Drippy Crushed Vase

I threw this vase in October 2025 after a long period away from the wheel. Its form is one I made often in my early days of learning to throw. When I sat down that day, I was anxious I might have forgotten how to make pottery. Instead of starting with a plan, I decided to simply throw and see where my hands wanted to go.

To create the crushed shape (what I call a “squish”), I begin by throwing a cylinder and pushing the clay outward at the base to start forming the body. If I know I’m going to squish the piece, I push the clay a bit harder during this stage to create areas of stress in the wall. When pressure is applied from the top, those stressed areas naturally fold inward, creating the organic, crushed form. From there, I continue adjusting—pushing some areas further in and easing others out—until the shape feels just right.

The clay body is one of my favourites: a speckled, toasty brown clay from Tucker’s Pottery Supplies called CCSS. The glazes are from AMACO. In the detailed shot you can see how beautifully they intertwine. The main glaze is a flux glaze that moves dramatically during firing, creating the look – and feel – near the base that it might slide right off the pot. Those delicious drips are something potters absolutely love.

In the background of the main photo is a piece by a good friend of mine, Notions Mudcraft. He makes spectacular work that you can check out on his Instagram page: @notionsmudcraft