Marian Williams, Author at Marian Williams Pottery

I’m A Changed Woman. OR Sculpture?! Who Me? The Functional Potter?!

I decided to go to San Miguel de Allende to take a Figurative SculptureWorkshop presented by TRAVELarte and held at the Barro.Co Clay Studio. See previous post HERE on my initial rationale for going.

It was pretty much “a lark” in the beginning. I’ve always wanted to go to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of San Miguel de Allende – an amazing town 3 1/2 hours out of Mexico City- BTW Mexico City has a population of 28 million! It’s huge! Australia has a TOTAL population of about 22-23 million!

Secondly, it was my birthday (a big one) and Ronnie said he’d go with me!

Then my daughter, Liz, and her girlfriend, Hannah, decided they could meet us there over Easter break!! I don’t usually get to see my daughter but once- sometimes twice a year- so this was tremendous!

The big bonus was being in San Miguel de Allende over Easter– it’s a huge celebration and crazy and beautiful and fun- not to be missed! You should definitely go someday!

There was an amazing lineup of sculptors to lead the workshop – Lisa Clague, Cristina Cordova Soto, and Kelly Rathbone Rebo – all amazing!

Although I am a functional potter, I felt that I could learn things that would take my functional pottery to a new level.

Not that I had never tried to sculpt- I made a totem that was a life size she-image of me! Blog Post On That Here. Very much a caricature, but it taught me about all the things I didn’t know!

Here's a closeup of the tongues and the words! — Here’s a closeup of the tongues and the words!

I’ve NEVER had a sculpture class so the other attendees were probably wondering what the heck I was doing there, as many of them are quite talented and schooled in the art of sculpture. But I paid my fees and learned heaps! I didn’t make anything that I would keep as the shipping fees from Mexico to Australia would be cost prohibitive, but I did have a “go” at a head and know where I’m going with that and hope to be able to show that to you before too long.

BUT HERE’S THE REAL STORY!

What I didn’t count on was that I was transformed – changed – in my thinking. When we were in the plane back to Australia, I was watching an episode of Game of Thrones – season 4 last 2 episodes to get ready for season 5!!

Scene from Game of Thrones, Season 4, Episode 9.

– and I noticed in the first scene a head- it looked sculpted and I noticed everything- the eyes, the nose, the ears -and I just started weeping!

I realized at that moment that I had been changed – I would never be able to think about clay in the same way.

It was like a religious experience where you feel overwhelmed and moved, because you understand – you believe! And this was how I felt. All my years in clay felt so insignificant – like I was only beginning – my thoughts, views, the context and my understanding of clay and my work had been changed forever!

Watching the instructors and all the workshop participants creating their sculptures of clay and learning so much, I have begun to know where I want to go with my clay work- part functional – part sculptural- but I do know that it will be emotive, sensual, evocative and charismatic.

I have the knowledge and the skills, now to do the work.

Thanks to all the instructors, Adria and Alberto of Barro.Co Clay Studio, and all the fabulous class participants that I feel privileged to have met.

A more Pictorial post will follow.

Luv and good vibes to you all.

Marian

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instagram, marianwilliamspottery, wooden handle on ceramic spoon, recycled clay

My Favorite Instagram Pics Of The Week

Be Inspired Creation Inspiration Instagram

There are the greatest pics on Instagram! Here’s my favorites of the week.

My Instagram feed is at marianwilliamspottery

Cheers!

Marian

Basketweave Pattern Platter by Candone Wharton

Candone Wharton: Queen of Raku!

Amazing Potters Firing Inspiration Raku Workshops

Several weeks ago, I was privileged to attend a workshop held by the Ceramic Arts Queensland featuring Candone Wharton.

Raku, Candone Wharton, — Brisbane Institute of Art

I arrived at Brisbane Arts Institute to join a group of artists from all over the country – Brisbane, Noosa, Darwin, Maleny, Gold Coast and others.

Candone is an American raku artist and had just been in Ubud, Bali, doing workshops there.

Candone states on her website: “My education is American, the firing technique is Japanese, the glaze influences are from Morocco, and the forms are inspired by ancient architecture and vessels.”

Her unique way of building vessels, especially the basketweave pattern, and her lovely glazes have made her quite famous as a ceramic artist.

Her generosity in sharing her techiques was amazing and we learned so much.

As part of the workshop, we all got to handbuild pots, which were then bisqued and then we raku’d them on the second day of the workshop – quite a treat!!!

Here’s my raku’d piece:

Here are some of Candone Wharton’s work – I have alot to aspire to!

Raku Vessell by Candone Wharton — Raku Vessel by Candone Wharton Source

Johanna DeMaine: Lustre Workshop

Amazing Potters Glazes Inspiration Luster/Lustres Workshops

I recently noticed a gorgeous turquoise butterfly. Her wings were iridescent and it make me wish that I could create that look on my pottery!

And then I saw the work of Johanna DeMaine!!!

Lustre, Lusters, Johanna DeMaine, — Lustre Vessel by Johanna DeMaine

I’m obsessed with all that glitters and shines! I love raku! and now I LOVE Lustre!!!

So I signed up for Johanna DeMaine’s two-day workshop on Lustres – Just Another Layer.

I headed up to Landsborough, Queensland for the workshop – decided to take a couple of side trips on the way!

Johanna is an amazing instructor, artist, and host! She prepared a fab lunch each day and accommodated our every need!

To see more of Johanna’s work, check out her website!

I highly recommend attending her workshop if you are interested in onglaze, lustre, decals, etc!

Lustre, baby, lustre!

Marian

On My Way To San Miguel de Allende

Inspiration Musings Workshops

Another workshop?, you say.

Well, yes, and it’s in Mexico. San Miguel de Allende – a place I’ve always dreamed of visiting. Ronnie said he’d go with me! So here we are in a plane for a 30 hour trip from Australia!! I can’t wait!

I recently read THE FOUR HOUR WORK WEEK by Timothy Ferriss – sexy title- but that’s really not all it’s about. One of his tenets is that we shouldn’t wait for retirement for retirement- that those “breaks” should happen all along the way- not just at the end of our careers. But one of the questions that arises if you do this, is “Why am I here?” “What’s my purpose in life?”

Shouldn’t I be doing something ‘important’ with my life?

Ferriss says, that he believes that we are here to be loved, to love others and to never stop learning – that’s why we are here! And when you think of it like that it takes all the pressure off and life can be so much more enjoyable.

So, yes, I’m taking another workshop! Learning heaps! And loving others – so I’m good!

Just think of the possibilities!

Marian

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Gumnuts & Australian Pottery

Creation

As a Texan/Australian (yes, I have dual citizenship!), I decided to incorporate some Australiana into my pottery.

I decided to make a bowl with gumnuts on the edge as a textural element. Gumnuts are “The hard woody fruit of trees of the genus Eucalyptus.” Source

When I googled gumnuts to find out about them, I discovered that there was a book, entitled Gumnuts & Glazes: The Story of Premier Pottery Preston, 1929-1956.

The book synopsis reads thus:

“Gumnuts, eucalyptus leaves and koala motifs combined with dazzling glazes have made Remued pottery, created at Premier Pottery Preston, a collector’s delight. This publication is the first to comprehensively catalogue the contribution of Premier Pottery to Australian ceramics.

“Premier Pottery Preston was set up by two potters, David Dee and Reg Hawkins, in 1929 during the Great Depression. It began production in 1930, located in the northern Melbourne suburb of Preston at 52 Oakover Road. Most Australian art pottery at the time was produced as a sideline by firms whose main business was making tiles, pipes, insulators and the like – albeit an important sideline in terms of surviving the hard times of the Depression. Premier Pottery Preston was a small undertaking, unusual in that it produced only art pottery, all of it hand-thrown. David Dee threw the pots, Reg Hawkins painted them, and David’s son Walter Dee did the glazing and firing.” Source

Ceramics expert, Greg Hill, discusses the design, manufacturing and marking system of the pottery and, for the first time, the sequence and meaning of the markings on the base of the pots is explained. In addition, cultural historian, Noris Ioannou, in his essay, Depression to Celebration, places the achievements of the individuals and the pottery in a social and cultural context.”

So, there you have it! My little project led me to a wonderful look into a bit of Australian Ceramic history!

And here’s my bowl!

My stab at Australiana pottery!

Peace out, my pottery buddies!

Marian

Copper Reds – Woodfired – Seungae Ahn

Amazing Potters Copper Reds Glazes Inspiration

I’ve done Copper Reds. I’ve done Woodfiring. I have NEVER seen this!!! Woodfired Copper Reds! Just incredible!

Lana Wilson: Make My Heart Sing!

Amazing Potters Creation Inspiration Musings

I just reread my post, MirrorTime and Advice to Myself, which deal with deciding on my direction.

Noodle Bowls with Applique — Noodles Bowls with Applique.

Lana Wilson

The link to her article doesn’t seem to be working- click the above link to watch a video by Lana Wilson.
So here I am at the same crux in the road. What do I want to do with my pottery? I’ve got the glazing down pretty well, but a bowl is a bowl is a bowl! I need it to make a statement – ’cause I’m for sure not going to be a production potter!

I think that as we progress, grow, learn, create and then evaluate, our goals and expectations for ourselves change. When our expectations change, then the resultant product changes. But I NEED that change to be something that will be positive and emphatic, not just a small decision.

Therefore, I’m reading Lana Wilson’s article AGAIN! AND I’m going to put my head to thinking on what I want next. I need to get back to doing something that makes my heart sing!

aussie flies, kate middleton, pottery, musing

There’s A FLY In My Car-Driving Me Crazy

Musings Top Slid

Even Kate Middleton Has Trouble With Aussie Flies!

Flies here in Australia are the most annoying insect on the planet! They literally try to get into your nose or your mouth! The Aussie Salute refers to the action of “waving one’s hand in front of the face at regular intervals in order to prevent bush flies from landing on it, or entering one’s nose or mouth.”

As I drove down the road recently, a fly – one fly – kept incessantly bugging me! Trying to get into my nose (which I absolutely hate! Ask anyone in my family- I’ll kill you if you touch my nose!), my mouth and just buzzing me!

It reminded me of the story they told (truth or fiction) about Lindberg’s crossing of the Atlantic – that a fly was in the airplane cabin with him and flew around buzzing him and keeping him from falling asleep on his historic flight.

lindbergh, spirit of saint louis, pottery — Lindbergh and The Spirit of Saint Louis

Without this little annoying fly, Lindbergh could have fallen into the ocean and never made it across the Atlantic.

Which brings me to my point. Sometimes, those really annoying, frustrating things in your life are the very things that keep you from falling asleep – from going brain dead – from not noticing.

So I say, be thankful for all those little annoying things in life. Yes, they can be extremely frustrating! but they can also keep you from falling asleep and missing the party!

I think I’m speaking directly about all the frustrations surrounding my work as a potter – and there are plenty! I need to be thankful for them, for without them, I might be lulled into complacency – not noticing – what’s going on around me.

For instance, glazing! I can make a great form and then f*** it up with a bad glaze job!

Or I’m careless trimming a pot and punch right through the bottom!

But each issue, creates an awareness in me that wouldn’t have been there had it not been for that problem.

Be thankful for it all- the good and the bad!

Marian