next project underway

wheel thrown sphere - buff stoneware clay

this sphere is the beginning of my next sculpture project...

I won't give too much away as I am on a deadline and want it to be a surprise...

fingers crossed it works the way I envisage in my mind ...
















I also thought a white sphere would work well and I always do more than one in a series of ideas...
My recycle bucket also included some paper clay which has a tendency to break down...


this means it has a bad smell, yuk... however after checking with my fellow potters I was assured the smell was nothing to worry about.  It lessened somewhat after leaving it out to dry overnight.  I could have added half a teaspoon of tea-tree oil but went ahead without this time.

wedging recycled clay

I wedged up 2.5 kgs and now have another sphere to work with...






















It is spring and the weather is warming up here.  Its nice to be in the studio without needing a heater.

Our Wonga Wonga Vine is outstanding this year.  We have the original cream one... there are other colours around now but I love ours and so do the bees including the native bee.

Travels, Pottery Friends and an Exhibition

A busy few days this week.

I've started on my next project but more on that later...

This week I had the pleasure of the company of young potter from the Isle of Man, Katy Mitchell who is visiting Australia for a couple of months.

Check out her website here: http://www.kathrynmitchellceramics.com/

Inside Katie's studio on the Isle of Man 2014

Katy trained in Queensland a few years ago and won an Award for Wheel Throwing in the Port Hacking Potters Competition in 2012.

On Friday we went to Wollongong (thanks to my husband for being chauffer) to visit the Wollongong Art Gallery and see an exhibition by Stephen Bird.  His work could be confronting to some people  - it certainly makes a statement and yet brings in many cultural themes from his travels and British background.  Much of this particular exhibition is influenced by his travels to India.

The exhibition runs until 25 October 2015 so get along and have a look for yourself: Stephen Bird Exhibition - Wollongong NSW

Then that night we went to the Kerrie Lowe Gallery to meet up with Tanya Bechara of Hop'n Frog Pottery to see her first exhibition with them as a part of 'Bloom" their spring show.

Left to right: Kathryn Mitchell, Amanda Bromfield, myself and Tanya Bechara

Three teapots by Tanya Bechara

Also by Tanya, a very happy critter log and some froggy candle holders and mug.

As you can see it wasn't the teapots which sold first but her critter log found a new home.  I'm sure the teapots will too.

The exhibition includes some other wonderful pieces by well known ceramic artists... here are just a few...

Helen Earl

Bill Powell

detail - Fiona Hiscock

by Mary-Lou Pittard

the whole show is amazing with some of my favourite potters on display.

then on Saturday morning it was a coffee break down on the Woronora at the Boatshed Cafe.

It is so nice to be getting some warmer days and signs of spring.

Visiting Teapots and a new Ceramics Workshop Studios space

I had a lovely day last week visiting my new friend, Amanda Bromfield in her temporary studio space which is a part of the new facility
 called Kil-n-It in Glebe.

the upstairs studio spaces

Entrance and Admin Office

Supported by the City of Sydney this facility has been up and running for a very short few weeks but wasting no time, the organisers, Rachael McCallum, Bev Shroot and Glenn Barkley  are off and running.  Both have exhibitions about to open and the other artists are all producing work already. (click on names to go to their own websites).

It is proposed the facility will be able to run "Artist in Residence" programs and workshops.

the new workshop has some great equipment including a good slab roller which was donated

Amanda at work in her temporary studio

some of Amanda's sculptures

Congratulations to the team that has managed to produce this wonderful facility so close to the centre of  Sydney.


It was still cool enough for a lunch of soup at a nearby cafe and later I walked back to the Inner City Clayworkers Gallery so I could vote for my favourite teapot for the People's Choice Award.

It was nice to see a red dot on my Jaune Fleur De Cone teapot, front right on the plinth of four in this image taken on opening night.

My entries in The Shire Teapot Section - Inner City Clayworkers Sydney Teapot Show 2015 are the two larger ones.

My 'Shire' teapots of a Hobbit house theme are still for sale unless they have found a new home over the weekend.  That would be nice.

Each of my teapots have matching tea-bowls and the more colourful Shire teapot also has a matching tea caddy.

"Bag End Green" Teapot with matching tea-bowls and tea caddy

It was very hard to choose a favourite for the People's Choice... I wonder who will win this year.  It won't be announced until the end of the Show.

Open Studio weekend

This last weekend was a busy one..
Port Hacking Potters took part in a National event organised by the Australian Ceramics Association encouraging potters all over the country to open their studios for people to come along and see how our work is made.

Silly me didn't take photos of our President Jamie and long term member, Ian demonstrating on the wheel but here are some pics of our setup:

Wheel setup in the window of the School of Arts building with our banner at the doorway

Six members of our group had work displayed for sale

Pots by Ian Lamb on display near the doorway

That took care of our Saturday.

On Sunday my husband drove me up the mountains, about a one and a half hour trip each way, to see Sadhana Peterson at her studio.

Sadhana and I met through our blogs and Facebook a few years ago but this was my first trip to her studio.  Do go and check out her website: http://sadhanapeterson.com.au/home

Anna and Sadhana at her garden studio

Sadhana is also a textile artist and these creations now decorate part of her studio

Materials for paper making are also part of the studio gallery

a selection of pots for sale

Spring is not far away... daffodils bloom in her garden

These little examples of her work came home with me...

Mini pourer with lid - typical of Sadhana's decoration style

Handmade bookmarks using handmade paper and then collage of material all created by Sadhana Peterson.

On the way home we stopped off at the Norman Lindsay Gallery.  A National Trust property, it was the original home and studios of the well known Australian artist and his family.

Photos were not allowed inside. Have a look on the website for more detail (see link above).  The home has been turned into a gallery and tours can be taken of the adjoining studios where he painted, wrote books and undertook etchings.  His cartoons were published in a Sydney newspaper for many years and he may be best known for his fantasy paintings which were full of nude women.  He is also known for a book called the Magic Pudding.  

Here a some pics of the surrounding gardens...

Statue of Faun

fountain 

House with fountain in foreground

All in all a very nice day out.

With Port Hacking Potters at Cronulla

On Saturday 15 August I will be with my pottery friends at Cronulla... if you are in the area do call by and say hello...

We are taking part in the National event promoted by the Australian Ceramics Association which encourages potters across the nation to open their studios and show off our craft...

Check the Australian Ceramics website for details of potters near you, which ever state you live in..

Click here: Australian Ceramics Open Studio Listing

Now Open - 2015 Sydney Teapot Show

Held each year at the Inner City Clayworkers Gallery in Glebe NSW, the Sydney Teapot Show was officially opened last night, 31 July.  The show will run until the 30 August and the gallery is open every day while the show is on.  All pots are for sale.

Titled "Jaune Fleur de Cone"

I have this one plus two other teapots on show.  Each teapot has matching tea bowls and one also has a matching tea caddy.

Its an amazing show of the talents of ceramic artists and potters, mainly from NSW but from other states too.  Get along and have a look if you can. Click on the name of the gallery above for details on how to get there.

More photos on my Facebook page: AnnasCeramics

On the Clay Blog review

I'm thrilled to have been listed three times on the June Clay Blog Review...

Check it out here: Clay Blog Review June 2015

Thanks for the nice display

I currently have some pots at the Boatshed at Woronora and popped in today hoping to have some brunch, however they were so busy we couldn't get a table.

I did take a snap of my pots on display... thanks to John and Jane for a great display of my pots along with those of Janet Flood and paintings by Jim Flood.

Saturday Shelfie

Many of you will know that I have a Group page on Facebook called Anna's Aussie Ceramics.

Each week I invite members of the group to post a "Saturday Shelfie" to share their own work.

My own contribution this week was this one...

Have a nice weekend and thanks for dropping by...

The Sydney Teapot Show 2015 Sneak Peek

Not long now for the Teapot Show.

I will be delivering my teapots during the week to the Inner City Clayworkers Gallery at Glebe NSW which is just a short bus ride from Central Railway Station.

The official opening is Friday 31 July and the show runs until the end of August...

Do try to get along. The talent and skill and variety of teapots, both functional and decorative are just amazing and well worth the trip.

Here is a peek of one of mine

detail - "Bag End Green" 

Each year there are a choice of themes to inspire entrants and this year one theme is "The Shire Teapot" and yes, you guessed it... all things Hobbit.

I think it will be a very popular theme.  I'll have two entries in that section plus one non-themed teapot which is inspired by local bush flowers.

I'm looking forward to seeing some wonderful pots...