Vessels Project 1: The Drinking Container 2013

My first project for my vessels class was to create 2 sets of 6 cups. These cups had to be designed for a specific liquid. One of the important aspects of this assignment was to be able to create identical cups. Being able to replicate a form over and over again is a skill that requires much practice.

My first set was designed for hot liquids. I approached this form with insulated cups in mind. Each cup is made of two parts; a cup with a rounded bottom which sits in a bottomless cylinder with perforations. The perforated cylinder acts as a handle so one can hold the cup without being burned. Both components are held together through the glaze. I really like this design. They're not very identical, but it's visually recognizable as a set. I also, experimented with glazes quite a bit. I've found glazes I like and don't like through this set, so next time I can make a nicer set with a more favorable glaze.

My second set was designed for milk and cookies. I've seen this design before, but I liked it and wanted to try making it myself. Each cup is made of two parts as the first set was. The top part was a simple bowl-like shape which would contain the milk. The bottom was a short cylinder with part of the wall cut out which created a compartment for cookies. I decided not to add handles to these, but in retrospect, I would add handles if I made this again. I was able to make this set more identical this time around :D. Glaze experiments were conducted on these too.