ARTIST STATEMENT
To create my wheel thrown mugs, I learned how to use the potter’s wheel for the first time. I learned how to center a piece of clay, make a mug, and attach a handle. I also learned how to trim the thrown mugs to create a foot and to stop the glaze from flowing to the bottom.
I chose to glaze my mugs in the same color to unify my mugs in one theme. I chose to combine the high fire glaze colors of blue rutile and iron luster to create a nonuniform and interesting shade of color. It was also my first time using high fire glazes, and so I was eager to see the final results. The color didn’t turn out exactly as I had hoped it would, with more olive and blue than green, but I still am pleased with the grainy and flowing effect caused by the high fire glazes.
When I first threw on the wheel, it was much easier than I had expected. Centering wasn’t very difficult, and the clay moved the way I wanted it to for the most part. However, this proved to be beginner’s luck when I tried to throw again the next class. The clay refused to be centered, and when it did get centered, the clay detached from the wheel a few seconds later. I spent two classes trying to make a mug without success. Near the end I got used to throwing again, and I was able to make 2 mugs before the deadline. I learned that using the tips of my fingers made it hard to form holes because of the fingernails, and so I made the holes with my joints. I found trimming to be relatively easy compared to the actual throwing of the mugs.
I chose to glaze my mugs in the same color to unify my mugs in one theme. I chose to combine the high fire glaze colors of blue rutile and iron luster to create a nonuniform and interesting shade of color. It was also my first time using high fire glazes, and so I was eager to see the final results. The color didn’t turn out exactly as I had hoped it would, with more olive and blue than green, but I still am pleased with the grainy and flowing effect caused by the high fire glazes.
When I first threw on the wheel, it was much easier than I had expected. Centering wasn’t very difficult, and the clay moved the way I wanted it to for the most part. However, this proved to be beginner’s luck when I tried to throw again the next class. The clay refused to be centered, and when it did get centered, the clay detached from the wheel a few seconds later. I spent two classes trying to make a mug without success. Near the end I got used to throwing again, and I was able to make 2 mugs before the deadline. I learned that using the tips of my fingers made it hard to form holes because of the fingernails, and so I made the holes with my joints. I found trimming to be relatively easy compared to the actual throwing of the mugs.