In a unique ceramics lab led by Professor emeritus Anna Greidanus and Professor Julie Wildschut, engineering students taking a soil mechanics course were able to experiment with clay and study its physical properties. This cross-disciplinary engagement provided benefits beyond technical knowledge. Students appreciated the calming instruction and learned valuable life practices, such as the importance of slowing down, focusing on details, accepting imperfections, and finding beauty in scars and cracks. By experiencing the creative process and practical investigation of a material, the engineering students gained a unique insight into the commonalities between engineers and artists.