As an elective this semester, I chose Ceramics and Hand Building were we designed and created our own collection of cups and a teapot. Our main goal was to make a surreal teapot, so we spent multiple lessons learning different techniques, designs and ways of using the clay. Ceramic Expert, Fleur Schell taught us the basics of clay creations as we toured her studio and home.

I designed my teapot to look like a birthday cake and added details of a candle and icing lid, engraved hearts on the side and happy birthday imprinted on the inside. My design was developed by my skill level and the resources I had available as my sketches overachieved my actual abilities.

I didn’t have many influences for my design except my own ideas and sketches I made. Since it had recently been my birthday I thought it was fitting to make a birthday cake pot to celebrate.

Working with the clay was difficult and took some time getting use to a new material, but through the help of Ms Elscot and Fleur I could handle it better. I had to trial different way to attach the clay together as some ways resulted in the joints popping open in the kiln. The best way we learnt to join the pots together was to use a mountains and valleys, water for glue method which was basically crosshatching the clay and wetting then two pieces before joining them together.