Meredith Host’s ceramic work is, for lack of more eloquent words, delightful. It is impossible not to smile at the layered combination of vibrant colors, pattern, and shape that adorn her work. She puts it much better in the tagline of her website. What she creates is “contemporary tableware with retro flair.”

To achieve her look, the Kansas City artist uses paper stenciling, thermowax, and underglazes to build her layers with a final decal being added on the surface. According to an interview with ceramicist Jennifer Allen, Host says that the inspiration for her pattern making is drawn from “overlooked domestic patterns” which is an elegant way of saying toilet paper, paper towels, and other patterns that are often discarded and rarely appreciated.

Host visited UNK today to give a workshop to UNK Art and Design students, walking them through the process of her techniques to build layers and imagery on the students’ ceramic surfaces. Students were given time out of class to attend this all-day event and walked away with new possibilities for their work.

Check out a few photos from today’s workshop below and make sure to check out more of Meredith Host’s work at her website www.meredithhost.com and at her Etsy shop!