From the brainstorming and sketching stage to the glazing and firing stage, I have the freedom to do what I want and create it how I want. Clay Works is also a time where I can relieve stress about academics or sports. I can walk into the studio, grab a wint-o-green lifesaver off of Ms.Sturdevant’s desk, take out my project, turn on my music or a podcast, and simply work for 40 or 80 minutes. For that time, I can focus on my project, and while I can try to make everything to perfection or my liking, I always keep in mind to embrace the wabi-sabi, as Ms. Sturdevant would remind us. Then when the project is done, after time well spent, I get to admire the artwork, and the best part is, I get to keep and use it forever.

Not only will I be leaving Ellis with multiple pieces of artwork I can call my own, but I’ll also be leaving Ellis with clay work skills and better divergent thinking. When I was working on my project at home during remote learning, I had to get creative and use things that I found at home as clay tools. For example, a water bottle I rarely used became a useful roller, and a candle lid became perfect circle cutters. While I was only able to do clay my sophomore and senior year, I am forever grateful and appreciative for the experiences and memories I’ve made with my friends and classmates. In my junior year, clay didn’t fit nicely into my schedule, and the whole year I missed being a part of the class. In the future, I hope to continue my journey in clay works and build upon the skills and techniques I’ve learned from Ms. Sturdevant and experiences from the class.