For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a deep fascination with Chinese dragons. While a lot of my ceramic work leans toward specific fan art and pop culture icons, the powerful, fluid imagery of the traditional dragon is something I always find myself coming back to in my private sketchbooks. This time, I wonder if I could take those years of sketching practice and successfully transfer them onto a completely different medium: a ceramic plate.
Merging Traditional Motif with Comic Energy
I wasn’t formally trained in traditional Chinese or Japanese brush painting, so when it came time to apply underglazes to the clay, I decided to lean into what feels more natural to me like bold outlines, expressive features, and dynamic, layered colors.
The process requires a completely different mindset than drawing on paper. You have to think about how the colors will mature in the kiln, how the lines hold their shape on a curved surface, and how the overall composition frames the fierce face of the creature. I really enjoyed watching the dragon slowly come alive through layers of color, scales, and flowing lines.
Here is a closer look at the finished design:
- The Details: I wanted the dragon’s gaze to be intense and captivating, using bright yellow eyes to contrast against the cool purple, green, and blue tones of the face.
- The Background: Rather than leaving the rim bare, I filled the negative space with a hand-painted scale pattern to give the piece a sense of texture and depth.
The entire process was incredibly rewarding, and I am absolutely thrilled with how the vibrant energy of the illustration survived the firing process. The plate was sold during one of the Richmond Potters Club Christmas Sales events, which made the project even more memorable for me. Knowing that someone else connects with the energy of this design is exactly why I love being a maker! It’s a wonderful feeling.