The good news

I taught a workshop at The Potter's Market in O'Connor yesterday, about Print On Clay Techniques, attended by 13 people including 8 high school art teachers.  The atmosphere was instantly warm and friendly and I felt as soon as we started that it would go well.  The remarks at the end left me feeling very good indeed, they said they had fun and learnt lots.  The snaps are via my iPhone, not brilliant but hey, not bad either!

It was a hands-on workshop, something I don't think I have fully mastered the design of quite yet, but everyone got a chance to tinker and try out the materials and techniques - it got almost merry at times.  We covered  inkjet print as a guide, drawn tissue transfers, screen printed underglaze transfers, laser decals and open stock decals.  As always - I learnt a few things.

So I'd like to say, to those who attended and who said they had read this little blog, thank you for coming, it was BRILLIANT teaching you, a JOY, and I hope we all cross paths often from here on.  And thanks to Henry for helping me load and unload the car with all that gear XO

The bad news

I have just read some news online that I am hoping is wildly inaccurate.  I read in the Australian Ceramics Discussion List that the premises of Ian Jones and Morag McKenna's Old St Luke Studio woodfiring studio in Gundaroo, ACT has had a fire. Wonderful and lovely Ian taught me at ANU and I have visited their studio and bought work from there a number of times - things I love and live with.  http://www.oldsaintlukesstudio.com.au/index.html  I am feeling sad and anxious for them.  ......But if you are here for clay blog, I will find an image from their site to share with  you.

a little more news ... 16th May

Canberra Potters' Society will hold a one-day fundraising sale on Monday 13 June (10 am?4 pm) at the Watson Arts Centre, in Canberra. All proceeds to go to Ian and Moraig. 

If you would like to donate work for sale, please arrange to get it us

 at Watson Arts Centre, 1 Aspinall Street, Watson ACT  2602 (PO Box

 7021). It should of course have the maker's name and the sale price

 attached.   

...and if you are in Canberra, go BUY!  

A New Era

Today is the beginning of a new era for me, I move into a new studio space in Fremantle, five minutes drive from my small home studio.  This will allow me to split my handbuilt work from throwing, glazing and firing into two spaces.  I intend to become more productive this way, in fact, I had better do so in order to to pay for my parking and rent alone.  It is hard to access the creative muse when before you can make work, you have to move 'stuff' all the time.  For Mother's Day the men in my life (husband and three teen sons) will move 'stuff' to the new place, to save me the trouble as I am recovering from a nasty fall in a supermarket.  How shrewd I was to have sons! That will be far more satisfactory than a pair of fluffy slippers and a bunch of tired carnations, in fact I'd rather just look at a very old botanical illustration such as this one, online, than receive tired old carnations.  I will keep you posted on how it pans out.

O M G ! If you can - GO.

The work by Sue Flavell and Andrew Nicholls at the Turner Gallery at 470 William Street is REALLY something!  Sue's sculptural work is really ambiguous and surprising, creature inspired, hinting of darkness,  while Andrew's drawings, MY GOD that man can draw - have been transferred to Limoges Plates and onto his own sculpted figurines are stunning.  Suffice to say, I bought some work for my small but growing collection.  Some Day in about fifty years the State Gallery may be thrilled by a bequest from Moi!

The one I bought

Turner Galleries Perth?  - LOVELY Gallery, my new favourite in Perth, and what a class act, great wine, great quality food, and such helpful and friendly staff.  Oh Boy I hope I get to show work there someday!
If you can, GO!!  http://www.turnergalleries.com.au/

Cool Clay!

susan flavell + andrew nicholls

scylla + charybdis    6 may - 4 june 2011

This is where I will be tonight. Turner Gallery, 470 William Street, Northbridge, near the corner of Bulwer Street. I caught up a bit with the two artists last week, calmly completing their work. I think this will be a great show, I'm excited!! If you can't make it to see the show, check the images on http://www.turnergalleries.com.au/exhibitions/11_flavell_nicholls.php