Winter Art Show
Artist Statement:
As a senior taking my first ceramics class, I knew I wanted to absorb as much as possible before leaving Trinity. For the Winter Art Show, I wanted to find a way to use my new ceramic skills to help capture a moment in time - a feeling. This inspired my fascination with coffee mugs.
My childhood weekend mornings are found blissfully preserved in my mind through the smell of pancakes, the sounds of cartoons, and the unique coffee mugs my parents would acquire over the years. These memorable mornings were all different. However, they were all spent with family; and I wanted to capture that simple, intimate feeling in my own interpretation of my parent’s mugs. Although mugs were never a topic covered within the course, I was determined to accept the challenge of trying something new. A simple, red mug of my father’s, an off-white mug that was my mom’s “go-to,” and a Dallas Cowboys mug - that of course is my father's favorite - were the final three I chose to recreate.
With each mug, I had to worry about proportions. I’ve learned just how much clay can shrink! All three mugs also have a clear glaze finish, so I had to experiment with glaze a bit in addition to underglaze. The “red mug” process included a trimmed bowl shape for it’s base and a handle which was scored and slipped onto the side. I wanted to try to replicate the stroke marks that are visible on the original mug, however, my underglaze didn’t quite produce the same effect. The off-white mug also needed a bowl shape, but with a deeper continuous curve. After trimming, I threw a small bowl onto the bottom of the mug to create the desired foot. I then had to score and slip another handle to attach to the side. To match the original mug’s off-white color, I applied numerous coats of clear glaze to get that “yellowy-white” finish. The Cowboys mug was a difficult one to make. I threw a wide, cylindrical body with a turned out lip and curves to resemble a barrel. I then trimmed away to create a flared foot and a band that runs around the lower-middle of the mug. A hand-made star was later scored, slipped, and attached to the side. The handle on this mug needed to be a bit more square than the previous handles. I hand-painted the “COWBOYS” along the side with underglaze and proceeded to underglaze the rest of the mug to match the navy original.
I did my best to make the mugs as close to the originals as possible. It was fulfilling to go through this process of making a plan, working hard, and seeing my finished product. The mugs didn’t turn out twins, of course, but rather sisters. These mugs now carry those lighthearted memories; and both the work and love put into making them just further remind me of all the love and hard work shown to me through my family. Thank you mom and dad, these mugs are for you guys!
As a senior taking my first ceramics class, I knew I wanted to absorb as much as possible before leaving Trinity. For the Winter Art Show, I wanted to find a way to use my new ceramic skills to help capture a moment in time - a feeling. This inspired my fascination with coffee mugs.
My childhood weekend mornings are found blissfully preserved in my mind through the smell of pancakes, the sounds of cartoons, and the unique coffee mugs my parents would acquire over the years. These memorable mornings were all different. However, they were all spent with family; and I wanted to capture that simple, intimate feeling in my own interpretation of my parent’s mugs. Although mugs were never a topic covered within the course, I was determined to accept the challenge of trying something new. A simple, red mug of my father’s, an off-white mug that was my mom’s “go-to,” and a Dallas Cowboys mug - that of course is my father's favorite - were the final three I chose to recreate.
With each mug, I had to worry about proportions. I’ve learned just how much clay can shrink! All three mugs also have a clear glaze finish, so I had to experiment with glaze a bit in addition to underglaze. The “red mug” process included a trimmed bowl shape for it’s base and a handle which was scored and slipped onto the side. I wanted to try to replicate the stroke marks that are visible on the original mug, however, my underglaze didn’t quite produce the same effect. The off-white mug also needed a bowl shape, but with a deeper continuous curve. After trimming, I threw a small bowl onto the bottom of the mug to create the desired foot. I then had to score and slip another handle to attach to the side. To match the original mug’s off-white color, I applied numerous coats of clear glaze to get that “yellowy-white” finish. The Cowboys mug was a difficult one to make. I threw a wide, cylindrical body with a turned out lip and curves to resemble a barrel. I then trimmed away to create a flared foot and a band that runs around the lower-middle of the mug. A hand-made star was later scored, slipped, and attached to the side. The handle on this mug needed to be a bit more square than the previous handles. I hand-painted the “COWBOYS” along the side with underglaze and proceeded to underglaze the rest of the mug to match the navy original.
I did my best to make the mugs as close to the originals as possible. It was fulfilling to go through this process of making a plan, working hard, and seeing my finished product. The mugs didn’t turn out twins, of course, but rather sisters. These mugs now carry those lighthearted memories; and both the work and love put into making them just further remind me of all the love and hard work shown to me through my family. Thank you mom and dad, these mugs are for you guys!