Natural Colors and Complex Design

Throughout our lives, we are exposed to the beautiful colors nature has to offer. With these striking colors and a little fantasy within the design, your artwork reaches a whole new level. No longer do you possess projects like a cylinder or a bowl, but projects like a dragon mug and a buttoned-up pitcher.

On my website, I have all sorts of projects. My projects range from a basic cylinder to a complex mug and many others in-between. Thus far this year, I have completed a number of projects. Their natural colored glazes and structure and design techniques can unite each project. I glazed most if not all the same way; dip and dry. The construction methods I used were usual wheel thrown with hand added decorations, whether it is a tail, buttons, arms, or scales. Each project has something anthropomorphic about it. If the artwork doesn’t speak for itself, the pictures taken definitely help.

Theme has been something I knew would become a part of what I do in ceramics, I just didn’t think it would have been so hard to come up with. Since I started ceramics, I never had a set theme. I went with the flow and whatever came off of that wheel would be my project that I would turn it. Of coarse I altered each project to make it fit the requirements, but none the less, I never followed any certain theme. I chose this theme to represent my projects as a whole because many of my projects resemble a part or color of nature or fantasy whether it is the colors in the leaves or a dragon. Because of the colors I chose are natural, such as greens, whites, blacks, browns, and light blues, all the projects can be linked to something to do with the outdoors, and with a little construction, they can be instantly turned into something of the fantasy and real world.

Throughout my year in ceramics, I have transformed my artistic abilities. I stayed safe in the beginning with simple projects like a plate and a cylinder. As the year progressed, I ended up making intricate designs on these simple projects. My cylinders quickly became a dragon mug or my bowls became three projects stacked on top of each other. I went above and beyond my usual artistic views and made head turning projects that confuse and interest each viewer.

Dragon Mug Dos

The mug's anthropomorphic features make it seem almost real. This mug is 3.5x4 inches. The exterior of the mug has a rough, scale like texture. There are arms that connect the interior to the exterior. the handle has an extra piece flaring out. The glazes used were shadow green and black. The shadow green sits inside the grooves and on the inside and lip. The black sits in the grooves of the dragon's belly. The tail-like handle and the scaly arms make this mug realistic.

Large Handles

The small neck and big handles create juxtaposition. This vase is 6x11 inches. The vase was wheel thrown with two large, over exaggerated handles. The project has both smooth and rough textures throughout, due to uneven glaze distribution. The only glaze used was clear. The clay used was white, but to get that redish-brown tint, red sludge was covered over the project. The small neck of the vase juxtaposes with the over sized handles.

Sideways Handled Pitcher

Warped Plate

Large Bowl

Bowl/Plate

Hand Warmer Mug

Square Bowl

Wave Bowl

Lidded Project

Teapot

Plate

Pitcher and cup

Narwhal Bank

Manatee Bank

Whale Bank

Piggy Bank

Set of Three

With similar shapes and glazes, the projects are united to create a set of three. This set of three varies in size. the largest being 5x6 inches and the smallest is 2x4. All three projects were wheel thrown. The throw marks are visible on the lids and the projects. The glazes used were BR purple and yellow. The purple covers the outside of each project and the yellow covers the inside. The glazes are chunky in some places and smooth in others. Through similar styles and glaze choices, the projects are unified.

Two Piece Lidded

Simplicity takes the complexity out of already complex projects. This two piece is 9x5.5. Both pieces are wheel thrown. The attachment point and throw marks are visible. The glazes were blue and clear. the blue drips over the side and on the inside. The simple blue makes the project that is complex, more simple.

Dark Blue Chipped Plate

Little Bowl

Black and White Drip

Brown Bowl

Buttoned-up Pencil Holder

Apple Lidded Pot

Harpooned Whale Pencil Holder

black and yellow drip

Hand Print Pot

Wide

Tall With Negative Space

Yellow Minnie Bowl

Upside Down Dripping Bowl

Glass Tile

The Simple Beauty of Life and Fantasy

Throughout our lives, we are exposed to the beautiful colors nature has to offer. With these striking colors and a little fantasy within the design, your artwork reaches a whole new level. No longer do you possess projects like a cylinder or a bowl, but projects like a dragon mug and a buttoned-up pitcher.

On my website, I have all sorts of projects. My projects range from a basic cylinder to a complex mug and many others in-between. Thus far this year, I have completed a number of projects. Their natural colored glazes and structure and design techniques can unite each project. I glazed most if not all the same way; dip and dry. The construction methods I used were usual wheel thrown with hand added decorations, whether it be a handle, a spout, arms, or scales. Each project has something anthropomorphic about it. If the artwork doesn’t speak for itself, the pictures taken definitely help.

Theme has been something I knew would become a part of what I do in ceramics, I just didn’t think it would have been so hard to come up with. For the past weeks (since I started ceramics) I never gave the theme of what I would be doing much thought. I just figured one day it would come to me. Now the time has come and the first thing that came to my mind is “Nature and all its beauty.” Of coarse it was a little rocky, so I changed it to be “The simple beauty of natural colors and fantasy worlds.” Slightly more better. I chose this theme to represent my projects as a whole because many of my projects resemble a part or color of nature or fantasy whether it be the colors in the leaves or a starry night. Because of the colors I chose are natural, such as greens, whites, blacks, browns, and light blues, all the projects can be linked to something to do with the outdoors, and with a little construction, they can be instantly turned into something of the fantasy world.

Throughout my year in ceramics, I have transformed my artistic abilities. I stayed safe in the beginning with simple projects like a plate and a cylinder. As the year progressed, I ended up making intricate designs on these simple projects. My cylinders quickly became a dragon mug.

Buttoned-up Pitcher

The surface decorations give an ordinary pitcher more depth and the illusion of being buttoned up. This pitcher is 5x7 inches. It is wheel thrown. Throw marks are visible on the interior of the project. The glazes used are white, red, green, and turk. The white covers the whole project while red, green and turk color the buttons on the side. The project has the illusion of fabric being buttoned up on the side.

Multi-Piece

The glaze being on both pieces of the project helps to unite them together. This multi-piece is 3x7.75 inches. The project is wheel thrown. Both the plate and the cylinder. There are visible throw marks on the top and bottom of the plate and the outside and inside of the cylinder. The glaze used is chrome green. The chrome green sits mostly solid on the plate, but drips down the cylinder. The way the green sits on both the plate and the cylinder unites the two pieces together.

Starry Night Mug