I used white clay for both of these.

I used LG clear glaze for the inside of my water cup and Stroke & Coat for the outside.

For my pallet I used three different colors of O glaze!

The subject of my slab project is a house-shaped incense holder, which comes in two separate pieces: the house itself, without a bottom, and a base that resembles the foundation of the house. I created this structure using clay slabs, carefully measuring and cutting the pieces before joining them together to form the house structure. To make the texture on the front of my house, I used the handle of the poke tool. I used LG glaze, Elements glaze, and underglaze to achieve this... interesting set of colors. The chimney was sculpted to allow the incense smoke to escape. The piece's function is both decorative and practical, as the incense smoke will rise through the chimney, mimicking a cozy house with smoke coming from the chimney. 

While developing my mind map, I explored other ideas like a boom box, a mini couch with liftable cushions for storage, and a book-shaped storage box. However, I decided against the book because it felt too simple and was based on something that already existed (Twilight). The house stood out to me because it allowed me to combine both form and function, with the added symbolic element of smoke coming from the chimney to evoke a cozy atmosphere. The thought process behind this project was to create something visually engaging and functional, while still maintaining a personal connection to the idea of home as a peaceful, calming space.

For my project, I made a pomegranate to represent themes of femininity and the loss of innocence. I used my fingers pushing into the ball of clay to create the pomegranate shape and cut it in half so that the seeds would be exposed, making it feel more lifelike. To add realistic textures, I shaped each seed by hand and added small details to make the inside look juicy and layered. I glazed the outer skin a deep red and used darker shades for the seeds to give them dimension. I also pressed a handprint on the outside of the pomegranate as a way to symbolize innocence lost, adding more meaning to the piece.

Even though I wrote down other ideas on my mind map, I was pretty set on making a pomegranate from the beginning. It just felt like the perfect symbol for what I wanted to express about femininity and innocence. The pomegranate’s history as a symbol in art and literature influenced my choice because it often represents something deeper than what’s on the surface. I liked the idea of showing both the beauty and the intensity of these themes through the pomegranate’s layered texture and color, so I focused on making it look realistic while also having a strong symbolic impact.

The inspiration for my coil project came from my childhood memories of playing outside in the rain. I decided to make a pair of children’s rain boots because they remind me of how carefree and happy I felt during those moments. To create the boots, I used coils to build up the shape, starting with the base and working upward to form the tall boot shape. Once the structure was finished, I smoothed the surface and added details like the edges and the treads on the soles to make them look realistic.

My project’s narrative is about my childhood and how something as simple as playing in the rain made me feel happy and free. I chose this because rain boots are a symbol of those small, joyful moments that stick with you even as you grow up. Turning the boots into flower pots added another layer of meaning, representing how those childhood experiences helped me grow into who I am today. My thought process came from thinking about objects that remind me of my past and how they could connect to a bigger idea. The rain boots felt perfect because they combine nostalgia with growth, showing how my past is still a part of me.