heading for a glaze firing

again a short post, not that I think you are missing any special writing from me... :) I'm guessing its the images that catch your attention... so here you are...

these are heading for the kiln on Friday, fingers toes and eyes crossed for a result because with ceramics/pottery  things happen ...

one less teabowl....

porcelain bottle with ceramic pencil drawing, spoons, plain and tissue print..

ready to be transported

pendants and brooches,  two lost in production :( very fragile before being fired then they are very strong

a little retail therapy to have some fun with down the track...  the markers fire on glazed ware in the kitchen oven the pack says... the stamps are rubber but I hope strong enough to stamp into soft clay...

I'll let you know next week how it went when I uncross my fingers, toes and eyes :)

more pottery over on Sunday Ceramics or my Facebook page..

Experimenting with teabowls

A short post this week..my other life has been rather busy..

I am experimenting with making tea bowls (a teacup with no handle) to match up with my teapots.

throwing tea bowls

before making a set I need to find a shape I am happy with...

decorating tea bowls

these two are being bisque fired and then I will decide on shape and size and make a set.

The teapots they are to go with are already bisque fired and will be glazed later in the week.  I share a kiln and will have to find some more pieces to go in to fill the kiln..

Oh, and I've also been putting together some pendants and other jewellery.. will post pics of those next week..

You can follow me on Facebook here,

or check out other potters on the Sunday Ceramics link here.

Visiting Sydney Chinese New Year exhibitions

Today I've been in the city to visit two exhibitions put on in conjunction with the celebrations of the Chinese New Year, which this year is the Year of the Horse.

First we went to see "Crossing Boundaries" at the Sydney Town Hall which is a Celebration of Contemporary Asian Australian Art.

It is a really interesting exhibition..

My main reason for going was to see "LandMind" by Somchai Charoen - here are some images

"Landmind" 2014 by Somchai Charoen

Detail (with my foot for size reference) "Landmind" 2014 by Somchai Charoen

as you might guess these are about the problem of land mines that are hidden in the plants that grow back over a mined area, disguising their hidden terror for decades after the end of the conflict for which they were planted and inflicting horrific trauma on people innocently going about their lives. "Every 15 minutes someone is a victim of a land mine". 

Near by was this globe projection titled "Like a horse.. 2013" by Pamela See.

It is thought the sparrow was introduced to Europe from Central Asia because the followed the horses for easy pickings of the grain the horses ate. The statement also speaks of the ebb and flow of the sparrow in various countries - was it a pest controller or a pest itself.


Here is a detail of a figure made using peanut shells which his father enjoys eating.. its not until you look closely that you realise how this was made - what a time consuming work.. and so neat..

Oey Oen Hok - my father 2013 by Karina Wikamto

We then caught the bus down to Circular Quay and had some lunch in an Irish Pub - my man likes his guinness..

Having refreshed ourselves we walked up the road to the gallery run by members of Craft NSW

There is a wonderful display of Sue Frazers ceramic horses which is part of the show "Art and The Horse" which runs until 16 February 2014.

Sue has around 20 different horses in this show. Each one is different in colour, pattern and personality.  They are well worth a visit and would make a great gift for any of your horse loving friends.

I'll be linking over on Sunday Ceramics or you can follow me on Facebook - here.

Australia Day teapots

I've started making teapots in the hope I will have some ready for the Melbourne Teapot Show in a few months time...

Before I could start I had to cleanup my little room which with tongue in cheek I call my studio.

 

and to avoid breathing in any clay dust, mop it out..

Then I needed to prepare some clay,  I found lots little bags of leftovers while doing the tidy up..

so I bashed the clay inside the bags with a mallet and then put them into a bucket with water

then it is dryed out in a plaster mold

then the wedging starts to get rid of those air pockets

once the clay is ready I can start to throw the teapot bodies.

and the lids

and the spouts

and then pull some handles and all the while managing how quickly each piece drys, enough to hold its shape but not too dry that it cracks or can't be manipulated into shape as each piece is joined to make a teapot.

Today is Australia Day so I thought I would share some images of the place where Captain Cook thought the first English settlement would be... he was wrong..  Captain Arthur Phillip decided that Botany Bay was not a deep enough harbour for future use and went further north and found Sydney Cove and made the settlement there.  We still acknowledge Botany Bay or the promontory where Cook landed, Kurnell, as the first landing.  These images were taken last winter when we visited the park at Kurnell.

Kurnell

The bay is used as a commercial site for off loading oil tankers one side and the airport runway on the other side, along with a container terminal on the other point.

walking through the park you would not realise you were  so close to the largest city in Australia

Hope you had a nice day.

You can see more blog posts over on Kim Foales blog linkup, Sunday Ceramics...

or check in during the week with me on Facebook - here.

Limelight Gallery - a special space..

If you follow me on Facebook you will know that a new gallery in the centre of Sydney has some of my work in stock.  It is:

Limelight Gallery
827-837 George St, Sydney, Australia 2000

near Central Railway Station, along the under pass.

Setup specially for graduate students of the Sydney Institute of TAFE, there is a wonderful variety of photographics, jewellery, fashion and of course, ceramics!

These are my latest works now available at the gallery...

Three Salsa Dishes - thrown porcelain 2013

Thrown and water etched porcelain voitive 2013

thrown and pieced porcelain voitive 2013

Pair thrown and pieced voitive porcelain 2013

Thrown and decorated stoneware teapot 2013

Other ceramic artists represented include Inga Svendson and Janet Selby.
Do call in and have a look next time you are in Sydney.

Ceramic jewellery and a Visit to China Clay

My stock of ceramic jewellery is getting a little low so with the weather still being hot and dry here I am putting together some new pieces... just can't face going out into the heat to clean the studio and start wedging clay..  cooler weather on the horizon though...

Here is some of my sold stock:

Brooches - mostly sold

Bracelet - sold

Blue butterfly pendant with glass beads - sold

I'm trying a different style

some beading going on

I am using braided linen thread for this necklace and will be trying some ear-rings for the orange drops at the back there...

Today was a great Treat..  I was able to visit the lovely ceramic gallery shop called China Clay run by Cath Fogarty at Clovelly, a beach side suburb of Sydney, not far from Bondi.

I managed not to drool ... not easy when surrounded by the most beautiful ceramics by so many of my favourite makers.. with permission from Cath, here are some images for you to appreciate too... please be sure to acknowledge the maker if you share any of these images..

reflective shop front of China Clay at Clovelly NSW

selection includes Sandy Lockwood (teapot) and Adriana Christianson (urchin necklaces)

more delights on the shelves

this shelf runs all the way along one wall and includes work by Denise McDonald

by Tracey Mitchell

by Shannon Garson

by Susan Frost

by Adriana Christianson

by Vicki Grima

As you can see this space is well worth the trip so do spread the word, take your friends to visit the gallery and then have a swim at the beach which has an ocean pool.. or just enjoy and buy yourself a gift to take home.

I'll be linking this post over to Sunday Ceramics and also to my Facebook page: Anna's Ceramics

Sunday Ceramics link up

A new link up is now open for Sunday Ceramic posts.  After the finish of Mud Colony another potter, Kim Foale has decided to offer a link each week.  Thanks Kim.

I'm still not back into my studio - hope to get there later this week.

This does mean I have been enjoying some pottery books though.  The first from our local library is by Simon Leach of the famous pottery family..

His book "Simon Leach's Pottery Handbook" includes two CD's full of video clips on all the basic techniques from throwing lids to making teapots or fluting vessels.  Its available on Amazon.

I purchased this one from Amazon with a gift  voucher from my son:

 

I've admired Jane Perryman's work for a long time and in this book she introduces other potters who also work without glaze.  

I'm thinking some of these techniques will suit my pig sculptures.

I have an appointment with the gallery in the city, Limelight,  to take some more of my work this week.

Here is a sneak peek: 

See you over on Sunday Ceramics..

2014 clean start

I've had no internet for a few days so I've spent my extra time cleaning cupboards.   Its too hot to go into the studio and it also needs a good clean.

Its amazing what you find at the back of cupboards you haven't looked in for some time...

This broken plate and damaged sugar bowl were part of a teaset which belonged to my mother.  I had put them aside with the thought I might get them repaired one day.  Having Googled the design and maker, "Pearl Delight" circa 1940,  while delightfully pretty was not unusual so I decided it is not worth keeping broken and not worth the expense of repair.  I still have the cups and saucers and a nice little milk jug as a reminder of my Mum.

The next cupboard I tackled contained some souvenirs from a trip to the North Island of New Zealand.  I think they would look very nice if they were framed together and put on the wall...

The top two came from a gallery in the town of Russel called Entrance Gallery and I'm pretty sure they are by a potter called Kathy Baird, though the small one doesn't have a signature.
The bottom right tile came from Morris and James Pottery and Tileworks in Matakana. A lovely mix of glazes to create this landscape view.
 

It was a great holiday and now I have some very spick and span cupboards and a nice reminder of our visit way back in 2007.

I'd like to see the South Island one of these days.

All the best to you all for 2014 and thanks for following my clay ramblings...  you can also find me on Facebook, Anna's Ceramics....

Happy New Year 2014

Best wishes to my followers, may 2014 be a truly great year for you and your family and friends.

I think mine will have a few challenges.  Among other things I will be the Convener for the Port Hacking Potter National Competition and Exhibition which is held every second year at the Hazelhurst Regional Art Gallery.  We are hoping to introduce a new section this year and it would be great if we could attract a new sponsor for that section.. You can see images from the last Competition HERE

Winner Open Wheel Thrown.  Kathryn Mitchell 2012

 (Kathryn Mitchell Ceramics of Qld - now based in the Isle of Man).

This will be the 48th Competition so it has a long history.  It has been a stepping stone for many emerging ceramic artists who have gone on to big things, one of note being Gail Nichols who won a prize in an early competition while she was still a student.  

close up of my 2012 entry - a trio of wood fired vases

The good thing about these events is the interaction with ceramic artists from all over the country.  We had one winner from Western Australia and another from Queensland in 2012.

We also have been honoured with the outstanding judges.  In 2012 it was Greg Daly and this year it will be Patsy Hely.  I think it fitting that they both work in the National Capital, Canberra at the National University which has an outstanding ceramics department.

So it could be a big year for me as there are family things planned too...

In the meantime, I'll have to start some new series that I can enter myself.  I have no expectation of a prize but I think entering a competition like this helps to extend your practise.. so not sure yet if it will be wheel or hand built. (I might just add that it is not a curated competition and the judging is undertaken with each work  numbered (no names)  so all work is judged on merit) Stay tuned...

After a very hot start to summer and bushfires all around the outskirts of Sydney, we had some good coastal rain so my garden needs some attention.  My Native Violets are loving the conditions..

Happy New Year all..

maybe I'll see you on Facebook?  https://www.facebook.com/AnnasCeramics