This course has taught me many things.
1. Appreciation
There is much research, technique and skill that goes into making what seems like the simplest of pieces. Before this course, I understood the basic complexity and nuances of being an artist, being a student of Classical Indian Dance. However, I have never had much experience in ceramics (except for the small training that I received in Ceramics I). I learned that there are so many artists, each with their own style. Each artist makes an earnest effort to tell a story through their pieces. I began to look at the simple plates and bowls in my cupboards differently, and had so much more appreciation for them.
2. Document Everything!
The very first piece that I made, I tried to execute all of the steps from memory. Afterwards, I realised that I forgot many of the basic steps, such as ribbing and lifting my clay periodically while rolling to prevent it from sticking to the surface. I learned that no matter how much you think you may know, it is important to write out the steps and have a solid plan. After this I spent more time writing in my journal and drawing more sketches so that I could stay focused. I noticed a significant increase in the quality of my pieces as I did this.
3. Time in Preparation
Half of the time spent in making clay pieces is spent in preparation; researching techniques, finding inspiration, drawing sketches, creating templates, setting up a workspace and gathering tools. I learned that once all of these steps were executed properly, I spent less time in actually building my pieces. The experience was much more fulfilling in the end.
Thank you Professor Rochford for your time and patience. It was such an amazing experience, and I really learned so much from the course (despite the social distancing).
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