Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Blog Post #5: Someone else

There are many potters that have inspired me with their different techniques and pottery designs. I really like the Roman potters who carve stories on there pots. I enjoy that the pot are both functional and decorative. I like to try to incorporate reasoning behind why i designed a pot the way i do. Many Roman potters who carve great battles and stories in their pottery. Many potters have inspired me but my favorite potter would have to be Harry Potter.














   This pot depicts the story of a great celebration.                 This pot shows the tales of Hercules.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Blog Post #4: Technique

I made a few candle holders/lanterns this pass week. Basically they are jars with designs carved all the way through the walls of the pot to allow light through. I use different tools tho make these carvings. I use a hole punch tool that worked very well to created a perfect round hole, a loop tool to carve long even lines into the walls, and a needle tool to carve more designs or trim up others.

Friday, October 7, 2011

Blog Post #3: Progress

So far i made 12 serving bowls (medium to x-large), 2 Pictures (12" tall), 2 bird feeders, and 8 lanterns (hanging candle holders)

I am working on try to throw pot with even thickness. Have notice that by not leaving the bottom thicker the pot becomes more unstable and more likely to collapse. If i leave the bottom thicker i end up having to trim a lot more when trimming the bottom. If i leave them thick then trim it even later i have to match the outside with the inside. This cause the outside of the pot to not look the way you might want it to look. I have really notice this in taller pieces; my base will sometimes be too skinny compared to the top, and if i don't make the walls evenly thick the pot becomes awkwardly heavy.

Learning to dry your pot at the rate you want it is an art. Every day the climate in the pottery room is different. It seems like everything effects how your pot drys. Like if its rainy or sunny outside, the traffic of people opening doors, how you sack/cover your pots, where you place your pot, if the kiln is on, which kiln is on, if the fan is on, heat or AC is on, ect. All this and lots more effects your pot's drying time.

Saturday, October 1, 2011

Blog Post #2: Inspiration

I am inspired by many things i see through books, pictures, the internet, and my travels.

I am inspired by Greek and Roman pottery. I have traveled to these places with my wife and enjoyed learning and seeing the history, and how pottery was part of it. Using clay to form a container to carry something, a simple concept with great value. Try to carry water with you hands, then try and carry it with a cup. I think this i a big part of why i am a functional potter.

I do admire decorative pots and pottery. I am a commercial salmon fisherman by profession so i tend to incorporate fishing in my pottery. My experiences out on the sea have relay played and influence on what i carve into my pots. I enjoy carving vessels and boats in to my pots as well as other sea life.

 


Last quarter i started to carve other things besides fishing. I tried to carve the canals of Venice (hard to get  the depth and perception) as well as a vase with my favorites of Europe. My wife and i have travel to Europe a couple of times and i would like to use those trips to inspire different carvings into my pots.

Blog Post #1 Joe Rosenkranz

  My name Phillip Joe Rosenkranz but i go by Joe (its easier to sigh my pots with Joe than Phillip). I am taking Independent Clay through YVCC. My main focus in Clay is functional pottery that is thrown on the wheel. I am taking this class with my wife who is also a potter (NOT a pooper).
  This quarter i wish to accomplish taller pieces of pottery, 12" or taller. I would also like to work on throwing skinnier pieces or evenly thin pieces throughout the pot. I would like my pots to fill light when you pick them up and strong when you use them. I do enjoy carving on my pots and hope to improve that skill with speed and efficiency (I spent a hole day trying to carve a more then leather hard piece later to just crack it).
  I like to look and admire other artist work to gain inspiration and different ideas on something that i might want to try. I try to see pottery with an open mind (but being a function potter makes it hard sometimes).