lesson 2

lesson 2

our first excise was to make a small pot by rolling a lump of clay into
a ball and then with our thumb pressed into the middle we began rotating and
pressing with our thumbs to hollow out the centre.

-use water to smooth over cracks

- to push 2 peices of clay together smooth 2 contacting sides and shosh
them together to get rid of the air.

second task we watched the tutor roll out some red clay
(this clay will dye your clothes if you come in contact with it) to
role out the clay first you put news paper or a cloth down to make
sure that you do not stain the table, then if you are not conferdent
that you will apply even pressure put down guild rails ether side of the
ball of clay.

-i followed the step above

once the they was flat i cut it into two peices and then used lower guild
rails to flatten the clay to a lower thickness,once this was done (after
many trys) i left the clay to harden out of its plastic form.

carving the stammp

i took a plaster block and using a scaple i began to carv out my stamp
(my stamp is of a refined gentalman)

- wet the plaster

- when you finish carving remember to press it into rubbish clay to get
rid of all the loose plaster

after completing my stamp i used the tile cutter to cut my sample tiles,
into one of the tiles i pressed my first stamp.

- i put my finished work in the kilm room

- finished by cleaning my tools and table

lesson 1

in our first lesson we watched a power point presentation on different styles of vase and the project that we will be working on, we saw all the different styles of vases and allot of different artists that have used pottery as a political statement.

-went through the assignment brief

i took most interest in the cobalt blue dye style of vase because as a child we use to have a few peices over the fire place.

- we went on a trip to the museum to look at some local artists that had made some pots/ vases in a range of different styles to portray their feelings.

research 2

cobalt pigment

www.ceramicslife.com 

the glaze i want to decorate my vase with will have cobalt in it, this will give the glaze a blue tint and i feel will give my vase a traditional look showing that corruption isn't just a modern problem.
the reason i have chosen this style is again from personal experiences  when i was younger i use to enjoy looking at the blue crockery on the mantel piece, i always thought the dark blues made the plates stand out more than any of the glass or metal ornaments.

research one

my theme:
the theme i have chosen is the ideal and reality, through my vase i wish to per-tray the difference between how we want to see the world and how it really is.

the reason i have chosen this as my theme comes from many different experiences though out my life and things I've heard about or seen on the news/ documentaries, the first reason i have chosen this as a topic is because in the past i have been lied to, on the out side someone who lies seems honest and harmless for if you suspect the lie the persons lies will fall apart.

it was while thinking about this that i noticed a repeating pattern, we are always being lied to by governments  friends, family members, the news even when we are in school we are told things that are not true because its easier that way, we all know lying is wrong and yet doing it as its easier than admitting are mistakes, in fact in allot of cases its much simpler to except a lie than it is to hear something that hurts.

if no one could lie one of two things would happen, the first being no one could do anything bad as they would not be able to lie about it/ no one could ever be falsely accused, however what i think would happen is chaos as the human mind is not pure and jealousy and hatred fill human history, allot of the times fights haven't broken out is because of politics which if no one can lie wouldn't exist.

this theme could also be tied into utopia and distopia a subject i have been studying on the FD design for games course.

the design: 
to show the differences between a perfect dream world and reality half the vase will be perfectly curved and depict images of peace and happiness such as flowers on well cut  grass and people having a good time, while the other half of the vase will be warped and disfigured, the pattern on this side of the vase will be depressing showing images of corruption and violence.

Amphora Vase

Place Made: Cambodia

Medium: Silver plate

Dimensions: 18 inches

"Tall vase with two caryatid handles detailed with dragon heads in repoussé and finely chased lines.  Four large floral relief-ornamented lobes decorate the footed base and shoulder of this amphora.

This amphora was presented to Mrs. Kennedy by Prince Norodom Sihanouk, King of Cambodia in November of 1967."

This vase is what i have used for inspiration, the reason i chose this piece as my base is because of this smooth curved shape which in my eyes is perfection, the design of my vase will not just be a perfect smooth curved shape as the design of the vase its self will reflect the theme. 

"'Catastrophe' vase

Maxim Velcovsky

(born Czechoslovakia, 1976)/ Studio Qubus

2007

Porcelain, natural and found materials

One of an edition of 6 unique vases

Lent by Mint, London

Velcovsky's 'Catastrophe' vases look like they have just been exhumed from an archaeological site. Brutal, even ugly, they appear to be covered in earth and detritus as though they have survived a natural or manmade calamity - an earthquake, a landslide or an explosion."

for the warp corrupt side of the vase i have used  Catastrophe' vase as reference, the reason i have chosen this as my second reference is because it doesn't conform to the normality of vase design, by this i mean it is not designed to be beautiful or elegant. 

the artist I've used as inspiration is Timorous Beasties because he creates beautiful pieces of art work but if you look closely you can see the designs are made up from so disturbing/ unsettling images.