About a year ago, my Uncle Joe reached out with an exciting opportunity: create a piece of artwork for our long-overdue family reunion’s swag bag. This sparked a dream I’d held for years—to gift each family member a piece of my work. With their generous financial support to offset materials costs, I set out to design not just a gift, but a new product: the Iris Flower Bowls.

Initially, I envisioned a simple project, but my ambition turned it into a full product development process. For six months, I dove into research, design, and prototyping, aiming to create a scalable process. Time constraints forced me to simplify, opting for a classic bowl shape to streamline production. I wanted each bowl to feel unique, but complexity adds cost—thinking is the most expensive part of any creative process. By refining my approach, I developed a method to create individual yet feasible works, keeping the essence of thought without breaking the bank.

The design process was intense. I threw 130–140 bowls, anticipating losses from shrinkage or damage, especially since this was a new process. I crafted each bowl with a thick base to house a concealed cavity for a flower frog, ensuring it wouldn’t just sit at the bottom. To manage glaze flow—since I love glazes that run and pool—I trimmed an interior flange to contain the glaze and an exterior flange above the foot to showcase how glazes move, blend, and form crystals. This created a stunning effect of glossy and matte surfaces.

Mid-process, a heatwave hit, drying the clay faster than I could manage. I adapted my studio to keep the bowls hydrated, throwing and trimming in batches to maintain consistency. The second batch of bowls showed noticeable improvement in form, a testament to how quickly skills evolve under pressure.

For glazing, I narrowed my usual 30–60 glaze palette to six main glazes (three white, three green) and three accent glazes using Mason stains for reliable color. Extensive testing ensured they layered well, minimizing losses. I fired the bowls in three batches of about 40, refiring the 40 “worst” to perfect them. The results were beautiful, and documenting the process allowed me to share this journey.

In June, presenting the Iris Flower Bowls at our family reunion was a deeply special moment. Sharing my art with my supportive family was a way to give back. This project wasn’t just about creating bowls—it was about learning to share my process, from R&D to production, and inspiring other artists navigating scalability and design. 

Thanks for sharing in this story,
Kevin