2023

Marine-Inspired Forms

Lillie’s Marine-Inspired Forms explore the captivating beauty, symmetry, and resilience found within ocean life. Inspired by intricate marine patterns and textures, her ceramics thoughtfully capture the organic fluidity and quiet strength of underwater ecosystems.

Through reflective glazes, tactile surfaces, and dynamic shapes, these works invite viewers into deeper contemplation of the balance between fragility and permanence.

Urchin Vessel

Medium: Earthenware, raku fired

Dimensions: 5” x 7” x 2.5” inches (12.7 x 17.8 x 6.3 cm)

Inspired by the intricate and resilient structures of sea urchins, this vessel explores organic symmetry, radial movement, and the interplay of light on textured surfaces. The hand-carved grooves radiate outward, mimicking natural growth patterns, while the raku firing process enhances the metallic sheen and subtle crackle glaze, evoking the shimmering depths of the ocean. This piece continues my exploration of marineinspired forms as sculptural vessels—objects that embody both strength and fragility, permanence and impermanence. The reflective glaze invites a dynamic relationship with its environment, shifting in appearance depending on light and perspective.

2023

Ursula

Medium: Earthenware, reclaimed clay, raku-fired

Dimensions: 5” x 4.5” x 2” inches (12.7 x 11.4 x 5.1 cm)

This piece explores the interplay between marbled porcelain and hand-carved textures, evoking the sensation of something unearthed from the ocean’s depths—a relic polished by time and tide. The swirling layers of colored clay enhance the radial carving, echoing the organic patterning of marine life. Unlike traditional glazing, the marbling technique allows color to permeate the form itself, creating a depth that feels embedded rather than applied. The result is an object that carries a quiet, luminous presence, like a shell or gemstone emerging from the deep, shaped by unseen forces over time.

2023

Ripple

Earthenware, reclaimed clay, raku fired

Dimensions: 6.5" x 7" x 4" inches (16.5 x 17.8 x 10.2 cm)

Ripple explores the natural rhythms of growth and movement, using slab and coil techniques to build layered, undulating ridges. The interplay of glaze and form creates a surface that can be both visually and physically traced, offering a meditative engagement with texture that mimics the soothing repetition of waves or tree rings.

2023

Fathoms

Medium: Earthenware, reclaimed clay, raku-fired

Dimensions: 16” x 9” x 5.5” inches (40.6 x 22.9 x 14.0 cm)

A flowing sculptural vase inspired by the movement and adaptability of deep-sea life. The organic, undulating form mimics marine organisms, with negative space inviting light and shadow play.

2023

Nautilus Portal

Medium: Earthenware, reclaimed clay, raku fired

Dimensions: 12" x 7" x 3" inches (30.5 x 17.8 x 7.6 cm)

Nautilus Portal plays with the idea of passage—both physical and symbolic. Inspired by the organic symmetry of marine life, this sculptural form invites the viewer to peer through its hollow center, suggesting movement, transformation, and new perspectives. The undulating ridges are designed to be both visually striking and tactilely engaging, reinforcing my interest in creating interactive surfaces. The raku glaze enhances its iridescence, shifting with the light to evoke the shimmering depths of the ocean, while the open core suggests a gateway—an invitation to explore what lies beyond.