This project emerged from a university brief on my Design Craft course, where we were tasked with creating work inspired by a piano and a local music theatre. Naturally, I approached this through ceramics, using it as an opportunity to develop my throwing and glazing skills.

This project marked my first significant foray into wheel throwing—a technique I'd previously struggled with. I threw various vessels with the primary goal of simply learning the process. I also took my initial steps into glazing, something I'd actively avoided until this point. While I played it safe with materials, choosing underglaze and a transparent overglaze, I experimented boldly with application.

To connect my newfound passion for throwing with the project brief, I wanted to incorporate music directly into the vessels. I researched conductors' gestural symbols used to signal beats in orchestral performances. Using string dipped in underglaze, I recreated these conducting movements across the vessel surfaces. By pressing down on the string before lifting it away, I captured both the conductor's beats and the flowing movement of the string itself—preserving those dynamic, gestured moments.

The link to the piano? It's all in the black and white.

Here is a link to a video of the process over on my Instagram: Conductors Gestures in String Video