Archive for January 2012

Term One 2012 Ceramics Classes

Term One of the Victorian school year is fast approaching, and I am once again offering adults and children’s ceramic classes.

Classes are held at my studio in Dunnstown, 10 minutes from Ballarat, in a beautiful tranquil country environment. Classes are available for both adults and children’s, and all levels are catered for: everyone working at their own pace.

Handbuilding and wheelthrowing instruction are offered, and advanced interests such as glaze technology or private classes are available.

Information regarding times and costs can be viewed on the ClayMotion website.

Childrens Birthday parties, private tuition and mothers groups also available.

New Drawings: exploring texture similar to my ceramics

So… since the finger injury in August (if you need a recap I as good as amputated it whilst preparing for an exhibition! see this post

Anyways this has been the motivation (necessity is the mother of invention) to do some smaller condiment dish style items & jewellery pieces since I can’t go on the wheel or handle large pieces of clay.

Some of these smaller items are now available in my Etsy store.

However, I have also been exploring some drawing exercises.  My intention though was to try to capture some of the texture and depth of my ceramic sculpture….

I have been living in my current house for about 12-13 years : the longest I have ever lived anywhere. The floors in the kitchen and bathroom are tiled with slate, a very textured tile, and for years I have been staring at this slate and seeing images emerge and mutate before my eyes.

For a few years I been thinking I wonder if the same images would appear on paper as those I actually see?? But I have always been too busy (kids, etc) to sit squat on the floor and give it a go.

Well my kids are teenagers/young adults now and the second one is about to spread his wings, so its now or never!!

I was further motivated by my partner giving me a pencil drawing set & visual diary for Christmas… so all the forces are converging…

So, squat I did… and rubbed those tiles for all I was worth.

The results have been interesting. Most tiles do not produce what you think you see with your eyes… but some have, such as “Pole Dancer”, below.

Also, different paper gsm and different pencils, drastically different (and often unpredictable) results… I experimented with various soft pencils, charcoals, coloured pencils, layering up the coloured pencils…Also, different paper gsm and different pencils, drastically different (and often unpredictable) results… experimented with various soft pencils, charcoals, coloured pencils, layering up the coloured pencils… some are shown below:

This technique I am using is referred to as Frottage and was developed by Max Ernst during the Surrealist period as an ’automatic’ method of artistic creation. Ernst explored the method in 1925, whilst observing wooden floorboards & the grain worn away after many years. He took to it with soft pencil, and a new artform was created : as so many were during this early surreal/expressionist period…

Well, its working for me!! Thanks Ernst

Fine Art America Prints: you can buy them now!!

I have had a few images on Fine Art America for a little while now, mainly of my ceramic environmental installations and macro shots of the textured surfaces of my ceramic sculptures.

Most recently I have added some images of “fire” captured during the saggar bonfire of jewellery beads I did just before Christmas.

These images can be purchased as canvas prints, fine art prints, acrylic prints, framed prints and greeting cards.

This may all sound a bit capitalist & selling my soul… but I’d rather work and make money as an artist than get a job in a supermarket… so advertise, advertise, advertise!!

If you’d like me NOT to get a job in a supermarket check out the Fine Art America site…

The following images illustrate  the “fire” shots most recently added

New Etsy Store: open, stocked and ready for business!!

It’s official: the long awaited Etsy store is now open, stocked and ready for business!!

I had been in two minds about going down this pathway, but the injury of my finger in August 2011 meant I couldn’t throw on the wheel (still can’t – but soon, hopefully) and couldn’t really make any big stuff… so I started making beads, and here I am!

The items in the Etsy store are all small and light weight, and will probably remain that way, due to the cost factors involved with postage.

If you don’t see exactly what you want in the store you can always contact me to have an item specially made.

The following slideshow features the items that are in stock: and there will be more to come, so watch this space

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Saggar Bonfire Firing: The Process and the Results

I haven’t posted for a little while: Christmas, New Year hecticness (if that’s a word- it is now). So, the following slideshow illustrates the process of a pyromania exercise I posted a little before Christmas:

Living on a 10 acre rural property some summer bush fire maintenance was called for, so a burn off was the order of the day: as a ceramisict this is an opportunity to go pyromaniac!! As it just happened I had some hand rolled beads in the studio… lets saggar fire them !! GREAT!! The slideshow below shows the process… descriptions of the process photos can be found on my Facebook page.

I intend to make more beads and fire them this way. They will eventually find their way to my Etsy store …

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