Handles and Stacking

For this assignment, we were required to take the 16 cylinders we made for project one and create six handled objects and one stacked object. The purpose was also to explore different textures, and techniques.

I started we my original 16 cylinders and picked out some of the less polished ones. I used these for my stacked form. I stacked four of my cylinders for this in tilted design. Then I added a brick texture and organic strands that wrapped around the piece.

This draws your eyes around the piece while contrasting the geometric brick. I also cut into the piece so that it was a bit more open.

For my first mug, I added a small decorative handle. Though the handle did not crack when fired it is still very small in size compared to the rest of the mug, so I believe if you were to hold it by its handle over time it would crack. I knew that this was a risk when adding the slimmer handle, but I believe it looked a lot better than the thicker functional handle so I choose to keep it slim and just grab the whole cup instead of by just the handle. Since the mug is fairly small it does not feel awkward or unnatural to hold it so.

Next, I made a two-handled pot, with a carved linear design for texture. The design wraps around the outside of the piece as well as the inside of the pot. I pulled two small handles for this and placed one. My lip was fairly uneven compared to the rest of my textured cylinders, and I think this would bug me if it weren’t for the fact it shows me I have improved in throwing cylinders with more even lips.

My third cylinder I also made two handles for, but instead of pulling these I made two knobbed handles. For my texture, I did a minimal design carved into the top, bottom, and inside. This looked a lot more organic in the greenware stage, more like grass. I’m hoping that once we glaze these cylinders the texture will lose some of its roughness.

The fourth has a similar texture to my second. Using linear elements again. Only this time I used horizontal lines that crossed and zig zagged. I also used one pulled handle, this handle is a lot more functional than my previously pulled handles, which were more focused on design over function. I do like how my handle is thinner at the bottom and thicker at the top, though I wish I emphasized this more.

The fifth piece I added a linear texture again, I found myself very drawn to linear designs as well as subtracting from the clay instead of adding. This texture sort of reminded me of rain streaming down a window and I was very drawn to it. For handles, I used a knobbed style, but unlike my other knobbed handles, I decided to keep them rounded instead of pinching them into a more triangular shape.

This sixth piece had two pulled handles and I played around with poking holes with my needle texture. I think this mug has interesting handles, but that my texture was the least successful. I had this idea in my head, but it did not translate well to the clay, and if I had time too I’d redo this mug.

I will say though that something good did come out of my last piece, as my idea for my next project seems to start at the end of this one without me knowing it. Where this mug feels unfinished, and I wish I could redo it, I don’t think my theme would have formed into such a polished idea if I hadn’t had these pieces to look back on. In particular my sixth piece.

I’ve also discovered I was drawn to very minimalistic designs, something that I don’t think applies to other art I’ve created. I’m interested to see how this develops and if I find myself leaning towards this more as time goes on.