PHOTO OF UNFINISHED PIECE:
WHAT IS MY PLAN FOR THE PIECE? HOW WILL I FINISH IT?:
My piece is going to be a sand pail with the lid being carved to look like sand with a shovel sticking out of the top. The above shows my in-progress pail. So far, I have created a rough outline the bottom of the pail as well as the lid which has the sand texture on the top as well as little knobs on the bottom to make sure it holds when sitting on top of the pail. As for my next plans for the piece, I want to create a shovel that will be sticking out the top and can be used as the handle. I also want to alter the bottom part of my pail to make it less lopsided. I plan to shave off parts of the side that is too large in order to make the pail seem more proportional. As well as this, if I can figure out how and if I have enough time, I want to add a handle to the pale. I want to add this to the bottom part of the pail so that it comes up over the top part of the lid and the shovel. As for how I will finish it, I plan on shaping the bottom part of the pail next and then creating the shovel to put on top. I want to do the handle last in case it doesn't work or if I don't like it with my design.
My piece is going to be a sand pail with the lid being carved to look like sand with a shovel sticking out of the top. The above shows my in-progress pail. So far, I have created a rough outline the bottom of the pail as well as the lid which has the sand texture on the top as well as little knobs on the bottom to make sure it holds when sitting on top of the pail. As for my next plans for the piece, I want to create a shovel that will be sticking out the top and can be used as the handle. I also want to alter the bottom part of my pail to make it less lopsided. I plan to shave off parts of the side that is too large in order to make the pail seem more proportional. As well as this, if I can figure out how and if I have enough time, I want to add a handle to the pale. I want to add this to the bottom part of the pail so that it comes up over the top part of the lid and the shovel. As for how I will finish it, I plan on shaping the bottom part of the pail next and then creating the shovel to put on top. I want to do the handle last in case it doesn't work or if I don't like it with my design.
WHAT HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL SO FAR?:
So far, all of the elements I have wanted to add have been successful. I love how the shape of the pail turned out. The sides lean out like I wanted them to with the bottom still being circular and with the structure still being well supported. I would say my most successful element so far has been the texture of sand on the lid of the pail. It looks even more realistic than I had imagined so I am very pleased with how that turned out.
So far, all of the elements I have wanted to add have been successful. I love how the shape of the pail turned out. The sides lean out like I wanted them to with the bottom still being circular and with the structure still being well supported. I would say my most successful element so far has been the texture of sand on the lid of the pail. It looks even more realistic than I had imagined so I am very pleased with how that turned out.
MY PROCESS SO FAR:
The first part of my process was to cut out a paper template, so I had a plan for the shape of the clay I wanted to cut. I made a large circle on the paper then made a smaller circle in the middle of the larger circle. I then cut out the middle circle and a small portion of the outer circle connecting to the inner circle so that the template looked like a block C. Next, I experimented with folding this block C to get the desired shape and size for my pail. I struggled with getting the base and the sides to be proportional and still have the outward leaning effect that I wanted, but I was eventually able to achieve this look by editing and cutting the paper template. Then, I rolled my clay using the slab roller after I cut and wedged it, into a 1/4 inch slab. I then played my paper template on top and used a tool to cut the clay around my template. I then used the scratch and slip method by creating criss-cross scratches and then wetting the sides of the clay for the slip part and connecting the two edges of my pail together. I then smoothed it out. I then worked on the lid by following the same process of making a template, rolling the clay, and cutting it out. I then created two little circular knobs on the bottom of the lid so that it won't slide off when it is sitting on the pail. I then used a pencil and lightly punctured the top of my lid repeatedly in order to create a sandy texture. That is all I have completed so far with my sculpture. As of right now, it is greenware but as soon as it has been fired once, it will become bisque ware.
The first part of my process was to cut out a paper template, so I had a plan for the shape of the clay I wanted to cut. I made a large circle on the paper then made a smaller circle in the middle of the larger circle. I then cut out the middle circle and a small portion of the outer circle connecting to the inner circle so that the template looked like a block C. Next, I experimented with folding this block C to get the desired shape and size for my pail. I struggled with getting the base and the sides to be proportional and still have the outward leaning effect that I wanted, but I was eventually able to achieve this look by editing and cutting the paper template. Then, I rolled my clay using the slab roller after I cut and wedged it, into a 1/4 inch slab. I then played my paper template on top and used a tool to cut the clay around my template. I then used the scratch and slip method by creating criss-cross scratches and then wetting the sides of the clay for the slip part and connecting the two edges of my pail together. I then smoothed it out. I then worked on the lid by following the same process of making a template, rolling the clay, and cutting it out. I then created two little circular knobs on the bottom of the lid so that it won't slide off when it is sitting on the pail. I then used a pencil and lightly punctured the top of my lid repeatedly in order to create a sandy texture. That is all I have completed so far with my sculpture. As of right now, it is greenware but as soon as it has been fired once, it will become bisque ware.