Artist Statement 

In working to find a guiding question for my AP portfolio I wanted to choose a subject that would allow me to make a large body of work and explore what I am passionate about. I found this through my love of Art History. I was fascinated by how historical vessels are able to tell stories from the past, about the civilizations they are from and stories about the people who made them. This led me to ask myself how I can tell my own story through these vessels. I spent many hours researching each piece,working through the mechanics of making them by testing new clay bodies, and throwing many versions of one piece or smaller macquets. This process alone helped me to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for the craftsmanship that went into making the originals, as well as the time spent to make what could have been a bare minimum object, just something used to get the job done, into beautiful pieces of art that were able to withstand the tests of time. As I played with these forms, I tried to push myself in adapting their silhouettes to make a piece more dynamic, or pleasing to my eye, as well as create a better canvas for the surface design that would convey my own story. I think one piece that was a catalyst for  my investigation is my krater, based off of the Niobides Krater.This piece really pushed my technical skill to a level it had yet to reach before this time and forced me to explore sgraffito techniques in a deeper way. Through this investigation I hope to convey the importance of these historicals works and emphasize just how much they can tell us.