31 January 2013

2013 Getting Started

The early weeks of the new year have been spent mostly designing, thinking pots and a bit of a clean up in the studio, recycling some clay, 



















and even a drawing (see previous post).

I've got started at last:
While I was throwing I had a visit from a Koel - the migratory Cuckoo who visits us each summer from Papua New Guinea.
He (the black one) was enjoying the berries on the palm tree outside the studio
we have a bumper crop on all the palm trees in our yard this year - guess the rain came at the right time - he flew off before I could get a picture of him.

As you know I'm not a production potter but I'm just glad to get SOMETHING started..
some handbuilding of flowers to be added to the lids...


 they are quite small, 450gms but I see them with someones jewellery inside when they find a home.

The group blog, Mud Colony is back up so pop over and see how others are getting started in clay this year.  You can also find me on Facebook under Anna's Ceramics or check my Facebook Group page, Anna's Aussie Ceramics for general goings on...


27 January 2013

Inspiration for drawing

I am considering making some decals from my own drawings and I enjoy drawing anyway.
My latest effort is this pen drawing of a banksia seedpod which I found near a local carpark.

It is a Banksia integrifolia or Coastal Banksia and they grow along the coast of Qld, NSW and Vic.


22 January 2013

Visitors from France

Unfortunately I won't get to meet up with the visiting potters from France who will be attending the special event in Victoria this February... the Pottery Expo at Warrandyte

I have a tiny little vessel made by one of the potters, Maryse Tavernier, who I met in 2010.  I even had an invitation to attend her Paris exhibition but alas we had prebooked tickets for the Moulin Rouge that night.  We did visit the gallery the next day, Galerie Mediart 109 rue Qincampoix. There were wonderful vessels there but all too large to risk bringing back in our luggage.

I was able to purchase a small vessel from a shop near her home which is just beautiful:


It is just a little more green than shows here - Maryse developed her own Celedon glaze.  You can see why I was very happy to get it home in one piece.


16 January 2013

Its Grand (as they say in Ireland)

I took this photo a while ago (2004) of the flower of the Grandiflora Magnolia we have in our back yard.  The previous post shows the remains of the stamen after the flower has faded and the petals fallen.  I guess it is the way my eyes see the world but those fallen stamens could easily inspire a wonderful textured pot.

12 January 2013

From Roussillon

Back in 2010 my husband and I visited France and took a tour with Jane Annois of Zeste French Tours (Jane also organizes the Pottery Expo in Victoria)
Since we returned I have been keeping aside some of the pots and souvenirs I collected along the way. Well, the New Year brought on a clean up and I now have this beautiful bowl on display instead of being packed in a box.
 It was purchased at a pottery in Roussillon, the La Poterie des Chals which is run by Nathalie Pouzet and Jean Jacques Dubernard.

I don't speak much French but I was told that Jean Jacques threw the bowl and Nathalie decorated it.
Follow the link to their website for a wonderful insight into their pottery.  It has a very long history with the oldest kiln only been replaced in the last few years.

07 January 2013

Visiting Sydney

If you are visiting Sydney from Interstate it can be a bit overwhelming to know where to start to see some current ceramic works or even just contemporary Art works.


Here are a few to get you started:

The large public galleries are:

The Museum of Contemporary Art  - always has something of interest on the go and is right near the ferries of Circular Quay.

From Circular Quay you can walk through the Botanic Gardens to the NSW Art Gallery currently showing works by Francis Bacon. There is a great collection of Asian ceramics.

In between is the NSW State Library which often has good photography exhibitions

Over the water to Manly and just after you get off the ferry, head to the left past the little beach (the main beach is through the shopping area straight ahead) to the Manly Art Gallery Museum which houses an amazing collection of Australian Ceramics and is where the Australian Ceramics Assn often hold their members exhibitions.

Not far from the CBD and the Central Railway Station is the suburb of Glebe which is home to the Inner City Clayworkers Gallery, a co-op shop that has been going for about 40yrs with new members replacing those that retire.  Always interesting works and a show of graduating students work will open in January.

On the other side of town but still close, in Paddington, is Sabbia Gallery which exhibits the very best works of current contemporary Ceramic Artists and also glassworks.

Then on the south side is the private gallery, Kerrie Lowe Gallery at Newtown.

January is the month of the Sydney Festival and there will be lots of theatre and shows all over town and even in the harbour so if you are visiting have a great time.

31 December 2012

Happy New Year 2013

Here's hoping for a wonderful happy healthy and fun with clay New Year

I've already entered this piece in the Sydney Royal Easter Show and hope to have lots more good enough for other events during the year....

"Revenue Lineup 2012"  Stoneware clay gas reduction glaze firing

22 December 2012

Merry Christmas to all, especially Adriana and the Mud Colony

Well it has been great to be a part of the Mud Colony group this year - wonderful to see the highs and lows of others works and feel just a little part of the ceramics world. And even broke my shyness factor and took part in a Profile on Mud Colony ...

As this is our last post together this year I have decided to repost some images as a review:

VISITING FAMILY

Like many my family are spread out around the state and overseas so someone has to travel... from the mountains to the sea.

Mountain Snow Gum - Snowy Mtns NSW
Eastern Water Dragon - Kempsey riverside NSW



Pandanas Palm, near Noosa Qld






















MEETING NEW FRIENDS

After following each others blogs and meeting up on Facebook, Adriana came to Sydney and we met in person, what fun :^)

A trip to Noosa allowed an in person meeting and great 'tour' around with Ellen Appleby, again we had followed each others blogs and Facebook pages

Sadhana came to the 47th National Competition hosted by the Port Hacking Potters at Hazelhurst.
and then I attended her exhibition in the city


I met up with Mrs Peterson of Mrs Peterson's Pottery at a market in the Shire
















and then a few Mud Colony bloggers and Facebookers surprised Katy Mitchell at the Eveleigh Markets in Sydney, oh that was great! Click for proof here

Many will know that I am the current President of the Port Hacking Potters Group and this was a
COMPETITION  year for us...

It was the 47th National Pottery Competition and Exhibition and a small committee group worked extremely hard  to organise the whole affair.

The best part was getting to listen to Greg Daly as he told us why he had made the choices he made... what a talented, knowledgeable, and generous person...




I also entered a few competitions myself:

I sent a teapot off to Victoria to The Studio @ Flinders Teapot exhibition

and put some in the Inner City clayworkers Teapot Show in Sydney





some woodfired pots at the Port Hacking Potters Competition along with some pigs






and some bowls to Newcastle to the Bowled Over Again exhibition with Newcastle Potters and Back to Back Galleries




I also took part in some markets at Stanwell Park, Como and Cronulla




made some jewellery (and sold a little)


















and during the year I enjoyed playing with clay and the banter and friendship of others who love to work with clay -

 Hope you have a great Christmas and a very Happy New Year what ever the challenges it may bring 

Missing your clay fix over the holidays? Have a troll through past posts of mine here or others over at Mud Colony

Check out my other blog - Anna's Ceramic Portfolio

or see my   Facebook page, Anna's Ceramics:  Here

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE


08 December 2012

last stall for the year

Today myself and 4 other potters from the Port Hacking Potters Group had a stall in Cronulla Mall.

It went well.
Here is another Mud Colony blogger, Rhonda of Clay Obsession who is also part of the PHPG

We also sold tickets for a Christmas Hamper to help our local charity - check the Port Hacking Potters blog for the winning entry.

I'm ready for a rest now - as are all the other potters who have been selling their work around the country - see more over at the Mud Colony blog.