Taking a College Ceramics Class!

Looking back over this short semester, the studio has created an environment key to my growth in ceramics techniques thanks to inspiring artists, a collaborative space, and a free space open to experimentation.

Coil Built. Created c. 2009.

Thrown. Created c. 2009

For fun, I have dug up some of my older ceramic pieces! In middle school I took a month long ceramics “summer camp” through my school and learned a bit of ceramics in art classes through middle school and early high school; however, the medium never really stuck with me. I procrastinated on taking ceramics one throughout all of college because I was so sure I wouldn’t like it! Guess I was wrong.

Project 1: Technical Portfolio

Technical Portfolio in the greenware stage.

I had a lot of fun learning how to throw and experimenting with coil building. I was very inspired by Henry Takemoto’s glazing techniques when working on my pitcher. I enjoyed his use of blue and his biomorphic shapes. When It came to throwing I was watching a lot of YouTube videos for inspiration, as well as , watching one of my classmates throw a lot of larger vessels. I found that I really enjoyed the wheel, but appreciated the time and intricacy that went into hand building.

Untitled, 1959, Henry Takemoto.

Learn more: Henry Takemoto

Technical portfolio after glazing.

Project 2: Nature Inspired

Nature portfolio greenware.

mammillaria dixanthocentron

throughout my nature inspired portfolio I knew I wanted to use both hand built and thrown pieces. I really wanted to play with having both elements present in a lot of pieces. I was inspired by cacti and how they’re dangerous but we put them in pots and talk about how cute they are. I created a series of domestic items all in reference to cacti.

I was was looking into images of cacti and found one named the mammillaria dixanthocentron. When I saw it I instantly thought it looked like it had been made through baker’s piping bag! My professor encouraged me to try any technique I wanted and...it worked!

Rebecca Hutchinson, Distending Pink, Fired and unfired porcelain paper clay, handmade paper, organic material. 6' x 8' x 18"

Learn more: Rebecca Hutchinson

Nature portfolio finished glazed pieces.

Project 3: Glazed Portfolio

I chose the above three pieces as my glazed portfolio because they are visually cohesive, each was an experiment, and shows a certain level of comfort with glazing.
On the far left, I used wax resist to create the x’s. On the center piece, I wiped away the glaze. On the far right piece, I used painters tape to reveal a shape.
I have always been very inspired by pottery that uses the natural stoneware texture in the overall aesthetic of the piece. I saw @moonstonedpottery at the Art Walk here in Corpus Christi not long ago and was very influenced by her style of glazing.

As always, thanks for checking out my blog! 

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​Until Next Time,
-Izzy Sneed