Micol Zardi Shop

Here I’m refining the shape of this small cup, trimming away excess clay from the bottom and smoothing the edges. Trimming isn’t just about aesthetics, it also removes extra material, balances the piece, and ensures it feels just right in the hand. For small cups like these, careful trimming is especially important to create clean lines, a comfortable weight.

Making a fruit stand with a super tall foot! For a piece this tall, I have to throw each part separately and attach them after trimming. Whenever I join leather-hard sections, I always score and use plenty of slip to make the joint strong and avoid cracks. It’s a little tricky, but seeing it come together is so satisfying!

Playing with form: collapsing a cylinder, 
I started with a straight cylinder with slightly thicker walls, then experimented by collapsing some sections. The extra thickness kept the piece from fully folding in my hands, letting me create interesting shapes and curves as I worked.

Dip glazing some small cups today, and for these ones, I went intentionally messy. The uneven glaze on this clay creates the coolest textures, almost like cinnamon or cocoa dust sprinkled over foamy milk.

I never learn from my mistakes, pottery edition. This clay always cracks with temperature shocks and uneven thickness, yet with that in mind (and knowing it probably wouldn’t survive), I went ahead and made bowls with this black clay anyway. They look amazing… but way too fragile.