Oh My, this year has got away from me

Thought I'd better get another post in before another year clicks over.

I have done a number of firings this year and will be doing another one this week.  ... Oh I just love loading the kiln, but love cracking it and seeing the end result even more!

This next firing will be a mixture of all sorts of things, including some glazes that I've made in my studio as well as some items from my son's daycare.  I made some tiles for the toddlers at Oliver's daycare which they had great fun decorating.  The plan is for these to be layed into a path in their play area. 

I also took some clay to our playgroup last Friday and did hand prints of all the kids there, they will be a nice Christmas present for Dads or Grandparents.

I've also been busy on the wheel trying to churn out some bowls and beakers which will be Christmas presents.  Some big salad bowls will be fired as well - trying to use up some brs.  Some piks to come.

Another year!

Would you believe I'm only getting the time NOW to catch up on life and all the things I've wanted to do for the last few years. Finally I have my kiln, its a paragon auto and we're still getting to know each other. The studio is pretty much ready and waiting, I even hired a slab roller and have a heap of slabs waiting to be used. So... what has taken me so long, what am I waiting for? TIME! My son Oliver is 18 months now so I'm starting to get the hang of this juggling thing, he's a very busy man and the little time I have to myself when he sleeps is usually taken up with cleaning up the house and finding the kitchen.

Anyway I'm excited to be planning to get back into my ceramics, my reference books and glaze receipes are beside the bed, not sure what will be my first few pieces after such a long break but its all good. To get my hands back in the mud and fire will be fabulous. And guess what, its a new moon so all these things are happening for a reason.

I'm a great believer in making things happen for me rather than sitting around and waiting. xo

New Year - ALREADY??

Its been a while since I've had the time to sit and write, in fact its been a looooong time since I've been in the studio. A small renovation turned out to be bigger than expected (thanks to the builders!) .

My advice - MOVE OUT, don't try and live around builders. Three weeks with no kitchen, using the laundry sink for washing up, takeaway food and the only usable room in the house the bedroom + water coming in through a non existent wall wasn't fun!

So needless to say I still haven't been able to locate my studio under all the rubble, I hope to have it back in full swing by the end of Feb.

Stay tuned!

An update

Its been a few months since I've sat down and looked back on my work over the last few months. Before it gets too far to remember I thought I'd better do now!

I've been testing quite a few glazes and finally have at least two that I will incorporate into my current work. Over the past few months I have also picked up a number of fabulous glassware pieces that I've been making moulds of. I really enjoy the greenware clean up process, paring back to tidy the finished product - as strange as it may sound it is actually quite enjoyable and relaxing! Except when you press a little too hard and then (@#*#JK(*#

I still can't seem to get building big out of my head and have done a few large coneish shell sculptures. One of my mentors is Mark Chatterley who just amazes me with his whole working process. I'll never be able to build as big as Mark's work but his work certainlly challenges your line of thinking.

Also I am working hard on the wheel to master that thing (is it ever possible??) with the help of my teacher at Tafe Carol. Now the end of year is close most of my classmates are working on their end of year work from home which means those at class have a little more one on one time with our teachers - great for me!

I'm also refreshing my skills learnt at the Winter School Printing on Clay Workshop I attended in Bowral in July this year and will incorporate this into my wheel work. I brought some of the samples back with me on the plane however I'm still waiting for a box of them to arrive by mail - can't wait! Shouldn't be too long now.

Progress for my book "The Sculptors Toolbox" is coming along very nicely. Interest from sculptors of all mediums has been great, the submissions to date are mostly out of the ordinary in terms of tools - not too many main stream items - which is going to provide a great read.

A few fabulous submissions from some truly talented (and patient) international sculptors. The quality of the images supplied has been great. We've extended the deadline date for another month; just to allow a little time for those gathering their images. An example page should be up on the website soon http://www.thesculptorstoolbox.com/

More soon.

Chards

Over the weekend I went to the Shed (still go there occasionally) to pick up some previously fired gear and brought it home. I got home on Monday night to find the shelf in my studio had come away from the wall dropping its contents onto my newly fired stuff!! Not happy Jan.

Note to self (and Partner) shelves need to be permanent!

I've had a few days to get over it but its still pretty upsetting. I had this awesome paperclay bowl I had made which is now in smithereens.

Student Again

Its been a while since I've written, since then I've enrolled in ceramics at Tafe. LOVE IT!
Its great to have access to some awesome tutors and the class is full of inspiring women of all ages. The facilities are great and am just so glad I'm there to further develop my skill.

Australian Ceramics Triennale

As if the Printing on Clay workshop in Mittagong wasn't enough for my brain, why not totally emerse myself whilst in NSW so.. thats what I did. I attended the last day of the Ceramics Triennale and didn't I have an awesome time!

The presentations we incredibly informative on subjects close to my heart such as working in the disability sector for therapeutic reasons as well as the fun challenges of exhibiting.

Noosa's very own Rowley Drysale sat on the Value of Exhibitions panel with Curator Peter Haynes and Gallery owner Helen Stephens which was chaired by the whitty and well travelled Janet Mansfield. Rowley's presentation about exhibiting for artists was bl**dy hilarious.

I also chatted with a few of my heros and put faces to some names I have been following for some time. Another presentation I really enjoyed was the Ceramic Passport presented by a number of artists who have attended residencies in China, Egypt, and France. This is certainlly a goal of mine one day.

Sydney

Winter School, Sturt Uni - Mittagong NSW

Another month has gone by, I can't believe its almost August. Last week I attended the Printing on Clay Winter School with Sturt Uni at Mittagong. It was fantastic! At final count we learnt about 14 different techniques to print onto clay.

Petra Svoboda our tutor was fantastic and our small group were all as enthusiastic as each other, participants came from Tassie, Newcastle, Thailand and Sydney and of course me ... Queensland.

Other than picking up many exciting techniques to broaden my skillbase I also feel I made some great friends who I'll stay in touch with and share my progression as I put my new learnings into action.

The weather was certainlly freezing, getting down to 1 - 3 degrees at night however the studios were warm and my beautiful Cousins house was a great haven to lay my weary head after a day of learning. I feel very fortunate to have had family to stay with while I was experiencing something quite special in my journey of ceramics.

time to gloat!

My day job is as a public relations and marketing consultant. My longest standing client is an aged care facility in Brisbane that I have a very big soft spot for.

This picture is of a book I published in celebration of Queenslands 150th Birthday and Trinder Parks 40 years of service. The sculpture by well known Queensland sculptor Kate French is of Arthur (Pop) Trinder who was the original donor of the land to the Lutheran Church back in the 60s.

The book is a compilation of more than 50 memoirs of residents, former residents, members of the community and community leaders within the Logan district.

The publication was sponsored by the Q150 Grant round and the event by Trinder Park and Lutheran Community Care. More than 100 people attended the celebration including State Member for Woodridge, Desley Scott and Councillor Russell Lutton. The original Matron of Trinder Park from the days of the doors opening in 1969 Judith Rose (Weppner) also was in attendance.

Other than having a bad (first time in four years) bout of the flu the day was fantastic!

International Expert comes to Sunshine Coast

After a two year fascination with Paperclay I decided I would work on enticing Pioneer of Paper clay Graham Hay to Queensland and the Sunshine Coast to conduct a workshop.

The workshop sold within a matter of days so I 'enticed' Graham once again to extend his stay so a wider audience of paper clay advocates could have some time with the 'master'.

Whilst the 2nd workshop was only for a day people traveled from near and far to attend and certainlly I am sure the world of ceramics (within those that attended either of the three days) has now massively changed.

Graham suggests, throw out your rules; anything is possible. Why Bisc? Why Glaze? Why not join dry and dry clay? Why not add noodles, rice, wool and fabric. So... beware industry for ceramics and sculpture I'm sure many many perspectives have changed and you're about to see it.

I hope to coordinate another Graham Hay workshop for Queensland in 2009. I, like many others, can't get enough of his 'anything is possible' method when dealing with clay.

Pinch Bowls

Temaku, titanium on southern ice.

Fish out of water

I had fun making these fish out of paperclay and using all sorts of patterns.

Safron

I glazed the smaller doll for my claymate Therese, she wanted to use this saffron colour which she made. As a set they look good but now Saffron has gone to a new home.

Kiln ready for unpacking

I unpacked the kiln early June, just havn't had a chance to update my blog for a few weeks. Unpacking the kiln is always exciting yet, worrying and often annoying. Overall as I'm still in my early stages of getting my glazes right if I get a few things right I'm happy. I now use those good pieces to refine my work.

Caloundra Art Centre Assoc Fair

The Fair is on again, will be nice to be a participant this year rather than 'organiser'.

Fish going to the Fair

The Caloundra Art Centre Assoc Fair is on this weekend so I'm getting all my items ready for sale. Its a great time to 'release' some of those bits I've been holding onto allowing me space (mostly at home and in my head) to create new designs. I really like this Bream and think it will become a regular stock item for me, great for blokes rather than all my 'girly' designs.

Kiln is packed

Yesterday I glazed then packed the kiln for stoneware firing. The most exciting part is always opening the door after the firing, its like a box of chocolates without the labels, you never know what you're going to get! Hopefully I'm getting better at this though and with my note taking, replication a little simplier!

gotta get me a kiln

I'm feeling a little disappointed today, yesterday I was due to install my peacock in the Brisbane Botanic Gardens Sculptors Qld exhibition. I knew it would be tight to get it done and unfortunately due to the rain, the last (and most crucial) firing couldn't happen. Note to self - don't leave things to the last minute!

I guess one good thing is that come Monday, Tuesday I'll have a piece to enter in the next exhibition that comes up. I had my tool kit for the installation waiting by the door yesterday only to hear the firing didn't take place.

So... I'm on the hunt for a kiln. So far I've been offered a three phase kiln but we don't really have enough space for that and whilst I could certainally fill it regularly, I think I'd rather start with something a little smaller.

Graham Hay Workshop

I can't help myself in 'organising things'. I've been observing Graham Hay's work for some time now and asked him to consider a local workshop. The response has been great and its an excellent opportunity for our local area potters to learn from his talents.