Ceramics

When I took this workshop last year, in all honestly, I didn't enjoy it at all. I disliked the coil pots, the brief and everything else; this may be because last year I wasn't open minded towards new things. However, this year, I really enjoyed ceramics, possibly because the subject was a lot more personal and I found the teaching method a lot more helpful.

Firstly, we all got told the brief — make a figurine of yourself — and we had to design a figure on paper before hand. I drew mine with plaits, my parka coat and converse as this is what I'm generally portrayed by. After we were roughly happy with our design and notes, we started handling the clay, and I found this part difficult; kneading it in order to remove air bubbles to stop it exploding in the oven. We used red clay as it holds together better, but it was tough to handle and move around and mound to the shape you wanted. 

Once the clay was kneaded well enough, we started to smack it down against the table to flatten it out; we then moulted it into a square in order to cut it with cheese wire later. The tutor showed us a diagram for our figure, showing us how to use your thumb to measure it out properly (the average figure is 7 and 1/2 heads tall.)

Once I'd cut some clay off, I used a rolling pin to flatten it out then used an etching tool to sketch out my figure. 

Once happy with it, I pulled it out from the clay and lay it flat. After realising that moulding it as one part was too hard, I split it up in order to mould each part and use solution to stick them back together later.

When I was happy with the basic shape, I made a base (hollowed out to prevent exploding) then sat the figure on top, using a scraping tool to smooth it out. I then started adding my fringe and plaits.

When the plaits kept falling off, I ended up using seperate pieces of clay and twisting them together which worked a lot better. I added extra clay around my neck and wrists then smoothed them out to make the coat, then etched the coats design in to the shoulders.

I decided to leave the face, as I wasn't confident making feautures and didn't want to ruin it as I am happy overall happy with my figure, although I believe some parts are too lumpy.

The World I Live In - Evaluation

The World I Live In - Evaluation
I enjoyed the project in the summer because it was research and I had lots of options to choose from. One particular one was when I listened to different songs and drew what I felt from each song. I enjoyed making notes and there was no actual pressure as such to get this in as I worked at my own pace. I intended to find I worked in short bursts which I like better.
For my theme I just made lots of lists/drawings/discussions about what I thought related to me and how people around me thought what related to me. Some we agreed on, some were surprising.
 I decided to go with what I thought were the most personal to me.

I did a mixture of Primary, Secondary and observational drawings. I also made notes on post it’s ‘and took photos. I developed my research with advice from the tutors and my dad.

I think the biggest influence in my designs was my family’s’ input as we are close, my personal choices and the Illustrator Andrew Loomis. I want to be an Illustrator and I looked through some of books my dad had and researched him online. I love the colours he uses and the techniques he demonstrates.

The images reflected his everyday life (he used to do lots of observational drawings of his family and house) and I think this links into the theme The World I Live In. I love the glamour and colour of his subject and images and another thing I found out in research is that the Illustrator for Marvel Alex Ross is influenced by Loomis. Marvel is another part of my world.

Another area I really enjoyed was the work by Photographer Cecil Beaton and since looking at his work my interest in this area had increased also. I have since attended some workshops in college about photography.

My final pieces of work were based on Loomis and I will use this as an influence again. It has reinforced my decision about Illustration to the extent that I have mainly researched Illustration courses in the UCAS sessions at college.

In my drawings and planning board I used acrylic, coloured pencils and pastels using different texture and coloured paper. I used a mixed media on my final piece of pencils and pastels on coloured paper.

I did not manage my time in the last few weeks and I think if I had been better organised I would like to experimented more with mixed media and done more pastel work. I think overall the picture of me wearing a hat is my favourite and I wish I had done than that as my final piece. I chose my final piece because I thought it reflected me more but because of my time management I had to focus on the picture instead of taking my time and I think this took away my enjoyment. I think Cecil Beaton influenced me in using photographs for research and his images were similar to Loomis. Loomis is the biggest influence in this project which I think is reflected in my planning boards.

Some of the problem solving I did was looking at the images of Loomis and trying to put a modern interpretation on them and how it related to my world. I enjoyed this part of the research as it was my ideas not anyone else’s input.

The processes I went through were mostly positive experiences including using photography as part of my research.

I think I can say my drawings of Loomis went well as I have completed a number of drawings influenced by him.

I think what went worse was the Freud images. I found it harder than it appeared and I found his techniques difficult to use. I found his use of colour depressing as the work went on so I found it harder to finish the work.

I did not use my time well and this is an issue that always happens because then I start to panic and then get even further behind. I start out well but as the unit progressed I found myself focusing more of the Loomis work than the paperwork. This is because I find the paperwork boring even though I know it is important part of the course to show how my ideas have developed and my understanding of the course.

I did not use my blog effectively because I do not enjoy it. I let my notes pile up then had to put them all together. I am going to try and set a time each week in the next unit to try and keep on top of it.

I am satisfied with most areas of the course, particularly researching Beaton and Loomis. I think this is a string area and this is seen in my creative work.

I could have planned my time better and kept on top of the writing side of the course. This is what I would do differently and I need to sort it out before the FMP.

Georgie Lee

851 word count.

http://ceramicworkshop1.blogspot.com

The World I Live In - November
Monday 2nd November.
Talked to Claire about my work and she gave some ideas how I could develop it and my design boards. I am starting to panic now as the work is due in soon.
I finished the picture of me in my pug pyjamas - it took me a lot longer than I thought because of the design on the legs. I should have allowed extra time for this and I did not. Next time I will think about times and the amount of detail. I am starting the Carlsberg picture this week, it took some time to get my dog to pose. I did not think about that dogs have a mind of their own.

11th November
Finished the Carlsberg one but I will have to go back later to it to see if I need to add any details. I am trying to catch up on the paper side but I always fall behind on this. I need to better sorted out.
I chose an image of a Loomis woman wearing a hat - I chose this because I love hats. I have started to do this in pastels which I love to use and I have chosen coloured paper for a bit more experimenting (like Clare suggested).

16th November
Finished the one in the hat and I love it. My mum loves it because she says I have captured me! Not sure what she means but I have enjoyed this one most because I feel more confident using pastels and I think this shows in the work.
For my final piece I am doing the pikachu one as I think this most reflects e and I am doing mixed media of pencils and pastels on coloured paper. I am aware of the time again and I think this is spoiling my enjoyment.

19th November.
Trying to get everything sorted again and my organisation sskills have not been good again. I need to set this as a smart target but will use Loomis again if I can.

The World I Live In

8th October
I am doing some of Lucien Freuds work and I am not really enjoying it. All the dark colours are depessing and I found it harder to complete as I am not enjoying it. It is also harder to paint than it looks and I should have kept a colour note of some of the paint mixes I used.
I do not think I will be doing this again as an artist to inspire.

19th October
I have started working on the influence of Andrew Loomis and I really enjoy his work. I find the colours easier to use as they are more happy if that makes sense. I am going to chose some images then get my dad to take some photos of me in a modern day context.
There is an illustration of a woman relaxing reading a book so my dad took a picture of me in my Pikachu onesie using my tablet and wearing converse. All of these relate to me as I have always had a pair of converse, I am always using my phone or DS andI love to wear onesies when I am not having to go anyway.

23rd October
I am working on finishing this picture. I chose to use acrylic as I want to gain more experience in this media. I have chosen a similar image from Loomis but on the photos I am wearing my pug pyjames playing a game on my DS. I choose to do this in one of my favourite media of coloured pencil.

28th Oct
I chose to more images and my dad took some photos of me as a modern interpretation. One was of a girl with her a dog enjoying a drrink. My dad took a photo of me with a bottle of Carlsberg and my dog. I wore modern clothing including skinny jeans which I usually wear when not in onesies. I liked this picture  and decided to do it in acrylic again.

Tuesday 10 th September

Nearly a week back at college doing a Unit about the 'World I Live In'. Its a very vague title but with lots of space for idea. I have been making lots of what this could include, looking back at my sketch book over the holiday I am aware of my family, dog, friends, music and books. But what else could it include so I have started looking at personal things to me such as nachos, pizza, snapchat, onesies pugs. I am also looking at artist which I think may link into this. I am also looking at seconary research but waiting to see what this can include.

16th September
Still a bit vague, got lots of ideas but it is starting to get overwhelming. I need to get it sorted or else I will get stressed and lose focus. I am starting to make lists but I need to try and keep things all in one folder but it is difficult. I have been learning about chunking out which means breaking things down so it is easier to understand. This is helping me to stop getting worked up as much.

29th September
Choose two artists - Lucien Freud and Andrew Loomis.
I have picked Freud because some of his paintings remind me of my family members and I like how realistic he makes them look. They look miserable but not everyone smiles all the time. I am looking at some images called Bella and I am going to try and do that.
My dad helped look at other people and as I want to go into Illustration he showed me a book by Andrew Loomis. I love his work! The colours are so bright and the women are so glamorous.
I also like the techniques he uses for drawing. They are still used today and I watched some videos on YouTube showng people using techniques. I also found out that the man who does the Marvel Comic Drawings is really influenced by him.
I think this will be the main influence I use in my work because it appeals to me more than Freud.