My intro to ceramics started with slip casting. It's a process where you create a plaster mold of an object and pour liquid clay (or “slip”) into it, allowing the clay to take the shape of the mold. It’s a versatile process that opens up a lot of creative possibilities for mixing and matching objects and even 3D printing models to make molds from.

I got into slip casting because I had an idea for a modular, stackable flower vase. I’d already 3D printed a model of the vase but was curious how it would look and feel in ceramic. Using books from the library and YouTube videos as my guide, I’ve spent the past few months teaching myself how to make plaster molds and work with slip.

I love the creative freedom of slip casting. As a beginner, it's pretty special being able to reproduce found objects in clay and then mix and match, and cut them in new ways. For example, I’ve cast a 3-pound dumbbell, carving it into a shallow dish, or cutting it in half to make two small vases. The process of mixing technology with ceramics excites me—whether it’s taking AI-generated patterns and carving them into clay or taking 3D printed models and creating versions in ceramic, the possibilities feel endless.

To take things further, I signed up for a slip casting class at a local pottery studio. Having structure and someone to answer my questions (instead of just talking at YouTube videos!) has been a game-changer. While making the plaster molds requires upfront effort, once they’re done, it’s so rewarding to see how quickly you can cast multiple pieces. This allows for more freedom to experiment with glazing and decorating, knowing you can easily cast another if something doesn’t work out. It also means I could leave more little ceramic surprises for the unsuspecting people of San Francisco to find :)