The Last of the Christmas Mugs

Remember when I showed you those mugs I made for holiday gifts way back when?! Well, I have finally gotten the rest of them fired and packaged up for some very special people. Here, are the last mugs - they went through a Salt Fire Atmosphere - where the temperatures get mega hot and at a certain temperature, salt is added to the kiln. This allowed the salt particles to break up and adhere to the pieces placed in the kiln. It gives a very interesting crystallized look to them! I cannot tell who these are for, since they are on their way to the recipients now! But they are late holiday gifts!

Happy Late Christmas!

TheChristyBel

Naughty or Nice?

Sunfish

Have you been naughty or nice this year?!? TheChristyBel could tell! Just kidding. This year, for holiday gifts, I made a bunch of ceramic mugs for family and friends! Here are a few that I have given away already. There are a few more that still need to be given to some recipients. I'll post more when all them have been distributed! I am so grateful to have taken the ceramics class. Not only to expand my artistic capabilities, but I was able to make all of my gifts for the holidays. Saved me time and money since I was already in the studio for most of my fall semester life! I was able to also incorporate my 2-D drawings onto the mugs too through the Xerox image transfer method. So everyone got 3-D and 2-D art from me. They came out pretty well! Don't you think?!

Western Northern Flicker

Pronghorn

Western Meadowlark

Snow Shoe Hare

Dragonfly

Downy Woodpecker

Chickadee

Black Bear

Great Horned Owl

Rock Climber

Updated Ceramics: 3/4 Forms & Composite

Like I promised, I have some additional photos of my last Ceramics II problems. Enjoy!

TheChristyBel

3/4 Form - Mammal Skulls
3-lbs 50/50 Stoneware
Xerox Stain Transfers & Reduction Glaze Firing

3/4 - Birds of Prey
3-lbs 50/50 Stoneware
Xerox Stain Transfers & Oxidation Glaze Firing

3/4 Form - Flowers
3-lbs 50/50 Stoneware
Sgraffito with Red Colored Slip & Oxidation Glaze Firing

3/4 Form - Leaves
3-lbs 50/50 Stoneware
Sgraffito with Blue-Green Colored Slip & Oxidation Glaze Firing

Composite - Tree of Life
Turned into a Jewelry Holder

Ceramics II: The Final Critique

Bowls & 

After four-months of grinding my hands on a spinning-metal wheel, multiple 20-lb bags of clay, lots of flopping, wedging, and recycling clay, I can confidently say I have successfully completed a semester of one of my first formal art classes, and in a medium I am not too comfortable in! Below are photos of my last problems of the Ceramics II class: a variety of bowls, a few 3/4 forms, and a composite. 

The bowls represent simple dipping and pouring techniques in which each set (a different color) is provided with a small, medium, and larger bowl. The 3/4 forms are more decorative pieces where I wanted to use them as blank canvases for a variety of the application techniques we learned throughout the course. Some applications that I tried and really liked were the Xerox transfers (where I can take photo copies of my own drawings and apply them to vessels; very cool and different than the underglaze pencils I tried earlier in the semester) and Graffito (where you apply colored-slip to leather hard glaze, let is dry a smidge, and then carve out designs exposing the white clay underneath). My fourth set of bowls had to be decorated by a 2-D artist inspiration. So I chose, David Sibley, a well-known birder, naturalist, and artist. I copied one of his drawings, made a silk screen of an EASTERN Northern Flicker and applied it to my bowls. I also used a variety of underglazes to recapture his water-color and accurate color distinctions in his bird drawings. I was very impressed with that. My composite has been bisque-fired, glazed, and fired in a reduction atmosphere. I am pretty pleased with the outcome result. A little bit too dark than what I anticipated, but I keep envisioning a morning hike and seeing a tree emerge from the fog of a cloudy, fall morning. I like that gloomy-at-dawn impression it represents. But my work is up for interpretation...

Stay tuned: I'll post photos of my 3/4 forms closer up for more viewing.

Ceramics has definitely challenged me as an artist, and I really enjoyed my progression and journey. I know I have a lot to learn about this medium and know I still have not made my 'best' pieces with clay yet. But I'm interested to see if I continue with this medium and excited to see what my hands will create next! Overall, very impressed with successfully surviving my first formal art class and what I have been able to create. It's nice being back in a studio (even though I was not dancing in this one). Hopefully I can get into another art class to clear my insanity for the spring. 

TheChristyBel

'Mother Earth'

Ceramics II: Last Problem of the Semester - Composites

For the last problem of the semester, we were assigned to construct a composite piece. A composite piece is made of constructing pieces out of several thrown pieces or sections. A composite can also be called a sectional piece. We were asked to design 5-6 ideas that consisted of at least 4-thrown pieces. In the end, we would only construct one composite. The composite needed to be at least 15-inches in height.

I decided to continue my nature-theme in my art and decided to construct a tree out of an 3/4 altered form (where the cylinder closes at the top - resembling a cone), two bowls put together to resemble a globe/world/Earth, and to present the entire piece on a plate. This took two attempts to construct.

My first 'draft' did not come out well and resulted in a lop-sided globe! So, another 6-hours later, I threw more pieces and they came out a lot better when I started attaching them to each other. It's a good thing, Margaret says to throw more bowls that you need...insurance!

But after throwing the new pieces, I constructed the main profile in the studio: two bowls as the globe and the cone. I also extruded a bunch of clay rods to break apart and morph them into branches. I then decided to take the pieces home and assemble in the courtesy of a calm environment. This really meaning: I like to do art in PJs or just not wear pants at all! Haha.

Let me tell you, placing branches on the cone on top of the globe was really challenging. I had to use an assortment of chairs and household objects to help hold up all the branches while they dried onto the bigger clay body. I was literally sitting on the floor (with no pants on) and using my hair dryer to dry the branches so they can become more sturdy to hold on its own. After a night and all afternoon of drying, I finally grew the courage and faith to let the piece stand on its own...and it succeeded! The next test: drive it back to the ceramics studio...pray to the heavens above (right about now)!

 I carefully picked it up and placed it into one of my moving boxes. Drove about 2-miles an hour all the way to the studio, which is across town from my apartment. Slowly walked it through the doorway and into the studio. Challenge accepted. Second challenge: attach the bottom plate! That took me holding up the tree while my friend, Aaron, got on the floor and scraped and etched into the bottom for us to score and slip the two pieces together! Second Challenge Accepted! Third Challenge: Survive the night without anything holding it up! After wrapping it in a plastic drape cloth, I came back the next morning for class to see it had survived! I showed Margaret (our teacher), who was super pleased, and I added the last touch to the piece: the carving of the world on the globe part. It also was waxed with the cold wax resist to help with the drying of the branches. Now, it currently rests on the finished shelf ready to bisque-fired!

Cross your fingers it survives!
Don't worry, I'll keep ya posted!

TheChristyBel

Glazed Altered Forms!

Just a Quick Update:

Behold, 5 of my 6 Altered Forms: Glazed! 

They came out pretty good! 

I'll have more photos and updates soon!

TheChristyBel

The Ceramics Saga: Problem #3 - Bowls

Well, my altered forms (Problem #2) have been glazed. Most are going to be fired in Oxidation, while I have one of them being fired in a Salt Fire atmosphere! Don't worry if you do not understand that lingo. You soon will when they come out and I have some photos to go along with my explanation.

Anyways, we were given our third problem (Problem #3) for the semester: bowls. Throwing bowls is really different from throwing cylinders, pots, vases, etc. So you do the same similar process of centering and making sure the clay body is in a nice round, ball 'quiet' blob in the middle of the wheel.
When you make your well to open the clay body, you do not go straight in at a vertical approach, but a more slanted approach. So when you look at your well it is more of a V than a U-shape that you use when you throw cylinders and vases.

Making the bowls are a lot less complicated than throwing vertical cylinders, cups, and vases. I actually enjoy throwing bowls more than everything else. For this problem, we are asked to make 4-bowls of three different sizes: small (1.5-2.5 lbs), medium (2.5-3.5 lbs), and large (3.5-4.5 lbs). I'm halfway done these bowls.

I have also adopted my trademark name into my artwork as well: 'thechristybel'. So, if you end up seeing that name in some art stores...it all started here, folks!

Also, we are being asked to complete 3/4 forms too: these are like altered forms with a choked neck at the top. As you can see, I have not completed those yet. Patience, young grasshopper!

More photos to come, everyone!
TheChristyBel

My Altered Forms Have Been Bisque Fired

Just an update: my altered forms with intricate attachments survived the bisque fire! 

Here they are, ready to be glazed! 

However, I'm having an artist's block: I need some ideas on how to glaze them!

Taking suggestions! Comment away!

If I choose your idea: you may be getting a piece of art from theChristyBel! Just so you know! 

*Hint-Hint, Wink-Wink!*

TheChristyBel

And the Ceramics Continues!

Just an artistic update, here are my final altered forms (Problem #2) with intricate (neat-ure-themed) attachments. They are drying and almost ready to be bisque-fired! Then onto glazing! ahhh!!!

Owl in a Tree, Balsamroot, Moose Antler Ceramic Altered Forms
All Wheel-Thrown, Hand Built Attachments, Stoneware

Elk Antler, Feathers, Basal Leaves
All Wheel-Thrown, Hand Built Attachments, Stoneware

All 10 Cylinders I Threw the First Few Weeks of Class (For Problem #1)
A Variety of Glazes, Techniques, and Applications

Glazed Cylinders #1-5

Glazed Cylinders #6-10

Loving this artistic journey, even though it is long, stressful, time-consuming, and incredibly overwhelming, I am having a great time working with my hands again, experimenting, and expanding and challenging my artistic talents!

TheChristyBel

Ceramics - From Home to Studio

This week has been pretty much...hell. I had a huge teaching project due this week for my science methods class, teaching at Spring Creek Elementary, lots of class work, lots of meetings, ample amounts of work for my GA, and lots of ceramics projects due. For Ceramics II, along with 10-cylinders that needed to be glazed, I needed to produce 6-altered forms with attachments ready to be fired. Luckily, most of the art is not due until tomorrow evening and Monday morning...so, I still have time to finish up these projects for Ceramics II. Here is my progress so far! During this time of stress, I bought clay home and was able to work on some attachments while in class, I threw my pots. I really like that process, that way I can relax and get creative with my attachments at home and then put them together in the studio. Enjoy! 

Glazing Process of the Cylinders -Waxing Designs Then a Glaze Dip!

The Beginning of the Nature-Themed Altered Forms
One: Feathers

Two: Basal Leaves and Florets

Owl on a Branch Attachment!

Home Clay Time
Tootsie Pop Owl By Marc Sweet
Yes, Totally Firing This for Him

Home Clay Time
Cubism
Yes, Totally Firing This for Him

Four of My Finished Six!
Almost There!
Four: Owl In Tree, One: Feathers, Two: Basal Leaves & Florets, Three: Elk Antler

Four: Owl in Tree
Bringing the Owls Back From High School to Grad School

Three of the Six - Ready to Be Fired!

More finished products photos to come! Stay Tuned!

TheChristyBel

Welcome Back to Art Class!

This semester, I wanted to take a class that focuses on my love for art and well, a brain break from all the other classes I am taking. Plus, one of my faculty said it would be good to take this course to also help me with my Plan B (which I think I want it to be focusing on determining professional development teacher workshops and programs that incorporate art into scientific learning). We will see.

Anyways...so this semester, I am taking Ceramics II - one of the only art classes that a non-art major can get into. It was such a process getting into it! Calling teachers and the registrar...crazy. But yes, this class is awesome. It is all focused on the wheel and the art of throwing. Can I just say, I have not thrown in a class since junior/senior year of high school with Mrs. Yarnall!!! That's over 11+ years ago!!!! But it was so good to start again, and after 3-classes, my hands are remembering what they had learned that long ago. I cannot wait to see my progression again and to show you some new 3-D ChristyBel artwork! Ahhhhhh!

First Cylinder I am Satisfied With!
It's Still Too Short to Turn In, But It's a Start!

Getting to Draw Too!
Ceramics Research Consists of Finding Some Pieces You Find Interesting & Drawing Them!

I'm in heaven!

TheChristyBel