Lidded Pinch Pot Jars

Artist Statement

For the lidded pinch pot jars project, we were tasked with creating 2 pots using the pinch technique, which had some form of unity both between the pots and within the design for each pot. Using this prompt I created one pot that has many squiggly lines carved out of it, creating a negative space-filled look. The jar has a lid and a handle that matches the design of the rest of the pot. I used the pinch technique to create the pot out of clay. For materials, I used carving tools, as well as the glazes C-27 and C-47. I was only able to finish one of the jars due to time. 

The project was inherently focused on unity, which I included through my lid and handle. The lid is very curvy and has a handle that sits on top which is also abstract and curved. These forms are reflected in the lines on the pot, which are curly lines that flow in and out of one another. I started with the lid and then designed it on the go from there. As I made it, I revised how I was going to have the lines interact with one another. In 2D drawings, there isn’t the force of gravity acting on objects, but in 3D (as with clay sculptures) it becomes very important to have supports for any pieces that may be suspended in the air. Not realizing this until after I started carving, there are a few spots where a support leg or two is needed to create a more stable design. There were more lines there that were going to interact in the piece, but they fell off as it got toward the end. 

As the first truly sculptural project of the year, my focus for this piece was getting comfortable with the materials and seeing if I had a style that I wanted to develop. To test this out, I turned to my doodles to get inspiration. My doodles have almost always been quite abstract, filled with a lot of ever-twisting moving lines that intersect and overlap. I was interested in how to use this twisty 2D style for a 3D object. There isn’t a specific meaning behind the piece besides challenging myself to improvise and create new solutions to problems on the go. Part of why I didn’t plan out my design was because I wanted to challenge myself to create freely without a plan. I am most proud of the handle and lid because I feel they pull the piece together in a unique way. The areas that I struggled in are fairly apparent when looking at the pot because there are some larger areas of open space. These had designs in them, but the clay broke as it dried, and I decided to leave it. Currently, I haven’t glaze-fired the piece, though I have glazed it, so I look forward to seeing it after the final step.