Week Thirteen

Week Thirteen

                        

This week was presentation week.  I cut it rather fine and was removing work from the kiln the morning of the presentation.  I was thrilled with the above two vases, as the vintage effect that I was trying to achieve was successful.  I poured clear glaze inside the vessels and painted underglaze and clear glaze on the outside.    The matt and gloss effect after firing was very pleasing.  

When I presented, the feedback was positive, including a couple of people wanting to buy pieces.  After presentation I deliberately sought more feedback and it was just the same: great work and really good that I was able to achieve this standard without having practiced much on the wheel before.  Thinking back to my ill-fated internship, perhaps the tuition I received was beneficial.  It was strict and under pressure but I absorbed it quickly.  I guess I didn't want to be yelled at, so tried to do as I was shown 200%!  The ability to throw cylinders is very useful as most shapes of vessels come from that.  At this stage, I am not trying to replicate a particular form, but at least I was shown how to do that too.

The following photo shows the only pieces I saved from the internship.  They are red earthenware, painted with under-glaze.  As it happens, the interior of these two pieces bears a fault: the glaze 'crawled'.  This means the glaze has lifted from the clay.  It is caused in this case, by the glaze being applied to heavily.

                                       All photos:  Andrews, M. (2017) Collection of vessels.  

Overall I am glad to have done this project.  My skills have rocketed and I am developing an understanding of the processes and possibilities inherent in this medium.  I find it challenging, frustrating and relaxing all at once.  I have to learn when to stop working on a pot.  Sometimes I go too far and lose it.  It will collapse and I have to scrape it off the board and start again.  As part of this common occurrence, I am learning about recycling clay.

Going into the future, I have committed to continuing with clay as one of my mediums.  I have bought a potter's wheel for myself.  I have also enrolled in an eight week pottery course at Northern Beaches TAFE, in Brookvale, Sydney.  I chose to go there as they have very good facilities, as I have seen on the internet.  I will also enjoy a new environment, new galleries, new inspirations and meeting new artists.

                               Northern Beaches TAFE, (n.d.). Throwing Room [Image].  Retrieved 

                               from https://northernbeachesceramics.wordpress.com/dept-images/