Marian Williams, Author at Marian Williams Pottery

On the OSCAS Mud Trail: Part Deux!!!

As I mentioned in my previous posts, Ronnie and I went on a road trip last weekend to see the potters on the Northern NSW OSCAS Mud Trail (NATIONAL OPEN STUDIO DAY) organized by the Australian Ceramics Association.

Along the way, we also found some pottery studios that were open and visited them. They were equally impressive and we are so glad we stopped and had a look!

Here is the Mullumbimby Potters Association building.

The first one was in Mullumbimby at the Mullumbimby Potters Group.

We met the lovely potters, Ellen Flounders and Malcolm Gotje, who were manning the studio and gallery on this gorgeous Saturday.

Mullumbimby Potters Association studios-lots of wheels and work areas!

Ellen Flounders in the Mullumbimby Potters Association Gallery.

Malcolm Gotje and his wonderful platter-Love the glaze!

They have a lovely studio and a great workspace as well. They are open for new potters, so if you are in the area, call in and have a chat!!

Our second visit was down the road from Toohey’s Mill Pottery. We saw a lovely pottery sign and decided to stop in.

Brooke Clunie, potter, in her studio, Red Door Studio. — Brooke Clunie’s studio, Red Door Studio.

The lovely Brooke Clunie was so kind and friendly and gave a great tour of her studio and gallery. Great work! and a Great Space!!!

Brooke speaking with Ronnie in her gorgeous studio/gallery.

The lower floor of Brooke's studio is her work area. — The lower floor of Brooke’s studio is her work area.

Brooke's wheel and kilns are on the lower floor which can be seen from the gallery. — Brooke’s wheel and kilns are on the lower floor which can be seen from the gallery.

Brooke’s website is HERE. So click in and give her a look and then stop in – you won’t be disappointed!

You should definitely check her out if you are in the neighbourhood!

And speaking of checking other potters out, don’t forget to click on over to Mud Colony!

Keep Loving Your Life! It’s too short!

Marian

OSCAS: Open Studios of Ceramic Artists – Following The Mud Trail in Northern NSW

Creation Studio Tours

This past weekend was the innaugural OSCAS all across the vast country of Australia.

OSCAS: Open Studios Ceramics Australia Showcase , sponsored by the Australian Ceramics Association allowed anyone to visit studios of potters, see demonstrations, buy pottery, talk to the potters. It was a huge success!!!

Each area created a MUD TRAIL Map so we set off to see the potters on the trail in Northern NSW.

Saturday morning Ronnie and I got into his new truck (very swish, eh!?), loaded up with snacks, got out iphone with Google Maps and set out to follow the Mud Trail.

OSCAS-mud trail-Northern NSW-pottery-open studio day-australia- — Ronnie’s new truck!

Snacks!!! Did you know that in the USA - we call them "shoestring potatoes" - are only sold in a small little can!(at least that's the way it was when I left 10 years ago!) . — Snacks!!! Did you know that in the USA – we call them “shoestring potatoes” – are only sold in a small little can!(at least that’s the way it was when I left 10 years ago!) .

We really NEEDED our GPS to find all these studios!

Visiting the studio of another potter is always a treat. But getting to visit the studios of MANY potters on the same day is incredible!

Now, I must say here that I’ve taken heaps of pictures, but they in no way will give you the full sensual experience of actually GOING!

A glorious day for a fantastic road trip!

The smell of the bush, the taste of the scones with cream and jam, the vivid colours of the pots when seeing them in person, seeing the big goanna crawl past the “in construction” kiln at Suvira’s place, the pats on the various dogs we met, cannot be imagined or duplicated! It was just a glorious day!

So If you couldn’t make it this year, plan on it for next time!

For now though, here is a pictorial visit to the studios of the potters we visited that were involved in the OSCAS: Open Studios Ceramics Australia Showcase sponsored by the Australian Ceramics Association.

Our first stop was the studio of Catherine Lane in Ocean Shores. Her colleague, Linnelle Stepto, also exhibited her work at Catherine’s home. Catherine’s pottery is amazing! Linelle’s work, as can be seen in the photos, are flower wall hangings made from non-indigenous animal hides. In the case here, cane toad hides and ferrel cat skins-very interesting and cool!

Here is a pictorial review of the visit: (Click on the small pics to get a slide show view).

Pottery display in Catherine Lane’s home.

A view into Catherine Lane’s home from the garden near her studio.

Catherine Lane’s studio, which is positioned to the side of her home in the garden.

Catherine Lane’s lovely studio!

Linelle Stepto’s Flower Wall Hangings from hides of non-indigenous creatures in Australia.

Wall hanging flower created by Linelle Stepto from the hides of the non-indigenous cane toad.

These are banksia wall hangings made by Linelle Stepto from ferrel cat fur.

Our next stop was the studio of Pinky and Maurice (aka Claire Atkins). Wow! What a great spot!

Sheet signage as we walked up to the house/studio.

Her studio was gleaming and so was her work! She had an area set up for visitors to paint a bowl. The 100 Bowl exhibit will be in Mullimbimby.

Claire Atkins and her work!

Lovely exhibit of Claire’s work.

Molds, shelving, equipment-no tidy!!

View of the studio from the garden looking in.

Bowls, bowls, bowls-to be painted by visitors!

Lovely painting area in her garden.

Visitors busy decorating bowls.

Linda Cunningam, photographer, was giving a demonstration on shooting your work using the cube!

Linda’s photo cube ready for the demonstration.

Inside the studio, Tali’s work.

Tali speaking with a visitor.

Cutie pup!

Also at her studio we got to meet Lisa Gair, Tali Cohen-Flantz and Lisa’s sister, Linda Cunningham and see their gorgeous work!

The highlight here was the “kiln temple” in Claire’s backyard (garden) -truly a site to behold!!

Another view of the "kiln temple" — Another view of the “kiln temple”

From there we went to Suvira McDonald’s. This is where the GPS on my phone became essential!!! Tucked back in the bush, we found Suvira’s studio! Loaded with amazing, amazing pottery!

Mud Trail signage.

Fantastic treehouse!

We knew we were close when we started seeing pots!

Yard art.

Welcoming boats!

Love these!

Suvira McDonald in his studio.

Survira McDonald speaking with Fiona Fell, head of Ceramics at Southern Cross University.

Suvira with a big smile!!!

Gorgeous!

Suvira’s Work.

Love this big platter!

More of Suvira’s work.

These glazes are so decadent!

Loved seeing and hearing about everyone’s kilns and firings!

Suvira showed me his PayMate! Too cool! EFTPOS on your phone!

Enjoyed meeing Fiona Fell-head of ceramics at Southern Cross University.

More of Suvira’s work.

Lastly on the Mud Trail, we visited the studio of Karen Jennings’, Toohey’s Mill Pottery. Now I thought getting to Suvira’s was a challenge, but I truly don’t think I would have found Karen’s place without my GPS on my phone!!

Lost??!!! Nay...we had our GPS! — Lost??!!! Nay…we had our GPS

Karen Jennings’ studio is amazing as well and her work is absolutely brilliant!!!! So glad we found it!

Karen Jennings and her gorgeous work! Stunners all!

Toohey’s Mill Pottery Grounds. Gorgeous!

Karen Jennings and her gorgeous work! Stunners all!

Brochures and sign in book.

Just in the nick of time! Food! Fantastic scones with cream and jam!

Karen demonstrating on the wheel.

Visitors got to give the wheel a go.

Karen with a visitor.

Giant slab roller.

Karen’s work!

Little bags of clay tools and goodies were available for sale.

He was so lovely! Tummy rub!!

Two studios that we visited that were not officially on the trail were also great fun and we saw some excellent pottery!! Stay tuned for my next post about them!!

All in all, the day was even better than I had dreamed! I hope TACA does it again next year! If so, give us one more day and have lots more potters involved!!! Brilliant!!!

To see what others did last week, check out Mud Colony!

Party on, Garth!

Marian

Fusion Art Exhibit-Pottery!!!

Creation Top Slid Uncategorized

Last Thursday evening, Ronda Luland, Shirley Featherston, Ann Lee and myself went to Brisbane to attend the opening of the Fusions Gallery Exhibition.

Emma Lee and Ann Lee-great mother-daughter combo! — Emma Lee and Ann Lee-a great mother-daughter team!

Claire Byrne and Ann Lee, Potters/Sculptures

It was awesome and we saw some incredible pottery!

Ann Lee’s daughter, Emma Lee, is the current President of Fusions, so the event was especially important as we knew three of the exhibitors!

Well done to all!

Potter on!

Marian

Bukran Edit-Hungarian Potter

Amazing Potters

In a recent cleanup, I ran across the postcard and business card of Bukran Edit, a potter from Hungary. I visited Hungary a looooonnnnggg time ago (2002) and was fortunate that the Christmas market, which was so cool, was being held in Budapest. I was interested to see if this potter was still working.

Thanks to good old Google, I found her!! I loved her work back when, but was absolutely gobsmacked by the work she is still doing!

Amazing, amazing, amazing! Very intricate work!

Check out her full website HERE – the website is in Hungarian and there is no English translation, but the photos will suffice!!! Enjoy and…

Next time you are in Hungary, look her up!

Szia (see-ah) – In Hungarian that means Hello-Goodbye!! – a little like “ciao”.

Marian

Are You Too Obsessed With Pottery?

Musings Top Slid

My anniversary was last week. I found myself annoyed that my husband wanted to “do” something on our anniversary – like go to lunch and hangout – all DAY!! on a WEEK DAY!!! I could be throwing pots, loading the kiln….doing something fun that I wanted to do!!!

My husband pointed out to me that I’m OBSESSED with pottery…that I when I’m not actually “doing” pottery, I’m looking at the web at pictures of pottery, reading blogs, researching glaze recipes, etc. Or reading books about pottery. Or wanting to go to a gallery opening. Or going to buy clay and supplies…Then I realized – (and I really, really HATE to say this!) but he is RIGHT!!!

SO I’ve decided to make a big attempt to improve on my dispersal of my time and energies. This has been going on for about a week and I’m actually surprised how relieved I feel. My compulsion to do pottery has been overwhelming (and I must admit that I’m writing this while watching TV on a quiet Sunday evening – seriously, I’m taking time off!).

It’s become sooo bad that there are times that I don’t do my hair for days, wear the same clothes 3 days in a row (they are just going to get dirty again!), and avoid housework for weeks at a time!! And let’s not even talk about my weight gain and lack of concern about that area of my appearance!!

Tracey Broome writes a blog which I follow and she recently has come to some of the same conclusions. I guess the stars are aligned right that we are feeling the same on this matter. Here’s what Tracey had to say about this in a recent blog post titled “Enough is enough” – it’s awesome by the way!

Enough is enough

“For the past ten years I have been completely obsessed with clay. Learning how to throw on the wheel, how to hand build, to mix glazes, sell my work, get in galleries, get in good shows. I even took a workshop on kiln building. I know a lot, I’ll never know enough, and definitely will never ever know all there is to know about clay. But all this learning and obsession has pushed many things aside, including my appearance. Dirty clothes all the time, hair that barely gets brushed, dirty fingernails,worn out shoes. Charming right? I have had no interest in fashion or shopping and my eating habits sort of took the same path. I was shoving in whatever I could grab at the drive through on my way to the studio, or not eating lunch because I was involved with my clay. Well, I’m just about tired of this lifestyle and ready for a change. The hair brushing is still an issue, but I have been putting on some cute clothes and wearing better shoes. I just braid my tangled hair and no one knows the difference! If you look back at the photos of me at the beginning of this blog, you can see how the pounds have piled on and really in a very short time. I was around 135 when I started this blog!” Tracey Broome’s Blog post

I can so relate to everything she said!!

I’ve made a decision to change. Here’s what I’m doing: (I know, HORRORS!)

Actually taking a shower each morning.
Wearing makeup when I go out.
Wearing jewellery! (I love my jewellery! but I NEVER wear it anymore!)
Wearing clean clothes in public.
Wearing nice shoes in public.
Eating better-going to lose weight!!! No bread, no chocolate, no cokes!
Taking time to do other things in my life, like writing, teaching, consulting.
And spending quality time with my family!!!

I feel like this is true confession. But sometimes it’s cathartic to put things in writing.

I hope that this isn’t a “forgotten” promise to myself. It can only make things better!

And like any “love affair”, there are those seminal moments that create changes. Here’s to change!

Luv,

Marian

Pit Firing: Step-by-step Instructions

Firing How To's Tutorials

Here are the step-by-step instructions on doing a pit firing! It was great fun! Fast, easy, and interesting results!

I know that this is a far step from the high fire glazes that I’m striving for and it does take me in another direction, but…it’s available! So I take advantage of these opportunities to learn!

Here are the pics and steps at the Murwillumbah Potters Group.

Ann Lee is the leader and guru of all things pottery!

Click on each small pic and it will go to a slide show and a larger version of all the pics!

Ann Lee getting ready to take pots from the studio to the firing area.

Shirley Featherstone examining the state of the kiln prior to loading it. The remains of the past firing had to be shovelled out.

Sheets of old corrugated tin were laid over the bricks on the bottom of the pit fire kiln.

The edges of the pit were lined with hard wood pieces.

Ronda Luland loading her pots into the pit.

Claire Byrne and Ann Lee preparing a piece by wrapping in foil and adding combustibles such as copper wire, seaweed, and copper carbonate.

Pots are placed in the sawdust. Next to the sawdust with no protection, pot will be black.

Copper Carbonate is sprinkled around each pot and throughout the kiln. The copper gives the reddish colour on the pots.

Here is the loaded pit prior to adding pine cones.

Murwillumbah Potters – (L-R) Ronda Luland, Lorraine Emmanuel, Claire Byrne, Shirley Featherstone.

Ronda Luland pouring pine cones into the pit.

Pine cones are the next level.

Claire Byrne carrying more pine cones!

Ann Lee making sure all pine cones are in place.

Pieces of wood are then added ontop of the pine cones.

A “hole” has been left at one end of the pit and is filled with shredded paper-highly combustible.

Ready to light the pit fire!!! (L-R) Shirley Featherstone, Ronda Luland, Claire Byren, Lorraine Emmanuel, Ann Lee.

It is lit!

It’s alight!

Burn, baby, burn!

Ann Lee showing how much air the fire needs.

The tin is vented with bricks to allow the flame to catch hold.

Lowering the tin a bit.

Leaving just a small edge up to allow air flow.

As I drove away, you could really see the smoke!!

Opening the pit by moving the pieces of tin.

The result!

Lovely result!

Ronda Luland’s lovely little carved pot.

Ronda Luland and her pot! Happy!

My pot with copper on the rim! Nice!

Cool oil spots on some pots!

Got lots of black and good variance of colour.

Oil spot on this side of my jar.

More pots out of the pit fire.

…and more…

…and more!

Chill and be chilled,

Luv,

Marian

Creating Pottery Tools From Recycled Items!

Studio and Equipment Tools and Equipment Tutorials

As most potters know, you don’t throw anything away as you might could use it for something!!! in the pottery studio!!!

Here are a couple of ideas for creating homemade pottery tools from recycled items in your home.

First: I use used water bottles with a drinking lid for storing and dispensing slip and paper clay made from the clay slop of the clay that I am currently using. It’s a bit of a no-brainer, but works well for me! and I had forgotten about it until I visited my studio in Texas a few months back and there it was! So useful!

Use a drinking bottle to store slip and paper clay. Brilliant!

Second: I make scoops for my glaze chemicals from any type of plastic bottle that has a handle. The ones that are made from a plastic that is a bit heavier work best. Milk cartons are pretty flimsy. The ones from detergent, etc work best. I’ve shown what they look like in the pics below:

Recycled Plastic Bottles With Handles Make Great Scoops!

Homemade Pottery Scoop in Glaze Chemical Bin.

Bet you have figured out something even cooler!

If so, let me know and I’ll put it in my next “pottery tools” blog post!

Cheap as!

Marian

Raku! Using My IKEA Trash Bin Wood-burning Raku Kiln With Propane

Firing Raku

The raku kiln that I built in the Stefan Jakobs Raku Kiln Workshop (Click here to read about that!) has been wonderful! I’ve really enjoyed “trying” raku and learning! But…IT IS SO MUCH WORK! You seriously cannot leave it for a minute! It requires lots of stoking and lots of little twigs of wood! It is fast though!

Samantha Scout insisted on "helping" with the stoking! — Samantha Scout insisted on “helping” with the stoking!

So I decided to try using propane to fire it up! And it worked a treat! The trick is in patience! Wait til you get that glassy glow!

Here are some photos of the results!

Refire of a high fire pot with copper lustre.

Lorraine Emmanuel's bunny! — Lorraine Emmanuel’s bunny!

Crusty Lusty on three--footed tray. — Crusty Lusty on three–footed tray.

Crusty Lusty and Copper Lustre on a leaf.

Can’t wait to try more!

U 2 Raku!

Luv,

Marian

Latest Glaze Firing Results: I’m Depressed!

Firing Gas - Reduction Glazes Results

I was so pumped about this latest gas firing of my kiln! I had new burners and I thought that this would solve all my problems! As of late, I’ve been experiencing 14 hour firings and in some cases, I haven’t reached temperature! So…new burners! Problem solved! NOT!!!

I know that I’m being overly critical of the results, but after all this time, I would have hoped to have consistently good results. So I’ve had to take a good look at what is happening and make some adjustments.

Firstly, I’m still TESTING!!! That is ok and a necessary evil, but not on every piece that I put into the kiln! and the overlapping and combining of glazes that I have no idea how they are going to respond! I have so much glaze on my kiln shelves it is pathetic!

As a result, I did a huge culling of the 36 plus pails of glaze that haunt me. They call to me, USE ME! and I do and I’m always sorry. So they have gone in the tip. I can always make more glaze.

Resolutions for glazing:

1. Only one glaze on the back side of a piece.

2. Only use known glazes on the outside of pieces.

3. Keep overlays to a minimum.

4. Be consistent in my making and glazing until I have good results, then move on.

Sounds so basic and easy when I write it down, but, believe me, I have created monsters out of my clay work!!!

Here are some photos of the results! Be sure to click on the small pic to enlarge it!

This tumbler turned out great!

This plate had potential…until it cracked! Guess I unloaded too soon!

I love this look, but it ran badly!

This tenmoku-over sprayed with tea dust turned out really nice.

This bowl is “eh”-and it ran on the back side!

This tenmoku sake set turned out great! but I put a blue edge on the rims–gone???

This is nice- black with waxed design and sprayed glazes. It is much larger than it looks-but a foot is coming off. Damn!

Ground this little pitcher’s foot-ridiculous amount of glaze on the shelf!

Here is the bottom of that little jug.

So UGLY! How could I possibly have glazed it worse?

This platter is ok on construction but,….I used Iron and a clear glaze….HELP!

Another sad tale…iron oxide and a sprayed glaze that is non-existent! UGLY!

This sugar and creamer set looks ok after alot of grinding!

All that said, I made a new piece today…NEVER say DIE!!! I will conquer the GLAZE MONSTER!!

In conclusion, I made a new tray...don't give up! — In conclusion, I made a new tray…don’t give up!

Peace out!

Marian

I Can Do It!! A Large Handbuilt Bowl!!

Creation Handbuilding

After taking Helen Charles Workshop last month (Click here to see that post), I decided it was time to try my hand at making one without her supervision!

I was so impressed with the large bowl that a complete pottery virgin made that I decided to see if I could make one too.