Avery Speas "Riches I (Gold Bowl ) "
2x2x1, Stoneware and Glaze, 2026
For my first slump drape bowl, I wanted to experiment with ruffled edges. I went for a simple color scheme so that I could focus on emphasizing the edges. I wanted to name my collection of slump bowls “Riches” because I wanted each bowl to reference some sort of rich. This bowl I wanted to focus on the rich of money and wealth. To begin, I wedged a piece of clay. I rolled out the clay and compressed all the sides together. I kept on using the rib tool and sponge to keep it compressed and moist. I then placed a pattern on top of the slab and pressed so it showed. I then used a circle ring and traced the outside to make the bowl. I took the circle and dropped it in the bowl to make the shape. I smoothed out the sides of the bowl and then I added shape to the edges. I then glazed the bowl Saturation Gold. I think that the artwork is meant to replicate being rich in the form of money. I want the audience to think of greed and how it relates to their lives. While the bowl is painted a vibrant golden color, the actual worth of the bowl is not even close to what gold is worth. I think that the most difficult part of making this bowl was getting the edges to be closely even lengths. If I had to start over, I would find a tool to make the edges much more even and equivalent. I think that this piece is primarily just a decorative piece. I love the rusticly golden color so that it looks more enticing for the eyes.
Avery Speas "Riches II (Rose Bowl) "
5x5x1, Stoneware and Glaze, 2026
For my second slump drape bowl, I wanted to focus more on the pattern being pressed into the bowl. I wanted a stencil that would convey the message of “riches in beauty”. To me, this meant finding beauty not only in oneself but also in the environment around them. I made this bowl identically to the other bowl. I started by wedging clay and then compressing it. I then got it moist and placed the stencil on the clay. I pressed extra hard this time, guaranteeing that my pattern would show up. I then cut out a circle and began dropping it into the circle ring that would fit the size. This time, however, I did not worry about placing a pattern on the edges. I believe this artwork does mean being rich in beauty. I want my audience to think about what things in their life have beauty. I think that the bowl resembles a delicate rose that we admire out in the wild. I think that the most difficult part of making the second bowl was getting the edges to be smooth. I tried to get them smoothed out before I fired the bowl for the first time. However, when they came out sharper than I would have liked, I had to sand the sides so they wouldn’t scratch. If I had to start over, I would get the sides extra moist so that they were easier to mold. I think that this piece is primarily a decorative piece that I could put on display.