Two artists from Thomas Worthington have been hard at work this year creating ceramic pieces that showcase their creativity on the wheel. Ella Fledderjohann and Leila Boussedra, both seniors at Thomas Worthington H.S., fell in love with ceramics and are now taking the Advanced Studio class.

Fledderjohann and Boussedra agree that what they look forward to most throughout the process is when the glaze kiln is unloaded. However, one of the most challenging parts about ceramics and sculpting is “coming up with a focus for three projects,” said Fledderjohann, describing the requirements of her Advanced Studio assignment.

Fledderjohann was able to overcome that challenge and create three uniquely shaped pieces that tie together with a theme of reefs and corals. The use of colored glazes along with her ability to express the detailed textures and shapes of sealife emphasize Fledderjohann’s skill, making this collection stand out. Fledderjohann explains that one of her strengths in ceramics is “practice on the wheel”, which describes the use of the potter’s wheel as the starting point of much of her work.

Being creative and unique is challenging in the world we live in today, especially surrounded by people who have already tried out many of the ideas a high school student might imagine.

“My mind is constantly moving at a thousand miles per hour, and I feel like I always have ideas and things I want to make. There’s just not enough time for all of it to happen,” Boussedra explains.

Boussedra is up to the challenge to find inspiration and hone her creativity. Boussedra created many projects this year, one of them being an organic form at the top with holes and vase-like openings. The truly unique aspect of the project is the realistic chicken feet at the bottom where the sculpture stands. This contrast is Boussedra’s way of creating unique pieces that stand the test of critics and admirers alike.

Both Boussedra and Fledderjohann have ceramics and sculpture in their future plans.

“It’s a very expensive art process, so I will do it as much as my finances allow me to,” says Boussedra.

Fledderjohann plans to incorporate it formally into her future.

“When I was looking for colleges I made sure that all of them had opportunities to participate in studio classes even if I wasn’t going to major in them,” explains Fledderjohann.

Another factor that goes into creating a piece is meaning.

“The most meaningful piece I’ve made is probably one of my little tiny sea sculptures because I made a mold from shells that I collected In St. John and used only those shells on that project,” said Fledderjohann. This has a strong meaning to Fledderjohann because the house her family had in St. John, Canada was destroyed by a hurricane and left remains that Fledderjohann came back to and collected shells in memory of her family’s lost homestead. She created three mini sea sculptures which take great craftsmanship. Their Small scale shows the craftsmanship and skill it takes to make such small sculptures that hold extreme detail and memories.

While both artists will continue on in the ceramic world, they have shown growth, passion, and ultimately dedication to expressing their creativity on the wheel.