Under the Surface

Piper O.

Clay, under glaze, palladium glaze

• Artist Statement

  In Under the Surface, I want the viewer to realize how pollution, especially oil spills, affects sea life. The piece shows sea life with oil flowing down on top of them representing how pollution slowly encases and ruins the world we live in. I was inspired by the general idea of pollution and its influence on the world even when unseen. I built the form using coils and smoothed it out, then added underglaze to create the sea creatures. Then finishing the piece with the drips of palladium glaze. Smoothing out the coils was the most challenging part that I faced since the clay had dried considerably, which made it harder to shape and blend. The lesson learned from it was the importance of timing and keeping the appropriate level of moisture for the clay while working on it.

• Creative Statement

  Creativity is the capability of being able to come up with art or a concept not only unique but possibly never seen before. These beyond reality ideas not only show imagination but also express how someone views the world in their own way.