TUESDAY NITE OR BLUEBERRY?

Recently I've been trying to duplicate a glaze that is no longer being manufactured,

that all my students and myself loved to use.

It was a transparent blue-green.

Well, 

I pretty much failed what I was going for on this first attempt,

but the kids loved what I came up with,

so I stopped messing with it.

Have I given up?

Never,

it's way too much fun!

The students wanted to name it so we turned it into a contest.

It  was a close race between the name Blueberry that junior Sara Ryave submitted,

or

Moonlit Pond on a Tuesday Nite (December 27, 1932) by junior Eugene Ho. 

LOL

Here is the winner after the kids voted,

Sara holding the prize,

the pot I made and experimented on.

Congrats Sara!

I'VE SAID IT BEFORE...IT'S ALL ABOUT SURFACE DESIGN

WHEEL THROWN BOWLS AND PLATES

CERAMICS II

clay, glazes. oxides, ceramic pencil & wax resist

Second Semester's intermediate clay kids learn to throw on the potter's wheels,

and in the 4th Quarter they do bowls and plates.

They are required to alter the plastic wheel thrown pots before we send them to be fired

for added interest.

And then after the first firing

 are required to try out different decorative techniques with glazing.

In this first glorious piece senior Cindy Ryoo altered her work by cracking off the edges

for an organic treatment.

And the technique she used here for glazing was done with glaze,

wax resist and oxides. 

Both sides were so extraordinary I had to take a pix of each.

I almost forgot,

They also learned to trim the bottom of the bowls and plates 

as you can see below.

Only the piece on the left was altered along the rim/lip, 

so the others must have been for extra credit.

But all of these beauties belong to senior Sameera Ahmed.

Her glazing from left to right:

glaze with sponged on wax then oxide over top,

(top middle) glaze with painted oxide design,

(bottom middle) ceramic pencil with transparent glaze over top,

and glaze with wax design and then oxide brushed over.

These last three all belong to senior Jue Eun Lee.

Honestly,

 I can't tell /remember how she achieved the very atmospheric look on the piece above left,

but it sure is cool!

Piece on right is wax resit design with glaze over top.

And then everyone's favorite was this one Jue Eun did with ceramic pencil

and transparent glaze over.

It was so special from so many angles.

THROWING ON THE WHEEL

THROWN MUGS, BOWLS & A VASE

CERAMICS II

clay & glazes

We haven't seen many Ceramics II pieces lately,

so I thought I'd showcase a few of their Second Semester wheel thrown pieces.

I have to be honest though,

I'm doing a bit of guessing on names 

because I forgot to write them down.

So I'm pretty sure that this first mug belongs to senior Sameera Ahmad.

I wanted to show both views so you could really appreciate all the twists and flowers.

Beautiful design and so nicely glazed as well!

I do know that all three of these mugs belong to senior Erion Hsaio.

She got some really cool drip effects by overlaying one glaze atop another.

I also believe these two bowls are Erin's as well.

One of the favorite glazes this year was the blue matt in combination with the blue-green.

There is a very pleasing contrast between the shiny and the matte glaze.

And then of course if you overlap them you get a very interesting blurry effect.

I have one note to myself that Erin did this piece as well,

but then another note that says senior Cindy Ryoo created it.

Ok you two,

which one is it???

Whoever it is, 

it is brilliant in it's pleasing design and glazing.

This work was one of the student's favorites this year.

This is our copper glaze,

very earthy with really lovely with subtle breaks.

LONG TIME NO SEE

WHEEL THROWN POTS

CERAMICS II

clay, oxides  & glazes

It's been a while since I posted about my Ceramics II kids.  

They are alive and well,

mastering the art of the potter's wheel.

Senior Nicholas Tudor really struggled at first 

but reached his aa hh moment several weeks ago, 

and is now thoroughly enjoying throwing on the wheel.

Mastering the throwing process came a bit sooner for senior Sameera Ahmad.

We only have 5 electric wheels and one kick wheel.

Usually no one wants the kick but Sameera claimed it for her own.

She has the advantage of a nice large tray to set all her throwing equipment, 

a sturdy metal back splash to brace her arms on, 

and an adjustable seat.

Here are some of their finished pieces.

Above we have 3 pieces by senior Cindy Ryoo.

I've required my students for the first time this year 

to alter the surface of each of the pots they turn in for grading.

(they may do whatever they want with their extra credit works)

On this next one by Nick Tudor,

he has tried out ceramic pencil for surface design.

Ceramic pencils are oxides in pencil form.

The kids love drawing with them right onto the bisqueware 

and then putting Transparent glaze over top.

Nick also glazed the top and bottom edges with our Tan glaze for a bit of contrast.

And this little cutie is the work of senior Yasmeem Pardo.

Great flowy lip with multiple glazes doing cool things on the surface.

It's All About Surface Design

THROWN & TRIMMED BOWLS AND PLATES

CERAMICS II

clay, wax resist, glazes, oxides

In their 4th semester the kids learn how to throw on the potter's wheels bowls and plates, and also how to trim the bottoms to elevate them for a more elegant look.

But we don't stop there.

I also teach them several surface design techniques to finish the plates off with.

Senior Tahnee Thanthrong chose a feathers motif to do her wax inlay technique.

Seniors Aditi Ramesh and James Cho are exploring flicking oxide over glaze on the left, and sponging wax resist over top of glaze then brushing oxide over top that on the right. 

Both these bowls are Aditi's.

On the left is the sponging wax over glaze with oxide like James did above, and on the right Aditi has applied glaze first then used wax resist and a brush to draw her diamond design with.

When wax is dry she has brushed oxide over top which makes the wax design pop.  

A close up.

I forgot to write down who this one belongs to but if I had to guess I'd say either senior Carol Oh or or Shamara Mustafa.

This one is also the wax inlay technique which means you dip the piece into a glaze (white was used here).

Then you paint a wax design on top of the dried glaze.

When wax is dry wipe away all the white glaze where the wax is not at, then re dip piece into a contrasting glaze.  (our bluegreen)

And in this last one senior Aman Patel experimented by drizzling tiny glass shards over top a glazed plate.

Very pretty.

Mugs with Attitude

WHEEL THROWN MUGS

CERAMICS II

clay & glaze

Once the kids have learned to throw a cylinder on the potter's wheel, I show them how to get bulbous forms by shaping from the inside out.

I also show them how to pull a handle from a lump of clay.

My students are required to make 2 mugs, one with a pulled handle one with a handbuilt handle.

The mugs are also supposed to be different shapes and sizes.

I also encourage them to do something interesting when glazing for an eye catching surface design.

One of their options is a masking tape design like the one on the left. 

Senior Aditi Ramesh put masking tape right onto the bisqueware in lines and shapes that she cut out before dipping the pot in our turquoise glaze.

Another option is dipping in multiple glazes like Aditi did with the one on the right.

Some drooling will occur because you are doubling and tripling the glazes over top of themselves. 

Around the top rim is fine like you see here.

It's a beautiful look, but when it happens at the bottom of the pot it could cause it to get stuck to the kiln shelf,

so one has to be very careful where they allow the glazes to overlap.

These are gorgeous Aditi!

Wheel Thrown Ware - Student Work

Last years Cermics II kids really got into throwing on the potter's wheel, especially Eddie Ponce.  These two lovely vases above along with the sweet teapot below were his work.

Rita Labib really got into the glazing of her thrown and altered pieces, doing a lot of cool experimentation.

And Stella Park really enjoyed our bowl unit, and then the glazing of them.

I miss you guys, hope all is well, and that you are happy.  Looks like we have another strong crop of second year clay kids this year, so stop by and see what they are up to.

Wheel Thrown Clay Mugs - Student Work

In 2nd Semester Ceramics II, the kids are required to learn how to throw on the potter's wheel.  I start then off with cylinder froms then we move on to "S" curves in mugs and vases.  In the mug assignment they are required to throw 2 mugs, each a different form with a handbuilt handle, and the other a pulled handle.

These 2 mugs belong to senior Rita Labib.  She wasn't very happy with them because they ended up out of round, but because of the playful handles she has attached, I feel like they work in a whimsical sort of way.  She was going to throw away the top one and I said hey, wait a sec, let me take it home and plant it for you. when I brought it back she feel in love with it  :).  

This next mug below was made by senior Eddie Ponce.  He was really happy with the outcome of this piece, and so was I.

A Sweet Grouping!

Thrown Pottery - Student Work

During the Second Semester my Ceramics II kids learn how to throw on the potter's wheel.  This is a very challenging time for them because throwing is a global skill, the learning is very difficult and must be practiced often.  And my poor babies did struggle, but not one of them gave up and I'm so proud to show off their work.  And of course a part of the process is glazing the pots.  So these first two were done with ceramic oxide pencils and the kids were able to draw their designs on then put transparent glaze over top.

The top one was done by very talented senior David Hyun, who was also one of my top drawing/painting students.  And below we have senior Hannah Woo doing a very cool geometric design.

I've lost track of who the two above belong to, but my best guess is senior Melissa Garcia.  She has used ceramic pencil on the first plate and multiple poured glazes on the second.

And below we have senior Tiffany Liu with these three very differently finished pieces.  In the first plate on the left she has stained the piece with cobalt oxide then used a transparent glaze over top, the top right piece she cut up pieces of masking tape in the shape of triangles, rubbed them down onto her bisqued plate then dipped the piece in our blue glaze.  And the bottom one was first dipped into our black glaze then she poured a bit of white glaze over top.  Of all 5 of the kids, Tiffany had the hardest time learning to throw, but I really admire her tenacity, she worked so hard, never gave up and managed to throw more pieces then the other four students.  Way to go Tiffany!  And earned her "A"  :)

This next beauty is another work by David, in which he used multiple glazes to finish it off with.

And then senior Alyssa Olea made this cutie below.  She also struggled mightily, but again her determination pulled her thru and she ended up with many lovely works.  This piece was actually one of her rejects but she saved it by adding a face and handle for a really fun mug.  

I'm so proud of all of you.  Thank you for a great year and good luck in your first year in college, I know you start soon.  I'll be thinking of you all.  Keep in touch.

Wheel Thrown Plates - Student Work

Senior Chareena Eleazar, my only Ceramic II student this last year, took to the potter's wheel like a duck to water.  One of her assignments on the wheel was to make 2 plates, one out of porcelain clay with ceramic pencil designs drawn on, and the 2nd plate was to be thrown but altered when it was still plastic.  These are the results.  Very cool pieces Chareena!

More Ceramics, Especially for you James Poupongtong :)

Senior Chareena Eleazar in 2nd year ceramics is learning how to throw on the potter's wheel. These are a couple of her very first pieces. She was required to throw 2 mugs and 2 cylinders. I adore the mug above because of it's shape as well as the surface decoration she brought into it while it was still plastic. And the 3 pieces below were her practice pieces that she's using for extra credit. She is on her way to being a great potter. She also does a really nice job glazing and finishing her work.

Ceramics II Glazed Wheel Thrown Pots

These beauties are the culmination of a semesters work on the potters wheel by my 2nd year clay students. The first 1/2 of the year was spent handbuilding at an intermediate level, and then this 2nd semester they learned how to throw on the potter's wheel and do more speciality type glazing techniques. They experimented with wax inlay and wax scratch, sponging with wax, oxides and glazes, ceramic pencil, and watercolors for clay. They also used porcelain clay for the first time which was a real treat. They were made to alter a few of their thrown forms, thus the ripped, squished and scalloped edges. The gorgeous pieces above belong to senior Ekta Doshi, and below we have senior Wayne Chen's lovingly crafted pieces.

And above senior Steven Ebalobor shows off his expertise with the glazes. A lot of thought goes into each and every piece Steven makes. You three have been a joy to work with, so easy to teach, such sweet children. Thank you for the tremendous amount of respect that you have shown me everyday. I will miss you greatly.