Studio Work 9/29

 

Research 9/23/2020: Panathenaic Prize Amphora

 

Ancient Greece Pottery: Panathenaic Prize Amphora 

Description:

The Panathenaic Prize Amphora is a terracotta pot from 490 B.C. The pot was glazed using the black figure technique. It also has red a white detailing. This amphora was a prize that would be given out to the winner of the Panathenaic games in Athens. It has an inscription on it that reads, "From the Games at Athens" (Yale). I chose this late archaic piece because I was intrigued by the story behind it. I also love the idea of this famous ancient artifact being utilitarian. This acted as a trophy and was even filled with olive oil. The intricate red and black detailing on the lip of the amphora is gorgeous and so precise. I find it very intriguing that in ancient times people used ceramics to tell story. This amphora tells the story of Athena on one side and a rider on a chariot on the other. I have always found it difficult to recreate this type of art without feeling clique, or like a project in a grade school classroom. I feel that the best way to connect to this type of art would be to try an include detailing with differentiate linework into some of my pieces. 

New Terms: 

Amphora: "A tall ancient Greek or Roman jar with two handles and a narrow neck" (Google Dictionary)

Black Figure Technique: A technique where slip is applied that turns black during the oxidation process while firing

The video link describes in detail the ancient black figure technique that was used to make the figures on the amphora: https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ancient-art-civilizations/greek-art/greek-pottery/v/ancient-greek-vase-black-figure-technique

Works Cited

 “Ancient Panathenaic Games.” Health and Fitness History, healthandfitnesshistory.com/historical-athletes/ancient-panathenaic-games/. Cartwright, Mark. 

“Black Figure Pottery.” Ancient History 

Encyclopedia, Ancient History Encyclopedia, 26 Nov. 2019, www.ancient.eu/Black_Figure_Pottery/.

“Panathenaic Prize Amphora: A: Athena, B: Four-Horse Chariot.” A, artgallery.yale.edu/collections/objects/643. Written by GreekBoston.com in Ancient Greek History. 

“All about the Panathenaic Games.” ICal, 5 July 2017, www.greekboston.com/culture/ancient-history/panathenaic-game. 

“Attic Panathenaic Amphora (Getty Museum).” The J. Paul Getty in Los Angeles, www.getty.edu/art/collection/objects/7596/attributed-to-kleophrades-painter-attic-panath enaic-amphora-greek-attic-500-480-bc/?dz=#f53c2ec7df9828ba887f19cf54ef8bbfaf8579 54. 

Art Institute of Chicago, "Ancient Greek vase production and the black-figure technique," in Smarthistory, December 21, 2015, accessed December 2, 2019, https://smarthistory.org/ancient-greek-vase-production-and-the-black-figure-technique/

I wanted to research a piece that I have seen in the gallery. Below is a photograph of me with the piece in the Yale Art Gallery last year, before the virus hit. 

Studio Work 9/22

 

I had a very unsuccessful day in the studio.  Unfortunately, I destroyed everything that I created! I have not reached my 10 thousand hours yet, for sure. However, I was able to trim my two mugs and bowl from last week. I also practiced pulling handles. I attached handles to the trimmed mugs. 

As you can see, the bottom of this bowl is definitely not perfect. Yet, I feel it is an improvement to previous bowls that I have trimmed. I think that my bowls are tending to be a little off center, making it even more difficult to trim them. My next day in the studio I want to go back to basics. I plan to watch some centering videos while I work, as well as make some simple cylinders. Hopefully, this refresher will help me. 

My mugs are bulkier than I would like them to be; but, they are on a larger scale than ones that I have made previously. I am still getting the hang of controlling a larger amount of clay. Hopefully, I will be able to thin out some of my work in the future. I also feel that I could use improvement on my handles. I want to practice pulling some next class. 

Trimming Research 9/19

I have always struggled with trimming vessels on the wheel. I have been doing research and watching videos to improve my skill. I would love to have a beautiful, more finished look on some of my bowls. I found this video in particular interesting because the potter used a needle tool to see if the vessel was centered. I always have trouble with centering before I trim. The tap method is difficult for me. This is because it is hard for me to visualize what direction to tap the vessel to see if it is centered. The needle approach looks like it will be helpful. I feel this way because I will be able to see the area the needle hit the vessel, and be able to move it in the opposite direction. Hopefully this tip will help me as I trim my pieces this week!

New Studio Work 9/15

 Here is all of the work I completed today. This includes my trimmed pieces and new pieces. 

Below are my new pieces:

Trimmed Pieces From Last Week

 Here are my trimmed pieces from last week!

Studio Work: 9/8/2020

 

Here are the pieces that I created in the studio today! I switched to a different wheel, and had great success! I started out by throwing small items which I am used to (Four small bowls). Following this I began experimenting with trying to work on a larger scale and was able to create three bowls that were bigger than the others. I am very proud of myself for the work that I did today! I am excited to keep growing, learning, and making bigger bowls! 

Trimmed Bowls From Week One

 

I made these bowls last week. As you can see, they are messy. I was just getting back into the swing of throwing on the wheel! However, I am happy with these off balance miniature bowls! It can only go up from here.  

Serving Bowl Research 9/8/2020

I have been researching different ceramic tutorial videos. The video below shows the process of making a stylistic serving bowl. I chose this video as an inspiration for the semester because I really like the shape of the bowls that were created. This is something I already have a little practice with; but, this would bring my skills to the next level. I hope to recreate a series of bowls in this style in the upcoming weeks. 

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lu2_Nx6m7wU

September 4th: Work in the Studio

Here is my work in the studio today. I met many challenges. I was having a difficult time finding the right splash guards for the wheel. Something with the guards felt off, and I kept banging my arms on them; which was odd. If you have any advice, please let me know! I was able to throw two small, offf center bowls. It was a difficult day getting back in the swing of things! 

"The Ceramic Presence in Modern Art": Past Exhibition at Yale Art Gallery

Below are photos from an exhibition of works that really inspire me. This exhibition took place in 2015-2016 at the Yale Art Gallery. It is an exhibition of 80 objects by "leading 20th century ceramicists" (Yale Art Gallery). The goal of the exhibition was to "reexamine the position of postwar ceramic sculpture within the context of contemporary art, highlighting the formal, historical, and theoretical affinities among the works on view" (Yale Art Gallery). 

I chose these two works because the forms are so simplified. The spheres are rendered beautifully with such attention to detail. The colors used are also gorgeous earth tones. They are very simple forms; but they are executed so well. The second photo reminds me of the project we did with the mold in ceramics one. The walls are so smooth and spherical; the contour is phenomenal. I love that both of these pieces use limited color palettes. The glaze almost looks like it drips down the pieces or is splashed onto the surface. I would be interested in experimenting with using a limited color palette and dripping paint on some of my pieces this semester.

  

Details of piece N/A

Hans Coper, Large Round Form, 1964–67. Stoneware. Linda Leonard Schlenger Collection. Crafts Study Centre, University for the Creative Arts

Link to website: https://artgallery.yale.edu/exhibitions/exhibition/ceramic-presence-modern-art-selections-linda-leonard-schlenger-collection-and