Great time up North

If you noticed a certain lack of activity on my blog lately it was just because I was on hols with my husband.  We took a drive north up the Pacific Highway, caught up with family and friends and had a thoroughly good time.

First off, we met up with the lovely Ellen Appleby of the blog, Based in Noosa and then attended the opening of her latest exhibition at Kari out at Kenilworth.  It was a very friendly crowd and the paintings by Chris Brown added to the zing.

Ellen Appleby at the opening of her Equilibrium exhibition

Ellen's clowns and acrobats are beautifully made and the glazes used are the result of much research.
It's a lovely little gallery with an open window letting in lots of natural light.

We couldn't resist bringing 'Stoked' home with us though it was a close run between him and Gazza :^)

After the exhibition opening we drove over to a nearby town called Imbil  where we visited the new 'Gallery Frit'.  Here we found work by Michael Ciavarella - the artist behind The Matchbox Show

Later in the week we met up again and toured some very nice galleries around Noosa, including their Regional Gallery which has the sculpture exhibition/competition, SCAP3D, underway, nice to see some ceramic entries doing well here:

Entry of Petra Svoboda

Award winner by Johanne Demaine

Entry by Rowley Drysdale

We also visited the Wallace House craft centre, had a pleasant lunch at a cafe before dropping by at Quixotica, the home of Rowley Drysdale.

Rowley shows us his new Japanese style bath house which is close to completion

His Ogama kiln

Rowley at his wheel

lots of space in a tranquil bush setting

Lots more to see and do around the Sunshine Coast but it was inspiring to see so many clay artists getting their work out there.  Thanks again to Ellen for making my holiday very special.

Super testing and a book to read

this week I have been testing a new clay from Blackwattle Pottery.  It's a 1200 stoneware which could be very useful if it works with the glazes I have access to at TAFE.

First I made some shrink test bars, then I threw a few little bowls

either I need some lessons from Melanie at  Eucalyptus Homewares or this clay is not so easy to use tissue tranfers on :^)

And I've also been working on a little handbuilt Staffordshire figurine inspired pigs piece

and just to keep me out of mischief I've been helping the Port Hacking Potters with their Wood Firing AND preparing for their 47th National Pottery Competition.  Check their blog for more - Port Hacking Potters Group...

Oh and then I was led to this lovely little book which is a Bio of Dorothy Hope who is the Patron of the Port Hacking Potters Group, titled "Impressions in Clay" it tells of her love of creating in clay back when there were only 2 rough earthenware clays, 1 red, 1 white, available commercially.  Her wonderful supportive husband helped her to set up their pottery near Port Macquarie on the NSW North Coast where they dug their own clay and processed it themselves - a true pioneer.

So that's me for this week.  Remember to drop by Mud Colony or check out my Facebook pages, Anna's Ceramics and Anna's Aussie Ceramics and I love comments, here or there :^)

first pot and inspirations

My friend, Adriana Christianson, posed the question, do you remember the first piece you made?

Well yes, I do, and like Suzi over at The Smart Cat I still have that funny little pot. When I first learnt to throw on the wheel back in the early 1980s,  I was living in Papua New Guinea and went along to a Co-op at the University where a clay studio had been set up to help local potters learn Western methods.  I was given a demonstration, a few balls of clay and told to 'see what you can do with that'.  Well after a few false starts this is what I managed to produce and the lovely encouraging women there even fired it for me.  It has followed around over many house moves back in Australia.

wheel thrown stoneware with 'student' glaze (left overs mixed together) reduction firing

My next 'first' was a hand building night class back in Australia in the mid '80s

handbuilt, earthenware clay, oxides and brown glaze inside pot,

I think my first interest in clay came about when I was a baby :^) when I realised someone with the same name as me had made a living from working as a studio potter.
These are collectables now though very kitch they do have a certain charm - a little ash tray (do they still make those?) by Studio Anna circa 1950s - 1960s.  The 'Aboriginal' design would also be politically incorrect now. Don't forget to check out Mud Colony and maybe say hi on one of my Facebook pages, Anna's Aussie Ceramics (Group Page) or my Artist Page - Anna's Ceramics...

Underway plus some candy

this week myself and other members of the Port Hacking Potters Group delivered our pots to go into a bisque in preparation for a wood firing that will be happening over the next few weeks at Gymea TAFE College.

Top shelf are mine and the lower shelf are by my friend Therese who makes consistently good work. I have a few beads in the bowls.  I'll be adding some oxide brush work to those bottles.

Next week we will be glazing -

And then!
Took some flyers for the Port Hacking Potters Competition up to give to the lovely John, from Blackwattle and received a batch of his very very newest clay to test.  Can't wait!!  It is a mid-fire (1200) stoneware.  Just what I was thinking I wanted :^)

Been to Mud Colony yet? the collected blog site, or their Facebook page? or my Facebook page? See you around :^)

Packed and ready

Today I packed up 3 teapots for the Sydney Teapot Show and will deliver them over the other side of Sydney to the Inner City Clay workers Gallery at Glebe.
Unfortunately I won't be able to attend the opening night but will certainly get along to see this year's collection of astounding creations.

Here is a copy of the invitation ( I scanned the front and back) :

Hope you can get over to check it out for yourself, you won't be disappointed.

Hi to my new follower, Michelle, thanks for looking in :^)

Mud Colony is up again so have a look and see what everyone has been up to in their studios this week.

Time Out

Took a few hours out today with my husband.  We drove to Kurnell, which is where Captain Cook first landed on the East Coast of Australia looking for fresh water and shots were fired at two Aboriginal men when they waved their spears around in an effort to defend their home ground.  At least there are now some moves to recognise that early encounter with art works with text that does make some attempt to explain the differences in culture that clashed that day.  Now a National Park it is a little oasis amongst the industry of the modern age.  Here are a few snaps - a wonderful calm day after a strong wind last night.

looking South to the village from a little wharf where a ferry used to come across Botany Bay from La Perouse

a plane coming into land at Sydney Airport - the wharf is for the nearby Petroleum refinery

afternoon sunshine streaming through this stand of Stringy Bark Eucalyptus trees

Testing Clay Body

The other week I attended the Keanes Ceramics Open Day at Brookvale TAFE College on the other side of Sydney.  Keanes have just released a new stoneware clay called Ironstone.

I purchased a sample (the profits were to go to a Lymphoma charity) and also watched the expert Cameron Williams throwing with it.  It is a smooth body and has a slightly purple tinge to it.

Just the thing for a wood firing I think so I have made a few little beads and pendants to try out when I do a wood firing next month with the other members of the Port Hacking Potters Group.

If I'm not too late I'll be adding this post to the weekly spot over at Mud Colony and don't forget Mud Colony on Facebook now! 

Books on Wood Firing

I am now making some pots for a Wood Firing Experience that is happening with other members of the Port Hacking Potters Group.
I don't know a lot about wood firing so I've been doing some research and took out some books on loan from the TAFE College library.  Wonderful images and lots of information, more than I could take in, so I'm just skimming and looking for ideas to help me with how to glaze and decorate....

The most recently published is The Art of Woodfire, A contemporary Ceramics Practise. by Owen Rye (2011) Owen is a well known and respected Australian Wood firer.

The next most recent one is a Japanese/American publication: Japanese Wood-Fired Ceramics by Masakazu Kusakabe and Marc Lancet. This second one goes into lots of detail - even showing how kilns are built.

Lots of ideas in my head now and I've thrown my pots but need to get a few bits and pieces together before I can finish them off.  Love this part of the process :^)

Been over to Mud Colony yet this week? and you can also Friend me on Facebook: my Group page: Anna's Aussie Ceramics or my Art Page: Anna's Ceramics.
Thanks for dropping by and I love to receive comments, see ya :^)

NEXT!!

That teapot in the last post went in the recycle bag as it was still cracking after 3rd try, just didn't want to be a teapot.
Soooo, next is a wood firing with members of the Port Hacking Potters to be held at Gymea TAFE College in August.

Cleaned out the studio and have some buff stoneware out on plaster batts drying.  Tomorrow I'll be wedging it up.  I'll only have a small part of the kiln as there are about 15 of us taking part.  I'm thinking bowls and vases....

Pushing the boundaries or just plain silly

this week I have been remaking teapots to replace the ones that blistered/bloated in their glaze firing. Now I am using Porcelain Paperclay.  I wasn't that happy with the first body so put it aside.  Then I threw the other two, lids, spouts. When I came back I thought that first one isn't so bad and you are supposed to be able to join wet to dry with paperclay, I'll give it a go.

I wrapped it up in plastic and it was looking good - next day it looks like this :^(
I looked up a couple of sites and they still reckon you can repair cracks with more paperclay so I'm giving it one more try.
So what have you been up to this week?  Checked out Mud Colony yet?  See you over there or look for me on Facebook - Anna's Ceramics