This year’s readership-wide contest focuses on all manner of drinking vessels, from functional to sculptural. The artists’ cups, mugs, goblets, tumblers, tea bowls, and shot cups shared on the following pages demonstrate a wide range of explorations and aesthetics, and include both functional and sculptural vessels.

1 Eric Van Eimeren’s Hovercraft Mug, 4 in. (10 cm) in height, stoneware, fired to cone 6.
1 Eric Van Eimeren’s Hovercraft Mug, 4 in. (10 cm) in height, stoneware, fired to cone 6.

2 Eric Beavers’ steeping mug, 5 in. (13 cm) in height, pinch, coil, and slab-built stoneware, underglaze, fired to cone 5.
2 Eric Beavers’ steeping mug, 5 in. (13 cm) in height, pinch, coil, and slab-built stoneware, underglaze, fired to cone 5.

3 JoAnn Axford’s Wheat, Hops, and Brewers Yeast Beer Weizens, to 7 in. (18 cm) in height, slip-cast porcelain, unglazed, hand polished, fired to cone 6 in oxidation.
3 JoAnn Axford’s Wheat, Hops, and Brewers Yeast Beer Weizens, to 7 in. (18 cm) in height, slip-cast porcelain, unglazed, hand polished, fired to cone 6 in oxidation.

4 Julie Woodrow’s Skull Shot, 2½ in. (6 cm) in height, wheel-thrown and carved stoneware, underglaze, stain, 2018.
4 Julie Woodrow’s Skull Shot, 2½ in. (6 cm) in height, wheel-thrown and carved stoneware, underglaze, stain, 2018.

5 Kaitlyn Brennan’s puffy blue floral mug, 5 in. (13 cm) in width, wheel-thrown and altered red earthenware, slip, underglaze, clear glaze, fired to 1915°F (1046°C), 2018.
5 Kaitlyn Brennan’s puffy blue floral mug, 5 in. (13 cm) in width, wheel-thrown and altered red earthenware, slip, underglaze, clear glaze, fired to 1915°F (1046°C), 2018.

6 Mark Chuck’s trout yunomi, handbuilt porcelain, fired to cone 10 in reduction.
6 Mark Chuck’s trout yunomi, handbuilt porcelain, fired to cone 10 in reduction.
7 Julia Claire Weber’s mug, wheel-thrown and darted porcelain, slip-cast handle, undergaze stencil, mishima, hand-drawn china paint decals, fired to cone 6.
7 Julia Claire Weber’s mug, wheel-thrown and darted porcelain, slip-cast handle, undergaze stencil, mishima, hand-drawn china paint decals, fired to cone 6.

8 Andrew McIntyre’s striped mug, 4½ in. (11 cm) in height, ceramics, glaze.
8 Andrew McIntyre’s striped mug, 4½ in. (11 cm) in height, ceramics, glaze.
9 Mike Cinelli’s Green Space Mug, 4½ in. (11 cm) in height, earthenware, terra sigillata, underglaze transfers, glaze, fired to cone 04 in an electric kiln.
9 Mike Cinelli’s Green Space Mug, 4½ in. (11 cm) in height, earthenware, terra sigillata, underglaze transfers, glaze, fired to cone 04 in an electric kiln.

10 Dallas Wooten’s cups, to 4¼ in. (11 cm) in diameter, colored porcelain, carved and inlaid decoration, glaze, reduction fired, 2017. Photo: Amanda Wilkey.
10 Dallas Wooten’s cups, to 4¼ in. (11 cm) in diameter, colored porcelain, carved and inlaid decoration, glaze, reduction fired, 2017. Photo: Amanda Wilkey.

11a Chanakarn Semachai’s Dinobird Flower Knob Mug, 4½ in. (11 cm) in width, stoneware, underglaze, underglaze pencil, glaze, fired to cone 6 in oxidation, luster, 2018.
11a Chanakarn Semachai’s Dinobird Flower Knob Mug, 4½ in. (11 cm) in width, stoneware, underglaze, underglaze pencil, glaze, fired to cone 6 in oxidation, luster, 2018.
11b Chanakarn Semachai’s Navy Submarine double-handled mug, 6 in. (15 cm) in width, stoneware, underglaze, underglaze pencil, glaze, fired to cone 6 in oxidation, luster, 2017.
11b Chanakarn Semachai’s Navy Submarine double-handled mug, 6 in. (15 cm) in width, stoneware, underglaze, underglaze pencil, glaze, fired to cone 6 in oxidation, luster, 2017.

12 Nathan Bray’s colorful yunomi cups, terra cotta, slips, glaze, underglazes, fired to cone 3 in an electric kiln, gold luster fired to cone 019.
12 Nathan Bray’s colorful yunomi cups, terra cotta, slips, glaze, underglazes, fired to cone 3 in an electric kiln, gold luster fired to cone 019.

13 Jillian Cooper’s whiskey cup set, to 3 in. (8 cm) in height, stoneware, glaze, underglaze, multiple firings.
13 Jillian Cooper’s whiskey cup set, to 3 in. (8 cm) in height, stoneware, glaze, underglaze, multiple firings.

14 Ashley Kim’s thimbled cups with gloves and cage, white clay, underglazes, fired to cone 5, decals.
14 Ashley Kim’s thimbled cups with gloves and cage, white clay, underglazes, fired to cone 5, decals.

15 Ali Taj’s mugs, slab-built porcelain, gas fired in oxidation to cone 10, 2018.
15 Ali Taj’s mugs, slab-built porcelain, gas fired in oxidation to cone 10, 2018.

16 Tony Young’s RIOT Skull Mug, ceramic, wheel thrown, fired to cone 5.
16 Tony Young’s RIOT Skull Mug, ceramic, wheel thrown, fired to cone 5.

17a Emily Price’s Koi Pond, to 5 in. (13 cm) in height, wheel-thrown porcelain, hand painted, carved, mishima, underglaze, glaze, fired to cone 10 in a gas reduction kiln, 2018.
17a Emily Price’s Koi Pond, to 5 in. (13 cm) in height, wheel-thrown porcelain, hand painted, carved, mishima, underglaze, glaze, fired to cone 10 in a gas reduction kiln, 2018.
17b Emily Price’s Koi Pond (alternate view), to 5 in. (13 cm) in height, wheel-thrown porcelain, hand painted, carved, mishima, underglaze, glaze, fired to cone 10 in a gas reduction kiln, 2018.
17b Emily Price’s Koi Pond (alternate view), to 5 in. (13 cm) in height, wheel-thrown porcelain, hand painted, carved, mishima, underglaze, glaze, fired to cone 10 in a gas reduction kiln, 2018.

18a Jess Palmer’s Martini Sippers, wheel-thrown and incised clay, fired to cone 6 in an electric kiln, 22k-gold luster, 2018.
18a Jess Palmer’s Martini Sippers, wheel-thrown and incised clay, fired to cone 6 in an electric kiln, 22k-gold luster, 2018.

18b Jess Palmer’s Petal Pillow Mug, wheel-thrown, stamped and sprigged with mishima linework, 22k gold luster, fired to cone 6, 2018.
18b Jess Palmer’s Petal Pillow Mug, wheel-thrown, stamped and sprigged with mishima linework, 22k gold luster, fired to cone 6, 2018.

19a Carly Slade’s Philly Love Trolley, 7 in. (18 cm) in height, ceramic, metal, 2018.
19a Carly Slade’s Philly Love Trolley, 7 in. (18 cm) in height, ceramic, metal, 2018.
19b Carly Slade’s Philly Love Trolley (in use), 7 in. (18 cm) in height, ceramic, metal, 2018.
19b Carly Slade’s Philly Love Trolley (in use), 7 in. (18 cm) in height, ceramic, metal, 2018.

20 Posey Bacopoulos’ swirly footed cup, 5 in. (13 cm) in diameter, wheel thrown, altered, gold and silver decals.
20 Posey Bacopoulos’ swirly footed cup, 5 in. (13 cm) in diameter, wheel thrown, altered, gold and silver decals.

21 Lucien Koonce’s black clay sake cup, 2½ in. (6 cm) in diameter, handformed and hollowed black stoneware clay, shino glaze, natural ash glaze, wood fired to cone 12.
21 Lucien Koonce’s black clay sake cup, 2½ in. (6 cm) in diameter, handformed and hollowed black stoneware clay, shino glaze, natural ash glaze, wood fired to cone 12.

22 Naomi Clement’s mug pair, to 4½ in. (11 cm) in height, handbuilt stoneware, underglaze, 2018. Photo: Steven Krause.
22 Naomi Clement’s mug pair, to 4½ in. (11 cm) in height, handbuilt stoneware, underglaze, 2018. Photo: Steven Krause.

23 Seth Green’s cup, 5 in. (13 cm) in height, stoneware, reduction fired, 2016.
23 Seth Green’s cup, 5 in. (13 cm) in height, stoneware, reduction fired, 2016.

24 Tim Sherman’s blue ash mug, 3½ in. (9 cm) in height, wheel-thrown stoneware, applied and natural glazes, fired to cone 11 in an anagama, 2018.
24 Tim Sherman’s blue ash mug, 3½ in. (9 cm) in height, wheel-thrown stoneware, applied and natural glazes, fired to cone 11 in an anagama, 2018.


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Topics: Ceramic Artists
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