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Monday, July 30, 2012

suite

Cutting a few more stamps for a special project:

Friday, July 27, 2012

travel treasures: algis bubnys

It's been over 2 months since I landed back in Australia after my travels along the north west coast of Canada and the US, yet I still haven't shared all of my travel treasures with you. I found this sweet little cup at Pyromania Pottery after exploring The Old Country Market at Coombs, BC (aka Goats on the Roof!). I wondered through the store and this was the first piece that I wanted to pick up. After a minute of my inspecting it, the kindly gentleman at the counter asked if I was a potter. Why yes, I say, how do you know? I can tell by the way you're holding that cup, says he. 
As it would turn out, this insightful shopkeeper was the maker of this lovely cup. That gave me a second reason to bring it home with me.
The name of this potter is Algis Bubnys - doesn't that just sound magical?
Look at those glaze drips!

Only this week I've realised that this cup is the perfect size for a small but rich serving of hot chocolate (I highly recommend Land O Lakes cocoa mixes with almond milk!)

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

tea cake.

I assembled my teapots today. It was tedious. I grumbled a lot. Thankfully I had a freshly baked cake break with my friend Wendy, so my sanity is intact.

pre-handle

post-handle

possibly cuter without a spout and handle...!



Now to baby them for a week so they dry super slowly and *hopefully* won't crack! Then the other worries will creep in...will the lid let go after the firing, will they handle well, will the spout straighten correctly and pour sufficiently...ah!

It's Mud Colony day again, off you hop!

Monday, July 23, 2012

mad.

I've been thinking about teapots for a while. I haven't made any since March 2010 when I was still in college; the unpleasant challenge to my untrained hands has lingered on and I've procrastinated any new attempts. However, we're organising a little group show at Clay Art Benowa this Spring under the theme of Mad Hatters' Tea Party and if ever there was a reason to take up the teapot gauntlet, this is it.

 After 4 days of research, sketches and internal conflict, I threw some teapot components today. 

[there are 4 spouts, but the last one is so awful that I can't possible show you.]

I haven't thrown any galleries (potters will know what I mean, forgive me for not explaining further my dear muggles) with the intention of simplifying the whole process...but I could just be making bad teapots.

Sunday, July 22, 2012

ignite.

I try to be consistent in the content that I post on this blog and what I share on my Facebook Page, but sometimes excitement overtakes and Facebook wins out. So, dear readers, if you don't already know, my work has been accepted for the Suncoast Clayworkers Ignition Awards 2012! Needless to say, I'm stoked! 
Silverdale Dreams, 2012, Southern Ice Porcelain + underglaze colour, Wheel thrown + hand painted, 11 x 8 cm + 9.5 x 8 cm + 8 x 7 cm, Set of 3.


The added bonus is that world-wide-admired Chinese potter Jackson Li will be the judge this year! I met Jackson back in May 2010 when he presented a 2 day brush making workshop at the Gold Coast Potters' Association. He drew me in a bowl, remember?!

I'm also proud to say that fellow finalists from the Gold Coast are my mentor Michaela Kloeckner, new partner in crime Megan Puls and good friend Wendy Hodgson! Woo!

Ignition runs from 31 August - 6 October 2012 at the Butter Factory Arts Centre, Cooroy.

Thursday, July 19, 2012

stamp.

Way back in February I signed up for Diana Fayt's first e-course, The Clay: Surfacing. At the time I thought 'Sure, I have time to keep up with this every week', but of course, I didn't (for good reasons of course!). Thankfully Diana graciously designed the course so it would be available for us to drop into when we could (I say we, there were well over 100 of us that signed up from all around the world!) and even extended the video viewing time by an extra month than we expected. Diana in her own right is an inspiring ceramic artist; her combinations of form, colour and pattern always excite me (I highly recommend following her on Instagram!). The course was thoughtful, insightful and overflowing with a wealth of information. I am only now, 6 months on, allowing myself the time to try my hand at the technique that most caught my attention; carved printing blocks.
[paper tests]
I gave myself the afternoon to play and shake out some of the ideas that have been floating around my brain!

[work space]

Ah, I loved it. Diana said the printing blocks would be addictive and she was right!

[I need to refine my heart design as a silhouette]

 I love that this is a quicker way to apply an image, but each application will be completely individual.





Thank goodness for odd wobbly cups hiding on bottom shelves (do we all save them for moments like this?)
I also carved myself a feather shape. I don't know if I can apply the correct amount of colour to equal the brightness of the hand painted designs, but I'm very keen to get these samples fired to see if I can refine my lorikeet feather range somewhat. 
I love the lorikeet feathers still, as do my stockists and customers it seems, but they are very labour intensive and if I can reduce the time-per-piece then I hope I can sustain this range a little longer before they drive me crazy!

Thursday = Mud Colony! Wishing love and luck to Adriana this weekend as she participates in her very first trade show, Design:Made:Trade in Melbourne! Wish wish wish I could visit!

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

i see you

Continuing with my new narrative; 
[hands]

[testing materials for image transfer]

[tracing my original drawings]

[mirror mirror]


[I see you ~ inspired by Adriana's brooch]



[Yesterday + today' work.]

Monday, July 16, 2012

persuasive spoons?

Experiments for a special little group show at Clay Art Benowa in September;


More feather spoons;
Some Miro feathers on dishes;


 And something that amused me;
Old stilt stone, new stilt stone.
Thank you for the kind comments on my previous post; there are some exciting and challenging times to come! It's great to have you along for support x