A long day but well worth it

As you know from my previous post I spent Good Friday at the Sydney Royal Easter Show helping with friends to promote the art of pottery.

Kara of CeramicsbyKara has organised this for the last few years.  This year there were five of us involved, myself, Tanya of Hop'n Frog Pottery, Roslyn Lowe and Dana Lundmark.

It meant a really early morning start but it was nice to arrive before the crowds and do a quick look around the Arts and Crafts Pavillion exhibitions once we were setup.

we arrived at sunrise

My friend, Jim Flood is an artist and had one of his palette knife oil paintings on display... a very talented fellow as you can see from this photo of his work

Sydney Harbour view by Jim Flood

The Arts and Crafts Pavillion has entries from across the state in all sorts of categories which include pottery, porcelain painting, cake decorating, sculpture, knitting, embroidery and lots more.

I had a quick look around - 

one of the pottery sections

part of the wood work section

and then the doors were open and the crowds arrived...

We were soon kept busy for the rest of the day... Kara was demonstrating handbuilding large poultry characters while Tanya and I had kids lined up to make a clay feather to put on the large hen she had made for the purpose..

A local supplier Keane Ceramics provided the clay and our other sponsors for the day were Art Est where Kara teaches children's classes and Northern Beaches TAFE where Kara, Roslyn and Dana have studied.

Tanya, Kara and Roslyn getting setup

Kara with one of her characters made as a demonstration piece

our partly feathered chook towards the end of the day... each feather represents one child's effort

Roslyn spent most of the day throwing and Dana was kept busy showing young folk how to make a pinch pot... 

Roslyn Lowe at the wheel

Dana helping the kids and parents make pinch pots

All in all a very tiring but fulfilling day!  I was so impressed by the young folk and their parents who were all so polite and interested.

Dana and I had some finished work on display - the others decided not to risk their pieces in transport to the Show

Thanks to Kara for organising the effort and getting the rest of us involved.

To finish off a short video clip Tanya shared so you get an idea of the atmosphere... it was a very hot day outside so I think we were in a good place.

The Sydney Royal Easter Show - this Friday

The Sydney Royal Easter Show is basically an Agricultural show in the city.

It is the pinnacle for exhibitors across the State of NSW.  Everything from cows, horses and yes pigs are shown and judged.  In addition there are competitions for exhibitions of produce from different regions which use their local fruit, vegetables or grains to create a large display that makes a collage depicting that region.

And then there is the Art and Craft Pavillion where there are paintings, sculptures, pottery, cake decorating, weaving, knitting, embroidery and many more competing for that winning blue ribbon or even Best in Show award.

So I have been asked to go along with some friends and show the general public how we make our pottery/ceramics.  Exciting but a bit scary too... 

I will have a few pieces on display but will mainly be helping the others with building a huge chicken (or two) and we will be inviting the public to add feathers to the pair.  Sounds like fun?

Come and say hi

happy with these white platter/plates

These are from my last firing and turned out quite well...

Very useful either for food or to keep your bathroom tidy - available at the little home decor store in Miranda - Fred & Co

handformed and texture slabs stoneware with food safe glaze.

Now stock in local gallery

I am thrilled that the local gallery shop is taking some of my bowls and has already sold one of my pigs..

The Gallery always has fanstatic exhibitions so worth calling by -

Hazelhurst Arts Centre Kingway Gymea NSW.


Guess what I will be making next

Gumleaf Bowls - thrown stoneware underglaze decoration clear glaze.  Food safe and dishwasher safe.

Patience of the Potter

There are many aspects of pottery that teach the potter about patience.

First and most important is the forming of the pot whether on the wheel or by hand.  A steady rate of spin or a considered handling of the hand formed piece is crucial for a good outcome.

Next is the slow drying process - whatever the size or style trying to rush this process with almost always result in cracks.

The kiln firing also needs patience... again firing too high too quickly will result in cracks or even explosions...

Then there is the glazing process - each piece needs just the right amount of glaze then needs to dry and have its bases wiped clear of glaze residue so that it doesn't stick to the kiln shelf.

And we are not done yet!  Once the kiln has fired to temperature there is another wait while the kiln cools.  Again, rush this process and you are likely to have a poor glaze result or again cracks.

Even then the results are not guaranteed - this little jug looks pretty but drips when pouring so it won't be for sale.  I'll keep it for a while and try making a better one and then this one will be destroyed. 

I will once again be practising patience tomorrow as I wait for the kiln to cool from my latest glaze firing which took place today...

Have a lovely weekend

When a glaze goes well

I have used this glaze before but it is very dependent on the thickness of application to get that nice satin black.  It is called Copper Rust and in an electric kiln will go quite green if only lightly applied.  These platters are now available at a small local home decor store called Fred & Co.

Textured slab hand formed platters- stoneware  (2018)

Here is a link to their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Fred-Co

The weather has cooled down so its off to the studio for me to make a few more platters and some vases to be able to pack the kiln well.  All platters would mean the kiln would struggle to fire efficiently.

Another Cleanup then Back to making

We had a slightly cooler couple of days so I've given the studio another clean before starting back on the wheel... 

I recycle my clay so I wash the bags out and reuse them to store the next batch of clay.  The plastic containers are used over and over for cleaning, water for throwing and when decorating or glazing.

When it is too hot to pot

Summer is mostly very hot in Sydney and the last fews days have been close to 40 degrees Celcius or around 100 degrees Fahrenheit for those in other countries...

My studio faces west and so gets quite hot... not very appealing to me to make pottery...

So instead I have pulled out my jewellery making equipment..

I have one bracelet done and hope to make some more brooches and earrings too...

Hand formed porcelain jewellery components

previously made porcelain brooch and earrings

Successful Commission delivered

I was asked to make a double handled mug for a lady with severe arthritis.

As my father had bad arthritis I could sympathise and took the commission.

I made two (as you do just in case) and they were both successful and the person was happy to take them both which was lovely of her.

I delivered them today and she was very pleased with them which is a relief.

Doubled Handled Mug - stoneware white clay - clear liner blue outer (2018)

Double handled mug - stoneware blue glaze (2018)

A bit of a look back

And I mean way back...

 this vase was made when I was living in Papua New Guinea and first started on the pottery wheel.
There were no formal classes but some very encouraging potters who got me hooked on clay.

I might have a rummage and see if I can find my notebook from back then... it was a stoneware clay and fired in a gas kiln.  As for the glaze, it obviously had cobalt in it for the blue but I've no idea of the recipe.  I wonder if any of those people are still potting.

The flora here is mostly Australian - the fruit in the foreground is from a Weeping Lilly Pilly shrub, the violet are the native Viola hederacea which is one of my favourite plants.

The yellow is aptly called Yellow Buttons and there is an exotic Duranta repens  Geisha Girl which gets orange berries, at the back.

A nice indoor decoration to start the year now that the Christmas decorations have been boxed up and put away.

Welcome to 2018 - I hope its a good one for you.