.html?mcubz=3

These ceramic pots were crafted by Andrew King. I really admire the way he incorporated the function of a gardening pot with the whimsical style of a tree trunk. It is a tribute to the origin of ceramics as serviceable items while also providing a platform for the artist to express himself. These pieces of pottery spoke to me for those reasons, and made me excited to get started in the studio on Wednesday.

"Wheel- throwing maniac" Daven Hee creates a series of three glazed pots. Though similar in design, each piece is different in its own way. This creative artwork is titled "Coil Pot Orange, Black, Turquoise" from the exhibit "Thrown." I especially admire the coil design of the pots and how the shape of each one is uniquely unlike the other one. The shape and design gives the pots their own dimension and structure. The colors ironically create a kind of personality that bring these inanimate objects to life. The warm orangish-brown color of the far left pot captures an antique-like feel to the piece. The solid black glassy color of the middle pot creates a sense of classiness and a simplistic modern style to the piece. The pot on the far right is my favorite- it envelops a mix of colors that remind me of an evening sky in the summer. The turquoise blends with colors of purple and green creating a calming feel to this piece. 

      Humans have been constructing ceramic pottery for over 10,000 years. There are various techniques to create pottery. Coil pots became prevalent in areas where agriculture was expanding. The coils are rolled out of clay, scored, slip is added and they are pinched together. The pots would store grains, crops and seeds for the next planting. These pieces can be   distinctively different from one another due to the artist’s creativity.  

                                        The p otter's wheel  did not appear in history until about 4,000 years ago. Before that, pinch pot methods were discovered as the main ways clay was formed by man.  Producing pinch pots is the most direct method people have of interacting with clay. I really liked this pot because it did remind me of a pineapple by how to pot does have the pinch texture. 

Mount Saint Mary College Ceramics Course Number:        ART 2140 Course Title:               Ceramics Professor:                    Gary Jacketti Office Hours:              Monday, Wednesday before or after class e-mail:                         jacketti@optonline.net                                     gjac4166@my.msmc.edu Class Times:                Monday, Wednesday 5:15 to 6:40 Course Outcomes:      The objective of this course is to highlight the meaning and importance of Ceramics and its relationship with the Fine Arts and Crafts.  The course will investigate the influences and conventions of ceramics in both Eastern and Western Civilizations.  The students will be introduced to the various techniques and mediums of ceramics.  Numerous avenues for this exploration will include studio activities to engage in the three hand-building techniques of pinch, slab and coil, as well as an exploration of throwing pottery using an electric wheel. Grading and Evalua