This is one of two pieces (more in progress) where I wanted to explore the complicated feelings many of us experience when our inner world doesn't match the presentation we put on for others.     

We spend an unimaginable amount of effort masking health complications, depression and trauma, or just general unhappiness all in the name of being more easily digestible by society as a whole.  It's absurd and I wanted to try capture that absurdity through the utilization of starkly contrasting surfaces. 

  
I used a combination of commercial glazes (Dark Magma and Matte White by Mayco) and decorated the outside with acrylic marker. Rather than extensively planning the doodles on the outside, I gave myself a time limit and made it up as I went. I felt that if the doodles were too intricate or well thought out that it would loose some of the looseness, or feeling of whimsy. Also I felt that the compressing of time worked well with the theme, as the masks we wear are often built through years of instinctual reactions that become almost automatic. 

Historically I have relied on particular processes for surface decoration (Raku) or the kiln atmosphere itself (Wood / Soda firing). So it was both scary, and exciting to try something new. 

One technical tidbit for anyone interested in exploring heavily textured glazes like Dark Magma is to hold the temp longer to create more texture. I've worked with this glaze before and have never had such good results, and I think the "secret" was to hold Cone 6 for 15 minutes. 

  
Anyways, I hope you enjoy my work and feel free to ask any questions about the process! Also, I am more than open to criticism or thoughts. I've recently started a PostBac in ceramics and I really want to push myself. 



"I'm Good!" - Part of an in progress series exploring the gap between what we feel on the inside versus what we let the world see.