10/13/2026
An example of how I use the same Nerikomi pattern in two different pieces: a mug and a Mobius vase.
the Mug is slipcast with multiple layers of colors then carved before I add the Nerikomi handle. I love carving the mug with a design that respond to the Nerikomi design on the handle. Did I succeed?
Attaching the handle is a little tricky because I use a different clay for my Nerikomi patterns than my slipcasting so they sometimes separate when fired. It worked on this one, so I am grateful.
If you wonder why I don't use the same clay for both the body and handle, you are asking the right question. I might get round to it when I finish the 200 pounds of clay I bought recently for Nerikomi before I considered the same thing.
The second piece is the same Nerikomi pattern used in a Mobius vase.
Fun fact: I was originally attracted to the mobius strip because I thought it would be great to show off my Nerikomi skills, since the pattern is inside the clay you can see it both inside and outside and the Mobius strip show both at the same time. At the time I also had colored clay that needed to be fired at a higher temperature than my kiln, so I couldn't make anything functional with it, because it would not be completely vitrified. It didn't matter in this type of piece.
I made a reel recently where I explained how constraints can be good for your art, and this is a perfect example. I landed on the Mobius strip because of them, and it has since become a huge inspiration in my art.
