Alex Madison's Ceramics Portfolio by Alex Madison

Shape 1

26AMadison — 2024-09-27 20:36:53 UTC

This is technically my second shape but both are basically plates and have the same errors. For this piece, when I was undercutting I would push outward so it made the piece wider and shorter so I couldn't really raise it

Shape 2

26AMadison — 2024-09-27 20:40:34 UTC

This is the first shape that I was actually able to undercut then raise properly. I think I let go of my pinch when going up so that's why there's that bump. I didn't do any shaping because I didn't want mess up the piece.

Shape 3

26AMadison — 2024-09-27 20:44:45 UTC

This is the shape where I started to do some shaping. All I did was the piece a bit outward. I forgot who said this but I think one of the more advanced students said that pushing on a specif point of the clay is like stretching it. Also there were a few air bubbles in the clay but they were outside, I think it was from me trying to add clay that had gone outward on to the plate

Shape 4

26AMadison — 2024-09-27 20:47:26 UTC

This is my first time trying to trim a piece. I got to remember to trim when the walls are thinner, be more steady with my knife when slicing, and have my other hand ready to catch the clay. Also when I tried raising the clay, I didn't push inward and ended up with a bowl.

Shape 5

26AMadison — 2024-10-29 23:29:26 UTC

This was one of my first double bubbles, that height was good, the bubbles were good, the rim was good, that wall thickness was good. All I have to do is remember to give my self more floor. I think I might be scrapping the floor when I'm undercutting so I have to remember to cut my nails or try to look more inside of the undercut to see if I am scrapping the floor

Trimming practice 1

26AMadison — 2024-10-29 23:32:41 UTC

This was my first time trimming, I definitely need to review the trimming video more as well. I think I did good on the centering, I was only about a fraction of inch off. And I was able to make the clay leather hard, although the rim had some divots on it so I go to be more careful when tenting it.

Trimming practice 2

26AMadison — 2024-11-08 16:25:13 UTC

This was my second time trimming, with a combination of a double-bubble that's not centered and a small clay wedge, my double-bubble flew off that plate and hit the floor

Trimming practice 3

26AMadison — 2024-11-08 16:27:17 UTC

While I was spinning this double-bubble, I disregard some cracks forming when I was undercutting and I saw these on the bottom of my double-bubble. I need to cone the clay a few times before shaping it.

Trimming practice 3 (continued)

26AMadison — 2024-11-08 16:29:20 UTC

This is the same piece as the one below it. It didn't like the piece was bone dry at first since it still passed the thumbnail test, but after trimming a bit I saw the trimmings were crumbling into dust so I stopped myself

Relearning the cylinder

26AMadison — 2024-11-19 16:52:15 UTC

Near the end of the double bubble progress, I was having trouble with making a cylinder. I was always rushing and getting frustrated with myself. But this time I took a more relaxed approach, and commented on every move I made. It helped me see the problems I had like fidgeting my arm when raising the cylinder. The reason it looks messed up is because I tented it wrong. So that kinda sucks. But at least I know I can get back to that point although I did forgot to let go when nearing the top.

board mess up

26AMadison — 2024-11-20 16:20:08 UTC

This one, I got back to a cylinder but I messed up on catching it on a board. I was probably because I didn't knife it enough or it didn't have the board level enough and maybe slanted it when it was halfway on.

First bowl, different angle

26AMadison — 2024-11-22 21:12:31 UTC

The bottom of the bowl still has an angle from the bottom to the walls. When I tried using the rubber tool, it kept sticking and bouncing off of the wall, so I should center the bowl a bit more and wet the tool and walls before shaping

First bowl, throwing practice

26AMadison — 2024-11-22 21:12:50 UTC

This bowl doesn't have much of the round shape a bowl normally has, so I should have pulled away from the center a bit more for a wider V.

Second bowl practice

26AMadison — 2024-12-02 16:17:56 UTC

A bit more improvement on the outside bowl shape. There's a little curved line on the top of the bowl because I pulled up too fast when pulling out some weight, it was because my inside finger started sticking to the bowl, so next time I should let go when nearing the top. I need to make my next bowl a bit more round

Second bowl, different angle

26AMadison — 2024-12-02 16:18:24 UTC

The inside shape of the bowl is a lot better since it now curves to the bottom. I skipped on using the rubber tool this time, I just need to remember to curve out a bit more.

Different mug shape attempt part 1

26AMadison — 2024-12-04 15:47:50 UTC

For this piece, I was trying to throw a barrel shape, but I didn't get the full curve on the hull piece, so I switch to doing a kool aid instead. This is when I pull a bit too much weight from the bottom and the piece almost collapsed

Different mug shape attempt part 2

26AMadison — 2024-12-04 15:49:55 UTC

I was able to savage the almost collapsed piece but I forgot to do the top lip and round it out since I was in a rush to not be late for 6th period

Different mug shape attempt part 3

26AMadison — 2024-12-04 15:50:43 UTC

As you see, a crack had formed on the bottom of my piece. I believe it was because I hadn't sponged the piece properly.

Trimming mug part 1

26AMadison — 2024-12-05 16:11:08 UTC

Both I could start trimming, I noticed the mug had picked up some would flakes from the board. I don't know if it's because of the board or if it's the way I put it on the board. There's also an area where it's tilted up, I know this is because of me pushing up on the piece with a string with putting on the board.

Trimming mug part 2

26AMadison — 2024-12-05 16:15:18 UTC

I wasn't able to make a foot ring for this piece because of the bottom was not level on some parts of the bottom, but I was able to continue the shape of the piece, I just need to tilt my tool a bit away from the mug and go slower.

Third bowl, throwing practice

26AMadison — 2024-12-11 21:07:03 UTC

Originally the bowl was vertically straight but when I was trying to pull more weight I accidentally slanted the top half. But the outside shape has improved

Third bowl, different angle

26AMadison — 2024-12-11 21:08:58 UTC

The inside to bowl is a bit smoother but the transition between the bottom to the straight vertical wall could be better

Fourth bowl, throwing practice

26AMadison — 2024-12-11 21:12:04 UTC

Not many problems I could see with the outside shape, at first the piece was a bit off center, but I was able to fix the problem when taking out weight

Fourth bowl, different angle

26AMadison — 2024-12-11 21:13:33 UTC

The curve and bottom could be a bit smoother, but I think it was pass the marble test.

Finished project 1

26AMadison — 2024-12-11 21:15:47 UTC

Very late, but still, almost no mistakes that I can see in this piece.

Project 1, foot

26AMadison — 2024-12-11 21:16:43 UTC

The bottom could be a lot more flat but it's deep enough and level.

26AMadison — 2025-01-14 22:02:13 UTC

26AMadison — 2025-01-14 22:04:12 UTC

26AMadison — 2025-01-14 22:05:21 UTC

26AMadison — 2025-01-14 22:06:44 UTC

26AMadison — 2025-01-14 22:07:54 UTC

26AMadison — 2025-01-17 05:03:26 UTC

26AMadison — 2025-01-17 05:04:00 UTC

Practice 1, lost.

26AMadison — 2025-01-17 05:09:29 UTC

Not a big face of this one. Primary because I did two big mistakes when starting this. One, not bringing up my inspo board which made feel lost when making half the time. And two, not applying a pressing a card on it when it was a slab, so there's a few cracks. Both are easy fixes, I added a few enemies in game I like playing, and they don't have that many human features so it shouldn't be that hard. But I might abound this one.

Practice 2, slower start

26AMadison — 2025-01-24 16:19:52 UTC

As I said before, I was going to abandoned the last project so I could start a new one with a reference picture. I got the shape that I wanted but I accidentally placed the eyes a bit high

Practice 3

26AMadison — 2025-01-24 16:23:09 UTC

I was able to lower the eyes a bit and mostly fully develop them. The thing that I'm basing this mask on are the two human mutant guys on the Inspo board, who's eyes don't really have eye lids but really open eye sockets with orbs with eyes

Practice 4

26AMadison — 2025-01-30 16:13:54 UTC

Practice 5

26AMadison — 2025-01-30 16:14:27 UTC

Practice 6

26AMadison — 2025-01-30 16:15:18 UTC

Practice 7

26AMadison — 2025-02-25 16:47:39 UTC

Practice 8

26AMadison — 2025-02-25 16:48:06 UTC

Practice 9

26AMadison — 2025-02-25 16:48:40 UTC

From the start of practice 4, I was attaching tentacles to the bottom of the face. I was basing it off of the top photo in my inspo board, it's an enemy from a game I play. The way I made the tentacles was that I rolled out a piece of clay, hollowed it out, and bent it in weird places. I'm unsure they stayed hallow from the way I bent them

Practice 10

26AMadison — 2025-02-25 16:49:13 UTC

Practice 11

26AMadison — 2025-02-25 16:50:19 UTC

Practice 12

26AMadison — 2025-02-25 16:50:49 UTC

Practice 13

26AMadison — 2025-02-25 16:59:20 UTC

Practice 14

26AMadison — 2025-02-25 17:00:22 UTC

Practice 10 to 14 was just filling up the empty space on the forehead and adding more depth changes. I based on the tumoured area of the 2nd top mutated guy on the inspo board.

Practice 15

26AMadison — 2025-02-25 17:00:56 UTC

Practice 16

26AMadison — 2025-02-25 17:02:00 UTC

Trimming practice

26AMadison — 2025-02-25 17:03:40 UTC

I was able to thin the whole mask all around but I only got some of the eye portion when removing clay from parts of the mask that stick out

End Product

26AMadison — 2025-02-25 17:07:00 UTC

Although I didn't finish trimming, I still have many facial features. Most of them are seamless, I think the tentacles still needs some work. And I think I still need to clean up some of the surface.

26AMadison — 2025-02-28 04:23:56 UTC

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/476748310549522123/

26AMadison — 2025-02-28 04:24:32 UTC

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/pin-von-ana-laura-auf-cermica--774124930237052/

26AMadison — 2025-02-28 04:25:12 UTC

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/453456256249098017/

26AMadison — 2025-03-04 16:28:30 UTC

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/422281211417355/

26AMadison — 2025-03-04 16:30:45 UTC

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/351912465542475/

First Module

26AMadison — 2025-03-26 15:13:46 UTC

Unfortunately, I forgot to document some of the process when making this bowl. But most of it was figuring out how to clean. In future bowls I should use more slip between the modules to make them seem more seamless.

First cut part 1

26AMadison — 2025-03-26 15:15:52 UTC

Draping a cut into a bowl shape makes it bent at some part so they become a bit fragile. The stem broke off because I was holding it there.

First cut out part 2

26AMadison — 2025-03-26 15:17:07 UTC

I was able to trim any stem remains and curve the part of where it originally was to make it seem like with wasn't there.

First cut out part 3

26AMadison — 2025-03-26 15:18:23 UTC

Overall I think this is a pretty nice first try. There are still some details that I should've sponged out.

Second module

26AMadison — 2025-03-26 15:20:14 UTC

This is the first bowl that's based on the Inspo board. This one I used more slip and there are only a few spots with cracks

Second module part 2

26AMadison — 2025-03-26 15:21:14 UTC

I used a glass mold, I think that's what it is, to give it the bowl shape.

Second module part 3

26AMadison — 2025-03-26 15:22:13 UTC

Overall, a pretty nice improvement from the first one.

Second cut break

26AMadison — 2025-03-26 15:29:01 UTC

This one broke from stacking bisque ware one the bowl while it was wrapped.

First three bisque fired

26AMadison — 2025-03-26 21:00:29 UTC

Tray progress 1

26AMadison — 2025-05-20 05:22:05 UTC

Getting as feel on how the lines should be set up

Tray progress 2

26AMadison — 2025-05-20 05:24:45 UTC

All of the lines glued together. All of the lines look awkward because I did the far right and left horizontal lines first which made putting in the rest of the line more awkward.

Tray progress 3 top view

26AMadison — 2025-05-20 05:25:50 UTC

I removed the handles like you suggested. Most of the edges are smoothed out.

Tray Progress 3 bottom view

26AMadison — 2025-05-20 05:34:22 UTC

Work done on the bottom, still needs some more smoothing out.

Tray progress 4

26AMadison — 2025-05-28 21:11:23 UTC

These cracks started forming most likely from how I was handling the tray, I thought it was stiff enough for me to normally carry it but it was still a bit flexible. This was the main problem around when I was almost done with the trimming of the tray. I tried repairing them with slip but I think I didn't use enough or the slip didn't fill the crack fully so I'll try putting in more slip.

Tray progress 5

26AMadison — 2025-05-28 21:15:16 UTC

Really close to done with the smoothing the edges. These hair line cracks appeared, most likely from how I used newspaper to keep the tray flipped. They should be easier to clean up than the other cracks.

End product

26AMadison — 2025-05-28 21:28:25 UTC

This is the final product of my tray. Most of the cracks looked to be repaired, but I'm a bit skeptical on if they're fully filled. But most of the edge of the tray have been fully smoothed. A few things that could've made this tray better, the way I was slipping the slabs on was pretty inefficient. I slipped the bottom and top horizontal parts first, which really slowed the process of getting the rest of the slabs on. I could've also did a tray made out of the long leaf cut outs, since this design has a lot of edges that needed to be smoothed.