Experiments with Pottery and Generative AI
During the COVID pandemic, I stumbled upon the world of pottery. It all began with an online workshop on clay hand-building, where I found myself enjoying the versatility of clay. During those days I also started learning creative coding.
The differences between these two crafts couldn’t be more stark. On one side, pottery demands hands-on work with a material like clay, while coding involves crafting through programming languages on a laptop. Time plays a crucial role in pottery; it’s a slow process of material transformations, each step requiring patience. In contrast, coding allows for swift iterations, allowing for rapid prototyping and feedback. Both crafts require a set of skills and creative thinking.
Despite their apparent disparities, I found myself equally drawn to both pursuits, discovering unexpected connections along the way. One such parallel is their inherent unpredictability, which perhaps resonated more with me due to my novice status. Serendipitous mishaps often lead to surprisingly beautiful results, enriching the learning experience.
As a beginner in the art of glazing, I soon realised the depth of exploration required to truly understand its nuances. Glaze application alone is a complex subject that could take years to master. From shaping to firing, each stage of ceramic-making presents a multitude of variables. Factors like clay consistency and firing conditions can lead to an infinite array of outcomes.
When I started using AI, particularly tools like Midjourney, it felt similar to pottery’s unpredictability. Even with identical prompts, the AI generated different outputs, echoing the serendipity of pottery creation.
As I was trying to understand different glaze recipes, oxides, and firing techniques I experimented with AI for visualising possible outcomes. Midjourney offered a rapid means of visualising different glaze effects and surfaces. However, mastering pottery still requires hands-on practice and a practical understanding of the material. I was curious whether I could reverse-engineer these outputs onto my pots.
I couldn’t help noticing how I experienced time in both mediums. This juxtaposition of the instantaneous nature of AI tools and the slow process of pottery-making inspired some thoughts and experiments.
Below are some of the Midjourney prompts and results. My initial prompts were very simple. Trying to connect two different topics rich in textures.
Midjourney Prompt: coral in ceramic pottery with magnesium glaze
As I experimented I tried to incorporate correct oxides, textures, firing effects etc. It is a really fun way to learn about glazes.
Image 1: Midjourney Prompt:pottery with magnesium and kinstugi with coral texture on layers
Image 2: Midjourney Prompt: pottery with magnesium carbonate and kinstugi with coral texture on layers
Image 3: Midjourney Prompt: pottery with magnesium carbonate crawling glaze and kinstugi with coral texture on layers
Then I discovered how we can use Chatgpt engine to write elaborate Midjourney prompts. It could write elaborate prompts with lighting, textures, camera lens etc
Chatgpt Prompts: A ceramic vase masterpiece adorned with an enchanting glaze of magnesium dioxide, chromium oxide, and cobalt carbonate, featuring intricate sgraffito designs resembling delicate coral formations meticulously etched onto its raku-fired surface. The glaze combines vibrant cobalt blues with rich earthy tones and textured patterns, creating a visual symphony. The Leica S3, equipped with a 105mm lens, captures the fine details of both the glaze and the sgraffito coral artwork, while soft, natural lighting bathes the ceramic, accentuating its rustic beauty. — ar 4:3 — s 950 — v 5.0
Chatgpt Prompts: A stunning ceramic lamp , glazed with manganese carbonate and iron oxide, radiating warmth and elegance when illuminated. This 14k resolution image, captured with a Sony A7 III for superb clarity, showcases the lamp’s unique texture and coloration. Soft, ambient lighting enhances the glaze’s lustrous finish, creating a captivating interplay of light and shadow. The image invites viewers to appreciate the craftsmanship and beauty of this functional art piece — ar 3:2 — v 5.0 — stylize 85
This also lead me to try one of the generated design into actual pot. I did take some artistic freedom to make it mine, while also trying to use new textured glazes I bought. But I enjoyed deriving inspiration from these generated images.
As I continue to hone my skills I love bridging both crafts. I am enjoying the creative process and the endless possibilities it presents. In a world filled with uncertainty, learning and creating seems to be right way forward.
Note: As I am not a writer as such, this blog is also edited with assistance of Chatgpt.
