(Slipcast) Game Boy Gradient
This was a personal project I explored during my spare time at a local community ceramics studio. Inspired by my favorite childhood toy (the Nintendo Game Boy) I set out to celebrate its iconic design in a new way. I created a series of slipcast Game Boys to be displayed together as a wall-mounted art piece.
As I developed the project and engaged in conversations with people across generations, I realized the Game Boy’s nostalgic appeal resonates most strongly with millennials. To expand its visual appeal and invite broader interest, I chose a palette of bright, energetic colors and applied a high-gloss glaze to amplify their vibrancy.
I personally formulated all of the glaze colors, experimenting with custom recipes to achieve a bold, cohesive palette. The glazes were applied in a gradient arrangement to suggest motion; referencing the dynamic, screen-based nature of the Game Boy itself.
Color Narrative
The color palette for this project draws directly from a personal childhood memory - my sister and I each had our own Game Boys in the 1990s: hers a vibrant lime green, mine a translucent purple. These colors became visual anchors in my memory, symbolizing connection, individuality, and play.
To translate that emotional resonance into the ceramic installation, I developed a custom gradient glaze that transitions from a vivid electric lime to a calming, ethereal lavender. This gradient represents not only the motion and energy of game play, but also the passage of time—blurring the boundary between past and present.
The Process
The entire process took several months of trial and error of several factors:
^ I used a real Game Boy to make a plaster mold and tried many rounds of slipcasting before determining the best technique and timing.
^ I tested color saturations and glaze finish (thickness, matte, glossy, etc) as well as different glaze applications. I formulated all custom glazes and used a spray booth for final glazing.
^ I tried different layouts and spacing of the Gameboys to determine desired breathing room for final display.
Final Photography
Gallery Rendering
Past Exhibitions
OCC Student Exhibition; Pontiac Creative Arts Center in Pontiac, Michigan; March 22 - April 19th, 2024
Re/View: CCS Alumni Exhibition; Valade Gallery in Detroit, Michigan; May 10th - 22nd, 2024