Ceramics Internship Proposal
Basic Information
Full Name: Samantha Reid
UC Email: [email protected]
College: College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning
Major: Fine Arts
Title of Project: Ceramics Internship with Todd Feazell
Thematic Area (choose only one): Creative Arts
Expected Project Start Date: May 2015
Expected Project End Date: early July 2015 (10 weeks)
Project Information
1. Provide a detailed abstract of your proposed honors experiential learning project.
I have really gained a love for wheelthrowing and am always sad when summer rolls around and I don’t have access to a wheel or kilns for a few months. This summer, I would like to study/intern/work with the local potter Todd Feazell and keep wheelthrowing while school is not in session. I hope to work with him the first week or two after the spring semester ends into early July for a total of 10 weeks. First and foremost, I would like to be able to work in his studio and use his resources (wheel, kiln, etc.) throughout the summer to create work. I am hoping that if I offer to help clean the studio space and equipment, mix clay and glazes, and help Todd with any work he needs that he will allow me to use his studio space in exchange.
In addition to working in the studio—both assisting Todd and creating my own work—I will spend a couple hours each week researching ceramic artists and looking for inspiration. If there are any techniques I would like to try or if I see a piece of pottery I really like, I will look into how to replicate that in my own work. At the beginning of the summer I will take a little time to write down what I hope to accomplish in terms of the number of pieces I create, techniques or glazes I want to use, etc. One goal that I know I will write down already is learning to fire my own kiln, as I am not yet comfortable doing that on my own. I will also spend a short amount of time each week reflecting, making note of what techniques I tried, what pieces were successful/unsuccessful, and why. At the close of the summer I will reflect on the pieces I have made and look back at my original plan to see if I accomplished my goals or not. I will also do the required reflective essay.
This project is fairly open because my main goal is to keep in practice over the summer and to spend time in a different environment to learn new techniques and to gain different inspiration. Todd is a very talented potter and I hope to gain some new knowledge on processes and ways to create than I have learned through UC to broaden my knowledge on this subject. Below is a table detailing the amount of time I will spend on each component of this project.
Task Hours/week Total hours
Planning, listing what I hope to accomplish in 10 weeks N/A 1
Working in the studio, creating work 4 40
Working in studio; cleaning up, mixing clay/glaze, etc. 2 20
Researching ideas/inspiration 2 20
Reflecting, making notes on finished pieces ½ 5
Final reflection + essay N/A 2
TOTAL 8.5 88
Clearly and thoroughly address how each of the following elements will be exhibited in your work:
2. Connection to Learning Outcomes within the Honors Thematic Area (identified above)
1. Acquires or further develops competencies within a particular creative domain.
Throughout the course of this project, I will learn new skills and techniques that will further help me develop competency in the field of wheelthrowing and surface decoration for ceramics. I hope to become more competent at making my pieces thinner and lighter, both through actual throwing and through trimming. I also hope to develop further competency in firing kilns so I would potentially be able to create all of my own work, if I had (or had access to) the proper equipment.
2. Possesses a well-developed awareness of theories and methods in the field.
I already have some knowledge of theories and methods in the field of wheelthrowing from my education at UC, but working with another artist outside of the university will allow me to be exposed to other theories and methods that professors at UC may not be aware of. I particularly hope to learn new methods for centering pieces to trim, glaze application, and surface treatment.
3. Possesses ability to think innovatively.
I hope to be able to create an Etsy shop to promote and sell my work after the ten weeks working in Todd’s studio, and in order for my work to be successful I will need to be able to come up with innovative ideas that other artists aren’t necessarily doing, otherwise there will be nothing to distinguish my work from everyone else’s.
3. Connection to Goals and Academic Theories (include reference list, as appropriate)
A. I have really come to enjoy wheelthrowing almost as much as I enjoy photography, and I would be thrilled if I could make work in both fields and was able to sell that work. By continuing to work over the summer months when I would typically not have access to wheels or kilns, I will be able to improve and hone the skills that I have learned up to this point which will allow me to create better work. Working with another ceramics artist will also expose me to new techniques and processes and give me a larger knowledge base to draw on when I am creating my own work. Furthermore, when school starts again in the fall I will be able to share some of these new techniques and other findings with my classmates to improve everyone’s skill set and education in the field.
B. There are a variety of books that I intend to read throughout the course of this project.
Surface Design for Ceramics by Maureen Elizabeth Mills is one book that I would like to read to gain more inspiration regarding surface work, since that is one of my main interests with my ceramics work.
The Pottery Handbook of Clay, Glaze and Coulour by Harold Powell; Glaze: The Untimate Ceramic Artist’s Guide to Glaze and Color from Barron’s Education Series; and The Potter’s Studio Clay & Glaze Handbook by Jeff Zamek are all books I would like to read to learn more about different types of clay and glaze, what they do, and how to make them.
Salt-Glaze Ceramics by Rosemary Cochrane is a book I would like to read because I have never tried salt-glaze before, and I would like to at least learn how to do it for the future if Todd’s studio does not have the appropriate equipment.
I also plan to have Cooper’s Book of Glaze Recipes and the Val Cushing Glaze Handbook on hand to reference when I am looking for a specific glaze recipe to make.
In addition to these books, I will also be looking at different pottery and wheelthrowing blogs throughout the ten weeks of this project to look for inspiration and new ideas.
4. Initiative, Independence, and/or Creativity
By nature, this project will be creative because it involves the creating of pieces of art. I will show initiative by contacting Todd about this opportunity I would like to pursue, and by setting up goals for myself and what I would like to accomplish by the end of the ten weeks. Even though I will be working with and helping Todd, this project will be a lot of independent work in the studio. I will have to make sure that I am motivated to go in and get work done, and make sure that I am completing the research and looking for new ideas to inspire me each week.
5. Reflection
The hefty majority of this project is in the act of creating, but I will spend a short amount of time each week reflecting and making notes on what I have learned. If the week before I found a technique I wanted to try, I will write about how it worked for me and if I feel it was successful or not. If not, I will try to brainstorm how I could improve the next time I try it. My reflections will mainly be a lot of notes for myself on what works and what doesn’t, and I will keep them in a notebook that I can take into the studio with me to reference/add to while I work. At the end of the summer, or possibly each week, I will type up the notes that I feel might help other ceramic artists as well and post them on my artist website/blog.
6. Dissemination
I plan to put most of the work that I create over the summer up for sale in an Etsy shop to get it to a wide audience. I will also document each work and put images of the best pieces on my learning portfolio and artist website/blog. Any information I find during my research that I feel would be helpful to other ceramic artists along with any artists/techniques I find to be inspirational I will post on my artist blog as well.
7. Project Advisor(s)
Todd Feazell
[email protected]
8. Budget (if applicable)
N/A
Full Name: Samantha Reid
UC Email: [email protected]
College: College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning
Major: Fine Arts
Title of Project: Ceramics Internship with Todd Feazell
Thematic Area (choose only one): Creative Arts
Expected Project Start Date: May 2015
Expected Project End Date: early July 2015 (10 weeks)
Project Information
1. Provide a detailed abstract of your proposed honors experiential learning project.
I have really gained a love for wheelthrowing and am always sad when summer rolls around and I don’t have access to a wheel or kilns for a few months. This summer, I would like to study/intern/work with the local potter Todd Feazell and keep wheelthrowing while school is not in session. I hope to work with him the first week or two after the spring semester ends into early July for a total of 10 weeks. First and foremost, I would like to be able to work in his studio and use his resources (wheel, kiln, etc.) throughout the summer to create work. I am hoping that if I offer to help clean the studio space and equipment, mix clay and glazes, and help Todd with any work he needs that he will allow me to use his studio space in exchange.
In addition to working in the studio—both assisting Todd and creating my own work—I will spend a couple hours each week researching ceramic artists and looking for inspiration. If there are any techniques I would like to try or if I see a piece of pottery I really like, I will look into how to replicate that in my own work. At the beginning of the summer I will take a little time to write down what I hope to accomplish in terms of the number of pieces I create, techniques or glazes I want to use, etc. One goal that I know I will write down already is learning to fire my own kiln, as I am not yet comfortable doing that on my own. I will also spend a short amount of time each week reflecting, making note of what techniques I tried, what pieces were successful/unsuccessful, and why. At the close of the summer I will reflect on the pieces I have made and look back at my original plan to see if I accomplished my goals or not. I will also do the required reflective essay.
This project is fairly open because my main goal is to keep in practice over the summer and to spend time in a different environment to learn new techniques and to gain different inspiration. Todd is a very talented potter and I hope to gain some new knowledge on processes and ways to create than I have learned through UC to broaden my knowledge on this subject. Below is a table detailing the amount of time I will spend on each component of this project.
Task Hours/week Total hours
Planning, listing what I hope to accomplish in 10 weeks N/A 1
Working in the studio, creating work 4 40
Working in studio; cleaning up, mixing clay/glaze, etc. 2 20
Researching ideas/inspiration 2 20
Reflecting, making notes on finished pieces ½ 5
Final reflection + essay N/A 2
TOTAL 8.5 88
Clearly and thoroughly address how each of the following elements will be exhibited in your work:
2. Connection to Learning Outcomes within the Honors Thematic Area (identified above)
1. Acquires or further develops competencies within a particular creative domain.
Throughout the course of this project, I will learn new skills and techniques that will further help me develop competency in the field of wheelthrowing and surface decoration for ceramics. I hope to become more competent at making my pieces thinner and lighter, both through actual throwing and through trimming. I also hope to develop further competency in firing kilns so I would potentially be able to create all of my own work, if I had (or had access to) the proper equipment.
2. Possesses a well-developed awareness of theories and methods in the field.
I already have some knowledge of theories and methods in the field of wheelthrowing from my education at UC, but working with another artist outside of the university will allow me to be exposed to other theories and methods that professors at UC may not be aware of. I particularly hope to learn new methods for centering pieces to trim, glaze application, and surface treatment.
3. Possesses ability to think innovatively.
I hope to be able to create an Etsy shop to promote and sell my work after the ten weeks working in Todd’s studio, and in order for my work to be successful I will need to be able to come up with innovative ideas that other artists aren’t necessarily doing, otherwise there will be nothing to distinguish my work from everyone else’s.
3. Connection to Goals and Academic Theories (include reference list, as appropriate)
A. I have really come to enjoy wheelthrowing almost as much as I enjoy photography, and I would be thrilled if I could make work in both fields and was able to sell that work. By continuing to work over the summer months when I would typically not have access to wheels or kilns, I will be able to improve and hone the skills that I have learned up to this point which will allow me to create better work. Working with another ceramics artist will also expose me to new techniques and processes and give me a larger knowledge base to draw on when I am creating my own work. Furthermore, when school starts again in the fall I will be able to share some of these new techniques and other findings with my classmates to improve everyone’s skill set and education in the field.
B. There are a variety of books that I intend to read throughout the course of this project.
Surface Design for Ceramics by Maureen Elizabeth Mills is one book that I would like to read to gain more inspiration regarding surface work, since that is one of my main interests with my ceramics work.
The Pottery Handbook of Clay, Glaze and Coulour by Harold Powell; Glaze: The Untimate Ceramic Artist’s Guide to Glaze and Color from Barron’s Education Series; and The Potter’s Studio Clay & Glaze Handbook by Jeff Zamek are all books I would like to read to learn more about different types of clay and glaze, what they do, and how to make them.
Salt-Glaze Ceramics by Rosemary Cochrane is a book I would like to read because I have never tried salt-glaze before, and I would like to at least learn how to do it for the future if Todd’s studio does not have the appropriate equipment.
I also plan to have Cooper’s Book of Glaze Recipes and the Val Cushing Glaze Handbook on hand to reference when I am looking for a specific glaze recipe to make.
In addition to these books, I will also be looking at different pottery and wheelthrowing blogs throughout the ten weeks of this project to look for inspiration and new ideas.
4. Initiative, Independence, and/or Creativity
By nature, this project will be creative because it involves the creating of pieces of art. I will show initiative by contacting Todd about this opportunity I would like to pursue, and by setting up goals for myself and what I would like to accomplish by the end of the ten weeks. Even though I will be working with and helping Todd, this project will be a lot of independent work in the studio. I will have to make sure that I am motivated to go in and get work done, and make sure that I am completing the research and looking for new ideas to inspire me each week.
5. Reflection
The hefty majority of this project is in the act of creating, but I will spend a short amount of time each week reflecting and making notes on what I have learned. If the week before I found a technique I wanted to try, I will write about how it worked for me and if I feel it was successful or not. If not, I will try to brainstorm how I could improve the next time I try it. My reflections will mainly be a lot of notes for myself on what works and what doesn’t, and I will keep them in a notebook that I can take into the studio with me to reference/add to while I work. At the end of the summer, or possibly each week, I will type up the notes that I feel might help other ceramic artists as well and post them on my artist website/blog.
6. Dissemination
I plan to put most of the work that I create over the summer up for sale in an Etsy shop to get it to a wide audience. I will also document each work and put images of the best pieces on my learning portfolio and artist website/blog. Any information I find during my research that I feel would be helpful to other ceramic artists along with any artists/techniques I find to be inspirational I will post on my artist blog as well.
7. Project Advisor(s)
Todd Feazell
[email protected]
8. Budget (if applicable)
N/A