These cups started as an illustration I made on my tablet (image 1) a couple months ago and they have transformed into something much different over the past few months. I refined the sketch further and came to a design that I ended up basing the final cup off of (Image 2).
All of these cups were made out of a cone 10 stoneware with iron and fine mesh sand. I started with a cylinder on the wheel then tapered in the middle to create a sort of hourglass shape. I trimmed them on the wheel upside down and then did slip transfers of echinacea flowers (image 3).
I really liked how the slip transfers looked but after they were bisque fired I realized that a lot of the slip was flaking off (image 4).
I will still fire them despite the cracking off. I will be very careful during the glaze application process. The glaze will hopefully act as glue and help the remaining slip stay attached. I will put a clear glaze on the outside and a light blue glaze on the inside. After having trouble with the slip I decided to make more cups but this time I used underglaze. Underglaze has additives in it like glue and gum arabica that help it stick to the clay and not flake off. I had no issues with the underglaze falling off but I didn't like the effect as much as the slip. The underglaze doesn't have raised texture, it just looks flat on the surface (image 5).The forms of these cups were very successful but when I make more I will make the foot narrower.
Im really excited to keep applying plants to my work. The echinacea cup in particular is exciting because I want to manifest ideas of health and wellness in my work. Health is very important to me and it makes me feel good. I want to try and transfer this good feeling onto my peices. My house plants, nature, herbs, and flowers all generate an overall feeling of wellness and happiness. By applying some of these motifs into my work I can create a feeling of wellness. Echinacea is great for our immune system so especially during these covid times I've been sure to try to drink at least one cup a week. These cups can help remind the user to make sure to drink herbs to stay healthy.
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