One of the most rewarding aspects of working in ceramics is discovering your own style. In the early stages of your work, you’ll naturally want to try out new forms, colors, textures and finishes. You may take inspiration from the work of other potters, or try out styles you’ve seen somewhere else.
But over time, you’ll start to notice certain forms you like making more than others, certain colors that seem to crop up repeatedly, and certain textures or finishes you’re drawn to. All of these are telling you about your own style as a ceramist.
It takes time to discover this style. It grows with practice, observation and experimentation.
Learn the Basics First
Before trying to build a unique artistic style, it helps to understand the materials and techniques you are working with. Once you understand how the material works, you have the freedom to experiment with it. Rather than forcing the clay to do what you want, you can decide for yourself what you want it to do in terms of thickness, shape, texture and construction.
Hand building, slab construction, coiling, joining, trimming and finishing provide the groundwork for you to explore your own ideas. The more you know about these fundamental processes, the easier it is to translate your ideas into ceramic pieces.
So don’t let the pursuit of a unique style stop you from learning the basics. On the contrary, it means learning those basics well enough to modify them later.
Try Different Shapes
The shape of a ceramic piece is one of the first things we see. Even a simple pot can take on a whole new identity just by changing its dimensions, contours, edges, opening and general shape.
Make multiple variations of the same design, and change the height, width, thickness and proportions to see the difference.
Perhaps you find yourself drawn towards organic, curvaceous forms, whereas someone else feels more at home with angular, geometric ones. Neither way of working is right or wrong. The point is to pay attention to what you are drawn to.
Don’t be afraid to make mistakes along the way. Sometimes, you learn the most when something doesn’t go quite to plan.
Make Some Bad Ceramics on Purpose
With ceramics, there are so many variables involved that some pieces won’t turn out the way you expect. Perhaps the clay moved slightly while it was drying, or your glaze developed an unexpected shade, or the texture on the surface changed when it fired.
Rather than seeing these as flaws, try to look at what’s happened closely.
That weird texture might spark an idea for a new technique. That strange glaze might be a color combination you want to investigate. Maybe an asymmetric shape gives your pot a bit more character than a perfectly balanced one. Recognizing creative potential in accidental results can be an integral step toward defining your unique voice as an artist.
Consider the Surface and Texture
Two objects might have nearly identical shapes yet feel entirely different because of their surfaces.
A surface can be understated or overtly communicative. Smoothness suggests calm sophistication, whereas rough textures, incised lines, impressed marks, and built-up elements can contribute to a more animated and tactile presence.
Try out various methods and tools to see how they impact the clay’s surface.
Press things into the soft clay, carve lines into the leather-hard stage, build up surface details, or intentionally leave some areas bare. Eventually, you may find that certain surface treatments become a hallmark of your work.
However, avoid using texture merely to cover an otherwise “blank” surface. It’s most effective when it complements the shape and reinforces the essence of the object.
Cultivate Your Relationship With Color
Likewise, your individual tastes will slowly seep into your choice of colors.
Some ceramicists use only earthy hues derived from raw clay, while others love vivid glaze color combinations. Some favor nuanced color shifts or low-fire matte finishes, and others stick to a monochromatic scheme.
Test various color combos, but don’t feel compelled to employ all colors at your disposal.
Notice which ones you consistently reach for. Maybe you gravitate toward warm neutrals, dark blues, dusty greens, or rich browns. This could indicate the aesthetic direction your work is naturally heading.
Still, let your color selection evolve. Having a personal style should guide your practice rather than constrain it.
Maintain a Visual Archive
A straightforward way to identify commonalities in your ceramics is to keep track of your work.
Photograph your finished pieces and, if you’re able, write down notes about the clay, shaping method, surface treatment, and glaze you employed.
Review your body of work collectively, rather than looking at each piece in isolation.
You’ll likely uncover patterns you didn’t notice while focused on the individual pieces. For example, your pots may generally be small and bulbous, your surfaces often feature linear scratching, and your colors typically evoke a soothing effect.
These recurring traits can point you toward a clearer sense of what identifies your work as uniquely yours.
Seek Inspiration But Avoid Imitation
Drawing inspiration is crucial to the creative process. Viewing the work of fellow potters, graphic designers, architects, plants and animals, antiquities, and diverse cultures can open you up to fresh perspectives.
The difficulty lies in transforming inspiration into something distinctly yours.
Rather than recreating a specific object, consider what drew your attention to it. Was it the silhouette, scale, surface quality, hue, simplicity, or balance of forms?
Identifying what intrigues you will enable you to experiment with similar qualities in your own pieces. This way, your inspirations become a starting point, rather than a final solution.
Allow Your Ideas To Develop
It might take a while for your ideas to coalesce into a definitive artistic style. You could find yourself creating many objects that look entirely unrelated, wondering if you even have a style at all. There’s no need to rush this. Just keep creating! Experiment with new things, go back to things you’ve created before, and let your style evolve naturally. A style usually emerges when you have created enough pieces to spot the similarities between your work.
Go Back To Older Ideas
An idea that didn’t work for you six months ago might work perfectly for you now. Every now and then, revisit your old sketches and old ideas. Ask yourself how you’d tackle them now. You’ll discover how much your approach to ceramics has evolved since then, and it may even inspire you to create something new. Sometimes progress isn’t all about moving forward; going back to an old idea with improved skills can yield surprising results.
Don’t Let Your Style Hold You Back
Once you start noticing some commonalities in your work, there’s a danger that you’ll continue to create the exact same thing over and over again. While consistency can lead to a cohesive body of work, too much repetition can stifle your creativity. Your style should evolve alongside you, rather than preventing you from exploring new ideas. Feel free to make things that don’t quite fit with the rest of your work. A new approach, a different colour scheme, or a shape you haven’t tried before may end up being an important part of your future work.
Be Mindful Of Your Creative Choices
As your abilities improve, it’s worth taking a step back and thinking more deliberately about why you make certain choices. Why does this shape work for this piece? Why does this colour suit this piece? Why should this pattern be on this piece? This doesn’t mean you have to attach a deep philosophical meaning to every piece you create, but simply being mindful of your creative choices helps to turn your experimentation into a cohesive collection.
In Conclusion
Finding your personal style in ceramics is a long process, not an overnight revelation. Learn the basics, try out different shapes, play around with surface treatments and colours, and be mindful of the choices you make. Keep track of your work and review it often; patterns will emerge in time. Above all, just keep experimenting. Your style doesn’t have to be 100% unique, and it doesn’t have to stay static. It should evolve as your skill, tastes and understanding of ceramics develops. The more you work with clay, the more clearly your own style will shine through.