Busy in the studio

It's a while since I posted...

For the very good reason that I am busy making teapots for the Sydney Teapot Show. Yes, still at it..  the weather has been cold and wet so things have been slow to dry enough to trim...

While waiting for one lot to dry I started with a different clay, white this time...

teapots are made up of a lidded vessel, a spout and a handle

managing all those elements so that they dry at a similar rate and can be joined together can be tricky even when the weather is good...

The teapots are all put together ready to be decorated so I threw some tea bowls to match...

while waiting for the bowls to dry the decorating could be started...

these are being hidden until the show opens...

I'm using underglazes but also a product called graphite paper to inscribe my design onto the teapot bodies and lids..

so at last all the pieces are complete... now to let them all get dry so I can begin the firing and glazing process.

Time for some soup.. vege soup made even tastier with Bay Leaves grown at the home of Dawn Whitehand.  After visiting while on holiday near her, I came away with so many leaves!!  I have a big jar full in the pantry now... they should see me through the winter of soups and casseroles, thanks Dawn :)

I've also been meeting up with pottery friends during the week, we went to see an exhibition called "Hands On" in the Palm House at the Botanic Gardens.  The exhibition was put on by a group of friends, many of whom belong to  the Port Hacking Potters Group.

Amanda and Janet at the "hands on" exhibition at the Palm House in the Sydney Royal Botanic Gardens

Sculpture and pots by Bob Wood

Pots by Jitka K

Mugs by Jitka K (love the way they are displayed) 

Ceramic art and paintings by Rosalie Duligal

leaves on the path from the Gingko tree

the Gingko tree still has leaves in the balmy harbour side gardens

Thanks for dropping by and see you over on Facebook...

New Friends, an exhibition plus teapots

I've had a busy week.

More work on those teapots I started the week before... they are under wraps for now. Literally to slow their drying but also to keep them a surprise until they are ready for the Sydney Teapot Show.

blending underglaze colours to decorate teapots

Then it was onto throwing more teapots with a white clay this time

teapot lids are often thrown upside down

I met a new friend, Amanda Bromfield who is a ceramic sculptor and caught up with another friend  I don't see very often, Tanya of Hop'n Frog Pottery..

The three of us met up at the Kerrie Lowe Gallery in Newtown.

We enjoyed seeing the Printed Image exhibition. There are so many talented ceramic artists in this show...

including Ellen Appleby from Noosa who somehow has managed to print on both sides of these "postcards".. so clever

"postcards" by Ellen Appleby with 'nests' by Elaine Bradley in the background

Its always nice to make new friends and potters are generally a friendly bunch so I hope its not too long before we catch up again..

I've been checking out some of my past teapots and seeing which ones I like and how I might improve on the designs...

This one was made for my great niece and included cups and saucers

white stoneware thrown on the wheel.  Green glaze fired to stoneware then refired with violet decals. (2007)

the next week will be busy finishing the white clay teapots and getting them decorated... hope you have a lovely week... maybe I'll see you on Facebook :)

Teapots underway

It is the Queen's Birthday holiday weekend here in Sydney NSW...
Many people will be starting their holiday in the Snowy Mountains (about 380 Km away) where there have been early snow falls.

Perisher Valley Snow Resort

For me it means some time in the studio

Wheel thrown teapot parts

I have started throwing teapots..  I am using a relatively new clay called Ironstone which is, as the name suggests, high in iron oxide but unlike terracotta clay, this one will fire to high stoneware temperatures.

The Sydney Teapot Show has some interesting sections this year and I'm hoping for a rustic look..

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Well known ceramic artist, Vipoo Svirilasa is calling for contributions to a large installation he is putting in place at the Shepparton Art Museum soon.  I've sent off a few seconds for him to use along with the plastic and other cast-offs the art will include...

So, teapots on the work list for the foreseeable future but also meet ups with other potters in the coming week, so do call by again soon..

Nice to be noticed - thank you :)

Once again this blog has had a mention on the Clay Blog Review...

You might like to check out some of the others listed ... see you back here soon

CLAY BLOG REVIEW