A FEAST OF COLOUR by Henrietta Norris

Henrietta Norris, whose recent exhibition in the Salamanca Arts Centre has just ended, has provided me with some delicious images to share with you.  I remember watching her take some of the test rings for these glazes from the kilns at ANU when we pretty much danced with excitement.  These pots sing out loud with colour and texture and form. What a gorgeous gallery.  I will stop blithering and just show you!  Tell me what you think please.  It is awfully lonely being a blogger nobody comments to.  

The blurb said ....'An exhibition by Henrietta Norris featuring abstracted glazed and imprinted ceramic sculptures in which the Tasmanian East Coast meets the imprints of human culture. Henrietta is a ceramic artist exploring the intersection between man and nature in organically shaped and imprinted clay sculptures, complemented by flora inspired glazes. Her approach is phenomenological; exploring emotional and perceptual experience through the enduring media of fired clay.'

 

 

Blue

May I refer you to my friend Adriana's post.  Sounds like such fun.

Accepting graciously

My mother often pointed out to me that I was very bad at accepting compliments, and I could not argue with her.  It is delightful when someone says something nice but, like many, I  immediately focus on my shortcomings and point them out instead of thanking the giver, from the heart.  What happened to the wisdom of 'Accentuate the positive, Eliminate the negative?'.  Today, before 10.30 am I had been given immensely nice feedback from two different sources, and yes, I was a little embarrassed, and happy (I think you are amazing, I love what you make, I read your blog and love it).  I'd be an idiot to not take these smiles and attaboys into my heart and let them buoy me up when I have a slump in confidence.  Thank you very, very much to the people who are so kind to me.  It makes a difference to me, so please don't stop.  

Such excitement!

Oh I have something really, really cool to get excited about, and not a G and T with lots of ice, though that may be on this evening's menu.  I heard of a Reduction Print Lino Workshop in Perth this weekend with Printmaker Helen Clarke.   I purchased a beautiful reduction print by Helen last year called A Flurry of Fledglings.  I love most bird and nest type imagery and this work reminded me of our own three boys, always calling out to me, being demanding and generally bringing lots of joy to my life.  I just couldn't go past it.  For more information on the process read Helen's website http://www.woodypear.com/.  I may not have studied Printmaking in detail but I do a lot of it all the same on clay, so I am bound to find something useful in this process.  There may still be places on the course, send me a comment if you want to know more.

Mega Monday

I spent Monday afternoon teaching a very compressed version of my one day Print On Clay workshop to Advanced Diploma Students at Central Institute of Technology, Perth.  I whizzed through my demos and explanations of processes and materials involved, in order to allow time to 'play' at the end of the session.  They were quick on the uptake.  Before I knew it, two and a half hours had elapsed and they got an hour of trying stuff out.   The students were so polite and friendly, especially Holly who made me a Vanilla Latte which I then allowed to go cold - and nobody yawned.  We are enduring another heatwave in Perth and it was no surprise to hear it reached 40C, decidedly uncomfortable!  I would have been comatose in their place. Happily, most of the students tried out a few of the techniques and seemed to enjoy themselves.  We covered Inkjet transfer, Underglaze Tissue monoprints, silk screened imagery via Tissue, via Plaster and open stock decals as well as iron oxide laser decals.  There were so many other things we could have done but I will keep some of them for a workshop later this year at The Potter's Market.

Tomorrow night I teach Wheelwork for beginners.  One girl asked me if I felt she could ever make a teapot, good to see her planning ahead.  I wonder will my Japanese lady with the broken fingers come back, I have a few ideas for her to try out.  Anyone else got suggestions of what to teach her?

detail of one of my lotus series vessels, copper glaze on Southern Ice clay