On the first night when I went to my very first Ceramic class, I met
John Murphy, the Instructor. I was taking “Raku Ceramics Class” and he gave a
tour around the ceramic lab. He also taught the students the safety of wearing
a mask when we go into a room to mix and make the clay or work with the glaze.
He explained to all the students that “Raku” is a low temperature, low fire,
type of ceramics. He told us to only use low fire glazes.
The students chose their work space and table where they can work at for
the whole semester. They also have an assigned shelf space to put their ceramic
project when it’s finished or to let their piece slowly dry out or get hard. He
also showed all of the students where to put their pieces when they are ready
for the first firing, called “Bisque”. Then there is another shelf for
when the final firing is done.
Then we sat at our work tables and Mr. Murphy told us to make a box form
just like the one he was demonstrating. He taught us to make coils by rolling
out the clay into the shape of a snake. He came by my work table and taught me
how to put the sides together for the box and how to score the sides of the
slabs so that they would stick together like glue. Then he told me to try it on
my own and I did. He was amazed at what I was making and he said to me that
after watching me in class that night, that he could tell I am creative person.
The next class, I used the coil technique we learned and made a
coil cup with a lid. Then, I rolled out the shape of the circle that was an
interesting pattern. My technique was rounding up to make the cup then smoothed
the inside of the cup with a paint brush and a silver flexible tool. At the
end, I used a light blue glaze.
I decided to make a plate on the pottery wheel while my teacher was
helping and guiding me to learn how to use the wheel. Somehow the plate
was not too good at all. I tried to make it but my instructor gave me the idea
to use a form of the bowl as a mold, I said, “you are right”.
My teacher is very involved in ceramics and he knows
everything about this subject. When he was in high school and going
through College he studied and majoring in Ceramic Arts. He told me
everything about studying this interesting history of art and how much he loves
making things with clay.
When I met him, I thought he was a talented teacher who was so
gifted. He is a wonderful person and I am so happy and glad he taught me
so much about creating clay designs and having so much fun working on clay
projects. I kept taking classes with John Murphy for the next seven years.
A couple of years later, Mr. Murphy was invited to exhibit his students’
work. It was wonderful art gallery in southeast Detroit. He helped choose the
students’ work and recommended which pieces would show best because they
represented our creative talent. He wanted to display different techniques with
shapes and glazes.
I chose about six pieces to exhibit. You were allowed to decide if you
wanted to sell them or just leave them on display. The one I liked most was
called “Cherry Picking” so I only put it on display. I was very excited when
someone bought one of my pieces!
Mr. Murphy told us that the people who attended the art exhibit were
surprised by the unique colors of the “raku” glaze. The beautiful colors were
created by firing the pieces in the “dirt pits” and in trashcans instead of a regular
kiln.
It was fun for me to think about all of the pieces I had displayed in
the exhibit. I am glad I decided to keep them. The whole experience
was great!
No comments:
Post a Comment