Ceramics

When proposed a diptych ceramics project, I was inspired by growth and decay. Initially, I thought the green piece would represent decay, but as I continued to make each piece I realized they both represented life in different ways. The texture of each piece was crucial to its design, with the green figure displaying additive techniques and the darker figure using both additive and subtractive techniques. For the green figure, I rolled dozens of small balls and used slip and scoring to attach them to the base figure. I used several layers of green paint to create a mossy texture on top of the bumpy exterior. For the darker figure, I carved long cracks from the top of the figure to its base. I filled in the cracks with red, orange, yellow, and purple paint to represent lava. I added dark green vines to the base, hinting at the other piece. Both pieces could be considered in the form of decay, with the green figure looking like a diseased plant and the other piece like a fiery, destructive volcano. But they also exemplify life: the green appears mossy and overgrown and the volcano is full of motion and action. Visually, they’d differ greatly in texture, but are united through their form, with a single protruding shape stemming from the base.