Hand-Lettered Mugs

As a non-coffee drinker, mugs weren’t something I thought about much before I started learning pottery. When everyone around me began talking about mugs, I was overwhelmed—and at one point even swore I’d never make one.

After a few months, curiosity got the better of me. What started as a reluctant experiment quickly became a challenge. How do I make a great mug, and more importantly, how to make one that feels like it was from me. The idea of the “perfect” mug is ultimately subjective to the person using it. I have found ways to create mugs that feel unmistakably made by me.

The mugs shown here are part of one of my favourite styles to make. Each one varies slightly in shape and handle. No two are exactly the same, a small celebration of the handmade process. Before glazing, I apply a base of underglaze and hand-paint words or phrases, and small doodles. I then finish them with glazes from the AMACO Celadon line, creating bright colours paired with a dash of personality.

This particular style is thrown using my favourite clay: Tucker’s Bright White porcelain.