Sketches Explained

Ms. G left a comment on my latest blog post, about my sketches, and urged me to further my thinking and explanation of my designs for my tea set. To be honest, I chose that design because I love the way it looks. My eye was drawn to this particular design because of the contrast of white and red. Red is my favorite color and the flowers represent a Japanese cherry blossom.

After doing some research, I learned that the cherry blossom is a prominent symbol in Japanese culture. The cherry blossom represents many things, one being the "transient nature of life." It also represents the Japanese purity and simplicity. 

I think my project has shifted more to ceramics than the Japanese tea ceremony. I have become more immersed in actually making my tea set rather than researching about the tea ceremony. I'm not really sure how to connect my research and my hands-on work. That's a problem that I will talk to Ms. Lutter about tomorrow. 

Ms. G also wanted us to blog about how we have gotten out of our comfort zone during this project. I think for me, talking to random people in the community was something outside of my comfort zone. I met with Suzanne from the EAP at Cornell, Mizue Kido (Japanese tea ceremony expert), and sat in on a pottery class in Trumansburg. 

桜の花

Sakura no hana

Cherry Blossom

Sketches in Bed

After playing 25 volleyball games this weekend (yes, 25) and hurting my jaw, I spent the day in bed with ibuprofen and lots and lots of ice. I did manage to get some WISE done, though!

I sketched my ideas for my tea set and used this tea set and the shape of this tea pot for inspiration. I'm happy with my outcomes!

I'm going to glaze all the designs because I am really bad at carving. Also, the red color for the flowers and the tray will be less red and more plum-ish. Well, actually, I will have to see what Ms. Lutter has first. The background color for everything will be white, just like the picture. 

I'm going to fire my two tea bowls tomorrow and make the other two this week. I probably won't glaze anything until I finish constructing all of the elements. 

Because I missed class today, I wasn't able to share my piece of research I found for a classmate. I might as well just post it here! +Emma Preston, I found this article about banjos that I think you would enjoy. http://entertainment.time.com/2013/04/05/the-banjo-ification-of-pop-why-the-instrument-is-everywhere/

For those who don't want to read it, it's basically just about how the banjo has become a prominent part of pop music over the last decade or so. I hope Emma brings her banjo in some time and plays us a sweet, sweet song!

バンジョー
Banjō
Banjo

Two Down, Two To Go

I made another tea bowl today! I originally made two, but after I took the second one off the wheel, I realized it was off-centered and threw it in the slop bucket. I'm happy that I have two though, because I'm halfway done! I'm planning on going in this week and making the other two and spending the weekend brainstorming design ideas and what not.

This project is finally coming along and I'm getting really excited!!

Disrupting My Comfort Zone

Brian Grazer talks about making things difficult for himself on purpose to disrupt his comfort zone. He wants to learn by challenging himself and taking risks. Ms. Gergely said today that "there is a fine line between difficultly and stupidity" and I completely agree.

I think it is completely necessary to take risks in life and do things that you normally wouldn't do. That being said, there is a difference between plunging head first into the most dangerous surfing spot with no experience and taking a scuba diving course. You have to gain experience and practice (!) before you can actually learn something.

Relating that to my project, I have definitely improved my ceramics skills from the very first week of class to now. I still only have one tea bowl and am planning on going in tomorrow 2nd and 8th period. Hopefully I can make one each period! I'm still stuck on what designs to do so I will have to do some more research on that.

I also talked to Ms. Gergely today about using my teapot that I have to make in ceramics class for my WISE project. Ms. Lutter told me it was double-dipping but Ms. Gergely said, even though it technically is double-dipping, it would seem silly not to be able to use it. That means I have to put in double the effort and focus to make this teapot look great!

リスク
Risuku
Risk

Finally, Progress

I made my first tea bowl today!!!!! So excited. I had time left over in ceramics class and I figured, why not just throw again?

I won't be able to go in tomorrow 2nd period to wheel throw again so I will just go in on Tuesday and hopefully make another two.

Yay for progress!

進捗
Shinchoku
Progress

Sketch first, Do later

During my mentor meeting today, Ms. Lutter told me I need to sketch my designs out before wheel-throwing. I haven't had any time to do that tonight so I will work on it tomorrow and wheel throw on Friday!

Short and sweet today!

描く
Egaku
Draw

Poems and Procrastination

Yesterday, in class, we read a Robert Frost poem together. I'm not really a fan of poetry but I kind of liked this one.

My favorite line is the very last.. "And the work is play for mortal stakes/ is the deed ever really done/ for heaven and the future's sakes." I interpreted this to mean that you should love what you do. Whether it be your job or your hobby, you should enjoy it so much that you never want it to end.

I also enjoyed this line: "My right might be love but theirs was need/ And where the two exist in twain/ Theirs was the better right--agreed." Frost talks about the two other tramps, or lumberjacks, that appear out of the woods as he is cutting wood. He says that their rights are different; Frost loves to chop wood but the two men need to chop wood in order to survive. When faced against each other, the right of need trumps the right of love.

Connecting this all back to my project, I haven't really found the place of absolute bliss. I do love my project but I'm not completely immersed in it. I've been feeling really unmotivated to work on my project lately (you can always blame Ithaca weather for all your problems) and am starting to fear that I've fallen behind.

I still haven't made my tea bowls, or anything else on my tea set. I've decided that I'm going to make four tea bowls instead of two, because I'm not making tea cups and I won't need to make saucers. I'm going in to Ms. Lutter's room tomorrow for a mentor meeting/ to work on it and hopefully I'll come out with something by the end of it.

We only have six weeks left to do our project and I need to set a timeline for myself to finish. To my advantage, though, one of our class assignments in wheel-throwing is to make a tea pot (!!!!!!). I know it's double-dipping but this would allow me to work on my project in class, and, if it turns out well I don't see a reason for why I couldn't use it for my tea set!

Okay, back to the timeline. Six weeks left.. oh my me.

and by research I mean start adding to my research tab and bibliography.

I feel better now that I wrote that all down and made myself a plan for the weeks to follow. I actually just sighed in relief...

優柔不断
Yūjūfudan
Procrastination