Springtime
Morgan Z.
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My concept for this piece was initially centered around cherry blossoms. As I worked through the process of sketching the shape of the petals they evolved into a more simplified version of the shape, while also taking inspiration from other flowers I observed in similar two dimensional styles along the way. I continued to develop my flower pattern during the sketching process of this school assignment and during the construction of the plate itself. To practice for the sgraffito design I would engrave on the piece I drew these flowers on paper, or on the back of my hand in pen when I was bored in school or at home. While seemingly simple, this constant practice of my technique over time helped to evolve the design and allowed me to freestyle new types of flowers and improvise with no pressure about the final result. The final piece includes types of flower designs that, while simple, are the result of improvisation and the improvement of my creative process over time. I used a ball stylus tool and the sgraffito technique to carve my design into the plate I had constructed using the slab building technique. Once fired, the next step was selecting a color palette that would show the diversity among the shapes while also appearing coordinated and intentional. I chose strong colors that I felt complemented each other and are brought together by the white outline consistent throughout the piece, and spread them evenly throughout the piece, using mostly warm toned colors to provide a contrast with the medium blue used as the background. The final product is an important reminder for me of the importance of having fun and not overcomplicating the creative process, and letting it take me where it will. It represents the idea that art is meant to bring joy to its creators, in this case is illustrated by the bright colors and playful nature of the design.
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Making art in my ceramics class allows me to take a break from the stress of school and other work and be creative, and I value that time a lot. Expressing my creativity through ceramics has pushed me to create beyond what I thought I was capable of.
