Hand-Painted Black & Purple Crape Myrtle High-Fire Under-Glaze Purple Clay Coffee Cup

By artist Zoe：Known as “Crêpe Myrtle” in Western contexts, its delicate, crêpe-like petals bloom for a hundred days in summer—a quality that mirrors my reflection on resilience: gentleness is not weakness, but steadfastness through long seasons.I chose raw mineral purple clay for its rough, granular texture; fired at high temperatures, it settles into a warm, solid weight in hand, like holding time itself. The clear glazed interior preserves the clay’s breathability while simplifying daily cleaning, adapting seamlessly to coffee, tea, and modern ritual.
Under-glaze painting demands relentless patience: I first outline each crêpe myrtle petal and vein on the raw clay, then layer soft purples, pale pinks, and bright yellows, before sealing it all with a clear glaze. The kiln locks the colors beneath the surface, ensuring they never fade. The matte black background amplifies the blooms’ radiance—every gradient, every edge is traced under lamplight, one misstep blurring the entire composition—much like the crape myrtle’s bloom, always edged with restraint.