Ceramics was never just a class that was required for me to graduate. I loved working with my hands and how it differentiated me from my sister who is brilliant when it comes to drawing and painting. I do the work I do because it gives me something to be passionate about and put a lot of time towards to keep me busy and help me focus. I love to have an outlet where I can get dirty when feeling the clay dry up between my fingers and stain my black shoes white for weeks. Staying busy keeps me on my toes and I love how with ceramics there is always more to do and its always fun.

       Throughout my four years of ceramics classes I have began to discover my artistic voice and every choice I have made has been to help develop it. The outside materials I have incorporated include wooden boards, natural and artificial looking, glass, pennies, and moss. Although I have not experimented greatly with my materials I believe that those I have have always added ti my pieces positively. Technique wise I tend to try and use the wheel whenever possible. I am not very talented at it but I love being able to sit alone and be able to feel the sense of accomplishment when I do finally make the exact shape I had been trying to make for weeks. The themes of my project usually always tie back to nature or paisleys. I make the choices I do for my projects to perpetuate my artistic voice 

       My work in Advanced Ceramics has been much more developed than previous years. As I mentioned before my pieces tend to always incorporate either a nature or paisley element. The paisley piece originated from a sophomore year assignment to create a project inspired by the pottery of a country. I picked Uzbekistan, the country my sisters boyfriend was born in. Uzbek pottery all included a deep blue color glaze and intricate paisley and floral designs. I used the country again in a future assignment and even made my trivet this year out of the shape. The nature aspect of my pieces originated simply from my love for all things nature and constant exposure to it when I go on mini adventures and take vacations to my grandparents rural PA home. I tried many new techniques this year many involving testing how delicate I could make a piece. With my Handheld Octopus I made the legs stick up into the air and with my teapot I created the outside lattice. I did a lot of experimenting this year because I was finally able to let go of having to have everything being so perfect. I am very happy with the work I have made this year and throughout high school and how it has helped shape me as an artist and a person.