Artist Statement

As I expand my horizons in shape and form, I thought it would be interesting to throw some different types of pottery this trimester.  This specific project gave me the chance to work more with knob n all forms and get more comfortable with them.  The form was fun to make as a squat rotund jar and I had fun with the coloration and use of random drips on the body of the piece.  The light and dark contrast between the lid and the base let me play more on the use of light and virtual space.  Definitely a fun project!

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This piece plays with the elements of Color and Form brought out by the contrasting colors in the pinched lid and rounded base. The Unity of the piece comes out in the smooth flow from base to lid and back without significant separation.  There is almost a chaotic Rhythm present as a result of the random drip pattern used on the face of the jar.

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This piece actually evolved after my field trip to the Minnetonka Arts Center where I got a deeper understanding of the knob n all form.  I wanted to try what I had seen resulting in me throwing several forms before the one that came out of this project.  There were no significant issues as the project progressed and I really liked the way the form turned out and the play of the colors!  A great learning experience!

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The process was as follows:

  - Wedge one baseball sized ball of white clay
  - Throw 1 cylinder on the wheel
  - Use your fingers and a sponge to widen out the base
  - Make the opening smaller than the base
  - Pull the opening up every time it is coned in
  - Cone the opening closed once it is small enough
  - Create a knob on top with fingers and a rib tool
  - Create an indent around the jar where the lid will be (about ¾ of the

     thickness of the walls)
  - Trim skirt clay away with a wooden rib tool
  - Smooth out the surface of the jar with a sponge
  - Use a wire cutter to remove the jar from the wooden bat
  - Let stand to dry slightly leather hard
  - Once leather hard cut the lid from the body of the jar with a needle tool
  - Use a ribbon trimmer to create a foot ring
  - Let stand to dry leather hard
  - Bisque fire the jar
  - Use glaze to finish, use white glaze as a base coat and drip a different

     color glaze to create contrast
  - Glaze fire them for completion