Story Behind the Wave Planter Texture

Susan has always enjoyed playing with texture and experimenting with smaller pieces. But she longed to try a really large piece, which is always a challenge to a ceramic artist. She began with a hand-formed pot made of large coils of groggy clay. She was pleased with the size and the general shape — but where to go from there?

Deeply involved in a conversation with a claymate, Susan began to subconsciously work the clay. She pressed into the clay with her fingers, thinning it, creating low pools and curving, intersecting ridges. Before she realized what she was doing, Susan had imparted this intriguing, undulating texture across half the entire pot. Discovering what she had done, she continued to work the clay continuing the organic pattern. When it was completed, (after letting it dry a month), she bisque fired it and then applied one of her homemade glazes before high firing it. The finished planter remains, to this day, on her patio, under a pergola. This one is dear to her. Despite many offers to buy it, she’ll never part with it.

You can order a custom pot inspired by this Susan Aach original Wave planter! 🙂