6',6' Ceramic 2026

I looked online for some inspiration posts and found this ceramic house that looked pretty neat and interesting to me. I wanted to try something similar, but also make it my own. I decided to create a house that feels like something you might see in a place like New York or Chicago, with a more urban and detailed style. To begin, I had to start out by making my slab, which would be the base for everything else. From there, I carefully started building at the bottom of the house and slowly worked my way up, making sure each part connected well and looked balanced. As I continued, I made a door and added some windows on the lower level, trying to make them look proportionate and realistic. Then I moved upward to the next section of the house. I put a window in the second floor, which helped give it more depth and made it feel more like a real building. After that, I carved a triangular-shaped roof at the top, which completed the overall structure of the house. Once the main shape was finished, I had to start carving in textures and adding layers to give the piece more detail and personality. I added some small rocks that went around the window and also helped separate the different layers of the house, which made it look more visually interesting. I also carved bricks into the second layer, which I felt was a really nice addition because it made the house look more realistic and gave it that city-style appearance I was going for. Overall, my artwork shows that home can be anywhere, even if it’s represented in my somewhat subpar artwork. I think the meaning behind it is important, because home isn’t a stationary place—it’s wherever you feel most safe and comfortable. Even though it’s just a ceramic piece, I think it still captures that idea. I also think it is a realistic depiction of a house, especially because of the colors of the glaze I used, which helped bring everything together and made the final piece feel more complete and lifelike.

2', 2' Ceramic 2026 

I started by looking online for some magnets to get a sense of ideas and inspiration. I didn’t really find anything that stood out to me or felt unique, so instead of forcing an idea, I just took some time to think about what I could make. After thinking it over, I realized that a card would be perfect for a small magnet because it was just the right size and shape, and it would be simple but still interesting. I then decided that I wanted to do the Ace of Hearts, since it kind of just stood out to me more than the other cards. There was something about it that felt more recognizable and visually appealing. Once I had my idea, I had to start by getting my base right. It couldn’t be too big or too thick, or it would blow up in the kiln, so I had to be careful with how I shaped it. Finding the ideal size actually took some trial and error, and I had to adjust it a few times before I felt confident that it would work. Next, I started crafting the heart in the middle. I didn’t want to just paint the heart on because I thought that might look too flat, so I wanted it to be more 3D and actually made out of clay. This added a bit more depth and made the design stand out more. After shaping everything, it got fired in the kiln, which was an important step before adding any color or final details. Once it was fired, I began painting it. I used an acrylic paint pen and carefully drew the “A” and the small hearts in the corners. The details had to be very small and precise, so it wasn’t easy, and I had to take my time to make sure it looked right. Even though it was challenging, I still think it turned out great in the end. The audience can look at my artwork and think about what card in a deck suits them the most, or which one pops out to them personally. It gives them a chance to connect their own ideas or personality to something simple like a playing card. The most difficult thing for me was painting the heart onto the card. I really only had one good try at it, and because it was so small, it made it even harder to get it exactly how I wanted. I definitely had some trouble with that part, but I worked through it as best as I could. Overall, I would say my artwork is realistic, mainly because it looks very similar to an actual card in a deck. The shape, the layout, and the details all match what you would expect to see, which makes it feel more complete and recognizable as a finished piece.