This project has been an ever changing experiment with form and process. Starting with forms inspired by classical ceramic vase shapes, and still incorporating handbuilt elements of coiling; ending with deliberately feminine forms and moving away from handbuilding entirely. I have followed my interests on this project, turning the sail of my creativity directly into the wind of inspiration wherever it was blowing. I have had many pieces "fail" in terms of printing perfection, but I think that there is as much beauty in the slumped and imperfect layers as there is in the "perfect," evenly printed pieces. Working with clay is such a tactile experience, both in the making process as well as the finished piece; even with the printer doing all of the "manual" labor of making, through my human touch of making the slip a bit too thin and telling it to print pieces a bit too complicated, I still have an effect on the piece.
I don't consider this project done, I think that it is only the beginning of what I want to experiment with, and I am still figuring out a lot of the aspects of what I want to move forward with. I do want to continue to scale up, and I do like the process of pinching the finished printed pieces to give a more handbuilt surface. As much as I like the terracotta finish, I do want to experiment with different colours in the clay as well, even if it is just adding more red iron oxide to some of the terracotta slip. I like the variation in the piece with the blue clay, and I want to explore that more. I am also working on another figure base to print, and I think having more variation in the figurative element will add new dimension to my work.
