A few months ago, I became enthralled with the idea of abstract art. I started with an abstract painting. My painting used ombres and different shapes, popping out of the light green background I chose. I started liking the new type of art. It felt as though I’d taken a risk, and it paid off. It turned out to be one of my favorite styles of art, and I wanted to do more with it.
It all started when I took a look at this famous, geometrical vase in Europe. Its designs were so intricate, and according to the tour guide of the museum I was at, it took a few years for the person to complete it! It was detailed, pretty, and all together, very… geometrical. In the years before, we usually were guided to make bowls and cups, but now, since we were in fifth grade, we have more freedom to make ceramics that could be anything. My teacher calls it Teaching for Artistic Behavior (TAB). This allowed us to make decorative or functional works of art. Our choice! I remember being in fourth grade and being excited for fifth grade when we would get even more choice in what we want to make. The unit before, I had made an abstract painting, so I already had some experience in making abstract art and now I wanted to push it further. I remember not knowing what to do for the ceramics unit. One class, I remembered the geometrical vase, connected it to the painting, and knew exactly what I wanted to create.
I decided to carry my abstract paintings shape, texture and color into my vase because I wanted to continue exploring abstract techniques. My painting was really one of the main inspirations for the abstract vase. I used its shapes and colors to make it a little like a set. I have learned this is called a “body of work.”
I had always wanted to use my own ideas into making something that was unique to me. When I had heard that we were going to use our learned skills to use our own ideas and create a ceramic piece special to us, I was beyond excited! I loved having a choice to do whatever I wanted, and I am happy that my school uses the TAB program for art. When you use your own ideas, it feels like stretching deeper into the creativity spot in your mind. I also like that we had so much choice, because I was able to keep trying and improvising when things went wrong. These experiences help me grow because when I try these new ideas, it, as I said before, explores deeper into the creativity that I had in me. These experiences helped me not only helped me grow creatively, it helped me grow into an independent artist who gets inspired and creates unique pieces of art.
From this ceramics unit, I learned that if you try harder and harder, one day, you’ll achieve any goal you have for yourself. Along the way, I had many setbacks. For example, I had to make a slab four times. Although this happened, I stayed a little bit of my recess time after each art class to get back the missing time. With perseverance, I finished strong and my abstract vase was complete! I feel that this experience has not only shaped my ceramics, it has shaped a bit of me as a person. It taught me to never give up, to be patient, and to try my best. It taught me that taking risks is an extremely important part of art, and it helps you to become a better person.
Mira Rai is a Grade 5 student at The American International School of Lagos in Nigeria.
