The Ocean in Ceramics
When I first started ceramics, I was unsure of my ability. I’ve never really been a successful artist and I’d never tried ceramics so I didn’t think it would go much better. When I first stepped into the class, I was horrible at it. I didn’t know what to do with the clay and my first hand built tea set had so many cracks. As the first quarter continued, I started to learn how to throw cylinders, bowls and plates. Throwing was very difficult for me, most of my bowls would break on the wheel and I was very unsuccessful. I kept working hard and eventually I made bowls that were functional and I didn’t fail. Then we started to learn how to handbuild and I started enjoying ceramics more. I realized that even if I was bad at throwing, I still could be good at handbuilding. For my art show I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. I didn’t want to throw bowls and I didn’t have any ideas like my classmates. Then I was talking to a ceramics 2 student in math class, Bone’s, and they helped me figure out my art show idea. I was looking on pinterest and I saw some stingrays and ocean themed ceramics projects. I realized that I could use my love of the ocean and ocean animals to make my final project. I started to build stingrays and it turned out to be a challenge. As I kept building and practicing, I started to get down the technique of making stingrays. Then I started really enjoying myself. I made three stingrays that were successful and looked the way I wanted them to look. Then I started playing around with glazes and coloring on my stingrays. I also made a tray for my stingrays to stay on. Through my process of building and learning how to be successful, I realized that I actually could be good at ceramics. I realized that with hard work and lots of practice, I could make anything I wanted to make. I also learned how to keep going even when my stingrays were falling apart and I wasn’t sure if I would be able to finish everything in time. I did finish everything in time and I was honestly proud of everything I made. I’m glad I signed up for ceramics even when I wasn’t sure I would be able to do it. Even though I probably won’t take a ceramics class again, I’m glad I took it because I learned more than just how to make clay stingrays. I learned about perseverance, time management, and confidence in my artistic abilities