This little cup is a survivor.
Every maker knows that moment of “potter’s heartbreak”—the sound of a handle snapping off while a piece is still in its greenware stage. The handle didn’t make it through the build, but I couldn’t bring myself to give up on it. There was something about the cute round shape that felt too fun to toss.
A Masterpiece of… Manure?
So I took a deep dive into the “Wait, did you actually paint that?” category. On one side, we have the main event: a very hungry spider eyeing a… well, a meticulously painted pile of dung. Yes, complete with flies – my tribute to the irreverent “gross-out” humor. It’s high-art meets the garden floor.
If you rotate the cup, you’ll see the pensive look on the caterpillar’s face. He just took a shortcut… right through the middle of the dung pile. You can actually see the “evidence” on his feet as he sulks away.
Meanwhile, the Sentry Ant isn’t offering any sympathy. He’s standing on the other end of the branch, literally pointing and laughing at his poor, smelly friend. It’s a micro-drama of embarrassment and mockery, frozen in glaze forever.
t’s a piece that doesn’t take itself too seriously. In the studio, we usually strive for “flawless,” but this piece is a reminder that sometimes personality is better than perfection. The missing handle isn’t a failure; it’s just part of this cup’s origin story. A story that makes me smile everytime I look at this cup.