Ceramics I

JJ VanDerGinst ""

Sculpey and Acrylic paint, 2026

I made a magnet of an eagle's head. I got this idea from past projects I have created. Some of my other projects involved birds, especially eagles. I think they are cool birds and have some symbolism behind them. 

My process involved me trying to figure out what I was actually going to make. This wasn't the first idea I thought of. I first created the head with the "feathers" at the bottom of the head. I then made the beak and attached it to the head. Then the eye was last to be made.  

This artwork is symbolic to me because when I see an eagle, I immediately think of our country. 

The most difficult part of this project was creating the beak of the eagle because I didn't want it to just be one large thing that was connected. I wanted it to be 2 different sizes, like real life, where the bottom is smaller than the top. If I started over I would change the bottom of the magnet, aka the feather part. I would make it more pointy. 

This artwork was attempted to be more of a realistic style with it being a real thing and trying to make it look as real as possible.

JJ VanDerGinst "BOO"

Stoneware Clay and Glaze, 2026

I created a closed-form pumpkin. I got inspiration for the project from the other pumpkins in the room. I also got the inspiration for the "Boo" from the Halloween decorations that my mom put out. 

My process consisted of using the coil machine to create large coils. Then I took the coils and started to sculpt the pumpkin from the ground to the top. I added a bottom, then closed it off on the top. I created the stem, then carved out the word "Boo".

This artwork isn't very symbolic; it is just showing Halloween. Its symbolic to me because I used blue, which is my favorite color, instead of typical Halloween colors. 

The most difficult thing to create was carving the "Boo" out of the pumpkin. I wanted to make them pretty symmetrical and even. The hardest part with the "Boo" was the divider in the letter B. 

This artwork was more abstract rather than realistic. This makes it unique to me because I used my favorite color as the color that was covering the pumpkin. 

JJ VanDerGinst "Midnight Purple Pitcher"

Stoneware Clay and Glaze, 2026

My idea was to create a pitcher that had my last name engraved inside of it . First, I started by creating a slab of clay and then using a stencil tool to carve the sides to create the design. Then I wrapped it together, making it stand up.  

There isn't anything this really symbolizes; it shows my love for my family.

The most difficult part for me was that the front wasn't aligned where I wanted it, and it had a dip. To overcome this, I added a little part that sticks out where you would actually pour liquid out of the pitcher. 

If I started over I would change the overall design of the pitcher. I think its very plain and doesn't have much going on so I would add more texture to the side and make it smaller. 

This artwork is more non objective with it being a pitcher not made for realistic design. The thing that makes it my own is having my last name engraved into the side of the pitcher. 

JJ VanDerGinst "Witches Cauldron"

Stoneware Clay and Glaze, 2026

My idea for my project was to create a bowl that looked like a witch's cauldron. I got this idea because the Halloween season was approaching, so I thought I would get into the spirit. 

The process of the creation was using a bowl mold and pitching the clay bit by bit onto the sides to create the shape of the bowl. I then added the feet to the bottom and finished it off with a witch's hat on the inside of the bowl.

The bowl really just symbolizes the Halloween season. The inspiration for the bowl came from some Halloween decorations that were put up around my house. 

The most difficult part of the project was making everything even and smooth around the entire bowl. If I started over, I would have used a different bowl and been more productive and careful about the roundness of the bowl. 

This bowl can be described as realistic because it is based on a real thing. It could also be described as non-objective because it doesn't look super realistic.

JJ VanDerGinst "All Natural"

Stoneware Clay and Glaze, 2026

I created a mug that's meant to look like it's made out of nature. My idea was to create a mug for my mom to use. Her favorite color is green, and I wanted to add some sort of texture to it so it didn't look plain. 

I first started by using a slab of clay and putting texture on the slab. Then I used a mug stencil to create the walls and connected them to the bottom. 

The symbolic imagery this shows is something I created for my mom. I wanted to make something for her to show my appreciation for her. 

The most difficult thing for me was trying to make the mug stand up without ruining the design of the leaves on the mug. I overcame this by standing it up and connecting it at 2 points, 1 where the handle is and one on the opposite side of the handle. These 2 parts don't have any texture on them because they are meant to lock the walls into place. 

This artwork is more of a realistic style of artwork, being able to actually be used, and is based on something that is a real thing.