PROJECT 2

Project 2 Collages – Robbie Beard

Project 2 Collages- Isabelle Maina

Past student clay projects that employ inventive alterations

Richard Notkin’s incredibly detailed, often politically charged, and bizzare ceramic projects

Project 2 Collages- Hannah Kosko

Public speaking used to be my biggest fear. I would do everything in my power to avoid it. I knew I would have to overcome this fear but I didn’t know how or where to start. Three years ago I was given the opportunity to be one of the captains of my field hockey team during a big tournament. The only catch was on the last night of the tournament we have a big team dinner where the captains give speeches to each person on the team. While writing the speeches with my co-captain, it started to feel more and more real, and all I could think about was presenting them. As we were sitting through dinner I was so zoned-out and distracted and couldn’t believe that I was about to speak in front of this many people. Dinner was over and it was time for us to give the speeches. My legs were shaking, as was the paper I was reading off of. I was scared to look up so I kept my eyes glued to the paper, to make sure I didn’t lose my place. I couldn’t wait for it to be over, I felt my eyes were getting blurry. But soon enough it was over and I felt the biggest wave of relief. After this, I was captain for the next 4 tournaments and every time it was easier and I would get much less nervous. To this day I am still grateful for that opportunity and how it impacted me. During my time in high school, I started to take on more leadership roles and started to enjoy getting involved. I even got the opportunity to read the opening prayer at my high school graduation, which is something the younger version of me would have never thought I would do. I realized now how important it was for me to push myself that first time because it forced me outside my comfort zone, helped me become a better leader, and made me more confident.

Key Words:

Growth
Nervous
Confidence
Terrified
Leader
Anxious
Quiet
Frozen
Relief
Uncomfortable
Brave

Morgan Muller Collages

Step by step images that show the clay modeling process

Artist begins with a small scale maquette. Notice the high level of detail.

The artist builds an armature to help support the weight of the clay

To create a good bond, a great deal of COMPRESSION is needed.

The artist adds a temporary support under the creature’s snout. As the clay dries it will become more rigid and the support will no longer be necessary.

Notice how the artist works from many points of view. This is important for 3d artists — it enables us to understand the form and make effective improvements.

The rough sculpting of the form is finished. Now the artist allows the clay to dry to the leather hard stage to make it stronger.

The artist cuts the form up into manageable parts.

The artist hollows out the form. Notice the consistent wall thickness. In your own project you should strive for a wall thickness of 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch — about the thickness of your thumb.

Now that all of the parts are hollow, the artist puts everything back together.

To create a good bond it is necessary to slip and score both sides. A great deal of pressure is also required. The artists will squeeze the parts together with a firm grip and a lot of fussing over details. Failing to be thorough with this step could result in a catastrophic collapse of the form later.

This is the a part of the creature’s abdomen. Notice that the artist has chosen to leave a wall inside to increase the form’s strength.

The artist flattens the wall to ensure a consistent wall thickness.

The finished result. The artist delights in a job well done.

Project 2 – Caroline Williams

When I was about 14, I prepared a performance piece for a mid-season piano recital, Solfeggietto by Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach. This was a casual recital, no crazy intricate performances that showcased the best of our abilities, but rather an update to what we’ve been practicing. During practice, I recall being satisfied with the speed and volume of my piece, and prepared to perform on stage with it. Except once I arrived at the music center, my piano teacher guiltily informed my mom and I that, of the small group of players who had said they could attend, I was the only one who was actually able to show up. But he was determined to make the performance happen, so he ushered in the random woman who was in the waiting room, and I performed the song, which was maybe 2 minutes long, to three people. The setup was strange, I was facing them rather than being set at an angle, playing on an electric weighted keyboard. But I had practiced, recorded myself, and played at various speeds, so everything should’ve been fine. But it wasn’t, because I fumbled the performance enough for it to be obvious to my very small audience, and I probably threw any attempt at dynamics out the window. The entire event was probably done within 10 minutes, but I was embarrassed and disappointed with myself. It is a constant reminder of how a perfect practice will not always be replicated on stage. I was probably nervous from the strange performance I was having, but I still don’t enjoy participating in artistic performances.

Adjectives: perfect, fine

Verbs: perform, practice, fumbled, replicate,

Emotions: embarrassed, disappointed, nervous

Central Terms: piano, Bach, speed, only one