Description:
This intimate bowl merges functionality with narrative illustration through its simple yet evocative design. The vessel features a hand-drawn whimsical cottage rendered in dark underglaze against a serene powder blue background. The house illustration, with its characteristic round window and textured details, embodies a sense of warmth and shelter. The bowl’s form follows the traditional shape, with slightly curved walls that rise from a stable foot to create an inviting, hand-friendly vessel.
Process:
I call this piece “Comfort Cup,” and for me, it represents the intimate connection between daily rituals and the comfort of home. As I worked at the wheel, I was thinking about how a simple vessel can become a touchstone for moments of peace in someone’s day. The form itself emerged from countless hours of practicing the perfect tea bowl shape – not too heavy, not too delicate, but just right for cradling in your hands.
When I threw this piece in clay, my focus was on creating a form that feels natural in the hands. After the initial throwing, I let the piece set up to leather-hard before trimming a foot ring that gives the piece a sense of lightness while maintaining stability.
At the leather-hard stage, I took my time drawing a house, allowing the underglaze to create slightly imperfect lines that give the piece its handmade character. I chose to work with underglaze because it allows me to draw as if I’m sketching on paper, yet the image becomes permanently part of the vessel’s surface. The powder blue glaze I selected reminds me of early morning mist, creating a dreamy backdrop for the house motif.