Last week, 10th-grade AP Ceramics student Roman Lin won the prestigious Regional Gold Key award for his piece “Erupting Jars” in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. This honor secures his place in the national competition. Now, as he competes for the Best in Grade Award and a full-tuition scholarship to a summer art program, Roman reflects on his artistic journey, process, and goals for the future.
The Inspiration and Process Behind “Erupting Jars”
For Roman, “Erupting Jars” was born from a continuous exploration of form and technique. “My inspiration was from previous pieces,” he says. “Last year, I created a pot solely inspired by Japanese Moon Jars. These jars have always influenced my pottery in some form.” The simplicity and organic beauty of traditional Asian ceramics guided Roman’s creative process, but he also introduced his own experimental techniques.
Creating “Erupting Jars” was a process of trial and refinement. Roman started small, testing different methods before committing to the final piece. “I used the smaller jars as experiments to find the best way to pinch the coils and create the shape I needed,” he explains. “I also experimented with different glaze mixtures and intensities of red oxide wash. I then moved to the big pot, learning from my mistakes on the smaller pieces. I am truly happy with how they came out.”
A Journey Into Ceramics
Roman’s passion for ceramics began not too long ago. “I first got interested in ceramics when choosing an elective for high school,” he recalls. “I never took ceramics before and wanted to try something new. I met Ms. Chapman, my ceramics teacher, and she introduced me to all of the extraordinary ways of working with clay.” Under her guidance, Roman found freedom in artistic expression and a love for coil building, which allowed him to create organic forms not easily achieved on a wheel.
Although he initially drew inspiration from traditional Asian ceramics, Roman has begun incorporating “a modern take on these classic Asian pots.”
The Meaning of Recognition
Winning the Regional Gold Key award is a significant milestone for Roman, serving as a source of motivation to continue exploring his creative instincts. “This award means a lot,” he says. “It shows me that I really do have what it takes to make amazing work if I just let my ideas flow naturally in the form of art.” While Roman is unsure about his future career path, he knows that “there will be some artistic aspect in it.”
Advice for Aspiring Artists
Reflecting on his artistic journey, Roman offers advice to young artists looking to find their own creative voice. “The greatest takeaway that I learned is to just let my ideas flow and to take a step back once in a while, and come back to it at a later date,” he says. “But no matter what—even if you make a mistake—just go with the flow and know a mistake is just the start of a new idea.
