I got the idea to create a large dragon sculpture after a drawing I made that looked like it would fit well in a garden, perhaps in the middle of a pond. I’d been intending to draw an aircraft carrier, but got distracted partway through, and ended up with a dragon. How that happened I doubt I’ll ever know. I decided just out of curiosity to try and design an aircraft carrier as a dragon. I then used that design to create a statue of the design I was fond of. I wanted to push my limits and finish off my high-school art with a bang, or in this case a roar. I used everything I knew about clay to ensure the project would come out of the kiln in one piece. It took three people to load Grey Ghost in the kiln and to retrieve him.

My name is Riley Olsen and I go to Thunder Mountain High School. This is my second year in ceramics and it is by far my favorite class. I enjoy it because it is so relaxing and fun. I could be having a terrible day but once I come to ceramics class it brightens my day. Once I start working on it piece it lets me relax forget about everything else that has been going on. That is why I love doing it so much.
I made this piece because I like making tall vases. I enjoy it because it is unique compared to all of my other pieces. The thing that makes it unique is i don’t make lids for my pieces but this one I did. I don’t like making lids for my pieces but Ms. Imboden talked me into so I ended up making one. The reason that I am choosing to submit this one is because I love the way it turned out and it is one of a kind.