Exciting - sold my sculpture

The last few years I have entered a sculpture in the Coraki Art Prize which is held in the small town of Coraki in northern NSW.

I have been happy to have sold my works and was delighted today to receive a phone call from the buyer of this years submission.

It is so nice to receive feedback from the person buying the work.... to know that your maybe not so subtle social comment has been understood is very gratifying and encouraging...

Here is my entry titled "2050"...

My past entries are on my portfolio here: http://annasceramicportfolio.blogspot.com.au/

I was back in the studio today, trimming vases and generally getting work together for my next firing...  one of the vases is now decorated with gum nuts and leaves...

I hope to get into the garden tomorrow... its not only the nasturtium that is getting away... the weeds are starting to take over...
have a good week folks ...

Additional shelf and props

Very pleased to have taken delivery of another kiln shelf today plus some extra props in different sizes...  it will make it much easier to pack my kiln efficiently...

The week that was... and an echidna

I've been fairly busy this last week working on a special plate (photos later if it survives) and some Christmas tree ornaments similar to these I made last year:

I also have a hand built bowl underway but need to finish it and perhaps put some feet on it.

I'm sending these brooches off to a charity event in Queensland...

and have a sculpture entered in the Coraki Art Prize... I'll show that once the show is open next week.

And I had a lovely afternoon in the company of the talented Amanda Bromfield at the Museum of Contemporary Art which is right on the harbour.


We toured the gallery from top to bottom and particularly enjoyed the ALEKS DANKO  
(click on his name for details and interviews) exhibition which finished today.

Amanda admires one of Aleks' large ceramic sculptures

Once I looked at those dark pots from last week and got over the surprise of the dark colours,  I was really quite happy with them..

two small plates

detail of small plate

after speaking with the manufacturer I now know I had the glaze too thick but as its colour is a bounty of copper within the glaze, they will still be food safe.

You can see the touches of green on the underside around the feet where the glaze is thinner and more like the result I expected.

and oh yes,  an echidna came into our place!  I couldn't believe my eyes!  He wandered around, up the driveway and into next doors front garden, inspected their shoe rack by the front door, back into the garden and tucked himself up under a bush and went to sleep!

It really made my day... here is a pic of him as he wanders onto next doors front terrace... just a lovely creature...

So I wonder what the coming week will hold - you just never know...

#SaturdayShelfie 17 Oct 2015

These brooches were mounted for sale last night.  Most of them will be going to a charity event in Queensland while the rest will be available at the next Port Hacking Potters Market Stall.

a dark firing

 Not a full pack but this is my glaze firing after bisque and before turning the kiln on...

Then I fired up using the firing schedule that came with the kiln and it really is firing too high... that second cone on the right should be more upright..  some adjustment needed for next time...

I was a little disappointed with some pieces but generally it was all OK though it looks quite dark.. I realised that it is for two reasons, I've used a darker clay for some works and have some black decoration on others...

I'm very pleased with this little jug and will be keeping this one for the Christmas gravy!

Spring has been here for a month now and my nasturtiums have gone wild! They are out of the pot and up the back fence.. I love their bright colours.

Time to start on the next firing...  I have a little Christmas theme happening that I hope will be popular...

And another pig sculpture underway...

Thanks for dropping by.. perhaps I'll catch you on Facebook :^)

Holiday weekend in the studio

Today is a holiday here in Sydney Australia.
Great weather for the beach if you don't mind the crowds..

However I have been preparing for my next glaze firing...

wheel thrown buff stoneware, black slip and graffito decoration

 These two jugs are glazed and packed...

detail of unfired teapot lid

I am trying to refire a small teapot to hopefully heal a small crack near the handle...
Also in there are some jewellery pieces and some Christmas tree hangers...

Its all packed now however my friend needs to test fire some clay she was given... it was free but unlabelled.. so we shall put it inside a small test dish and see how it goes...

#SaturdayShelfie 3/10/2015

Over on my Facebook Group, Anna's Aussie Ceramics we have started a regular post of a Saturday for Group members to post a photo of something of their own work... calling it #SaturdayShelfie.
If you are on Facebook you can join in too...

The page is for Australian pottery but with the Saturday Shelfie you don't have to be an Australian potter to join in.

Here is the link to the Facebook Group- Anna's Aussie Ceramics

and here is my pic for today..

one of my pigs that was sawdust fired a few days ago...

Market Stall at Ramsgate this Saturday 4 October

I'm making some new jewellery to sell at the Ramsgate Organic Foodies Market this Saturday 4 October.  It is held at the Ramsgate Public School - click here for directions: http://www.organicfoodies.com.au/ramsgate/

some new jewellery will be available

porcelain brooch and clip-on earrings

wheel thrown and hand built angel with tissue print decoration (shown prior to firing).

The stores have already stocked up for Christmas so perhaps my little angel will find a new home.