deborahgowerceramics

Well Christmas is upon us and it is time to wish everyone a Very Merry Christmas.  Hope it is a healthy and happy one for each and every one of you.

It has been a very full year with highlights being trips to Jindgezhen, China – World capital of Fine Porcelain and a trip to UK for British Ceramics Biennial.

I have met some wonderful new friends and said goodbye to old friends (until we meet again on the other side).

Sharing the love of art and ceramics by volunteering at the Tweed Regional Gallery and the Lone Goat Gallery, Byron Bay has also made for a full and rewarding year.

Thank you for your kindness over the last year and I hope that the New Year brings creativity and peace to you all.

Happy Clay Days

Debby x

Northern Rivers Master Potter,  Bob Connery passed away yesterday surrounded by his loving family.

I can hear him now asking the angels exactly how they got their wings to glisten like that and wondering if there was a way he could replicate that glow in a glaze.

Occasionally in life, someone crosses your path and you know you will always be a better person because of having met them.  I was privileged and honoured to volunteer and work with Bob at Stokers Siding Pottery.  Bob was patient, a natural teacher and he had an innate curiosity about everything. He taught me so much.

My days at Stokers were filled with learning and laughter both with Bob and his wife Julie and when his family and friends visited. My heart goes out to his family and especially dearest Julie. In our ceramic world and our local world he will be missed. His family and his pottery remains his legacy to us.

My first piece of Bob Connery Reduced Lustre.

Rest in Peace Bob. We will miss you.

Always your student

Debby x

There are a lot of clay organisations, associations, groups, blogs, web and fb pages to mention but a few of the sources that I go to for inspiration, knowledge and good clay company.  But a couple of years ago (I don’t remember how) but I found Mud colony initiated and administered by the amazing Adriana Christianson.  Since then I have posted links to my blog from that page but most importantly I have found some amazing fellow Mud Colonists. Most I follow on the web through Mud Colony blog and FB and it never ceases to amaze me the diversity and the talent that exists in the clay world.

And today I spent the most amazing morning  with my Mud Colony Clay Sister Marian Haile Williams starting with a Mango whip at Sugar Beat in Murwillumbah and then off to the Tweed Regional Gallery  Before we had a visual feast with the exhibition 40 Years Jam Factory.  We caught up with Claire Atkins aka Pinky & Maurice Contemporary Ceramics where I managed to surf the Market crowds to purchase this new addition to my Christmas Ornament Collection.

This is your last chance to see an amazing group of potters all linked to one Mud colony post – Don’t miss seeing what each and every potter is up to as we say goodbye to mud colony but not farewell to each other. While Mud Colony blog will have its last posting this week the fun, friendship and getting down and dirty with Mud Colony may end on the blog post but it will continue.  Whether it be on the net, in person or in spirit – We remain an exciting fb group sharing our successes our learning experiences and the ups and downs of what it means to truly Play with Clay.

Happy clay days everyone

Debby x

Its getting hot in Northern Rivers now.  My kiln has been working over time and Kate from Wellington Pottery Supplies in New Zealand  gave me a really good tip to use tulle when fettling delicate clay items.  Its been working a treat and I haven’t had many breakages with flowers or musical notes since I have ben using it.  Thanks Kate.

If you are on the Gold Coast check out the Gold Coast Potters Christmas Market at Benowa and in Brisbane our own Pinky and Maurice from Ocean Shores will be at the GOMA Christmas markets.

Last 2 weeks to check out what everyone is up to at Mud Colony so make sure you check out the website.  Adriana Christianson has worked tirelessly to keep Mud Colony as a resource for clay lovers everywhere to check in on the fab work that is being done in Ceramic studios all over the work. Thanks Adriana.

Happy clay days everyone

Debby x

I have been busy making poppies this week for some artworks based on a relative Ernest Ainscow who died in WW1.  The article I wrote Discovering Ernest  was published in the Zine version of Inside History on 4 November (pg 48).  Inside History is a great magazine focussing on the historical aspects of Australia and New Zealand and well worth subscribing to if you are into history.

November 11 of course is remembrance day so if a poppy pops up near you please support your local RSL and buy a symbol of peace and remembrance for those who lost their lives (like Ernest).  Ernest was only 19 when he died and is buried in France but next year all being well I will be paying tribute to his sacrifice in an exhibition in Cairns.  Will let you know when I have a date.

There are so many ways to make red poppies including using a red underglaze which gives the most consistent red colour.  I used Prism red which gave the deeper red colourer.  I also experimented with a red stain added to a clear glaze that I knew was stable.  Four different kinds of red stain but I think Fire Engine Red turned out the nicer colour.  Then I underglazed with prism red and overlaid with the Fire Engine Red Glaze – Interesting results giving deep colouring.  I am still experimenting.

I laugh when I think back to when I first started in ceramics and I would have thought – make a red poppy – one way to do it. Wrongggggggg A hundred ways to get a red poppy in different forms, colours and techniques. Soldiering on 🙂

As do so many of my ceramic colleagues – Why not check out what they are up to at Mud Colony this week.

Happy clay days everyone – Lest We forget

 Whether its transfers, sculptures or simply ceramics, each of the exhibits brought a little bit of the old Spode factory back to life.  It’s quite an emotional journey seeing the factory rooms – sometimes just as people left it when they were told the factory was closing.  But through the interpretations of some of the most amazing ceramic artists,  the British Ceramics Biennial has given us the opportunity to relive a piece of the past, absorb ourselves in the present state of the ceramics industry and inspire us to create our own  ceramic futures. Check out the exhibitions in person at Stoke On Trent – Old Spode Factory until Nov 10 or http://www.britishceramicsbiennial.com/

and you can also check out what other ceramic artists are up to at Mud Colony http://mudcolony.blogspot.com.au/

Happy Clay days

Debby

My very own Stokie Bloke http://www.moorlandpottery.co.uk/stokie-bloke-figure-p-287.html guards over my kiln in Mullumbimby.

Visiting Stoke on Trent I was lucky enough to do tours of the Wedgewood Factory, Moorcroft Factor, Emma Bridgewater Ceramics as well as the Potteries Museum and Gallery and the highlight was Spode Factory and the British Ceramic Biennial.  It was interesting to see the difference between how each factory created and decorated their pieces. While throwing, slip casting, mould making are staples the decorations differ from “Paste on paste” at Wedgewood to  slip tube lining at Moorcroft and transfers and stamps at Emma Bridgewater.  The constant I found was the passion, sense of pride and dedication that each of the workers had at every factory.  If you get chance go.

Wedgewood  

As for me I am back with my new kiln god – My very own Stokie Bloke who blesses my kiln and reminds of the passion that ceramic workers all over the world have in our wonderful profession.

happy clay days

Debby

Hi I’m back.  We have just had the most amazing holiday overseas where I discovered links with the past, enjoyed the present and was inspired for ideas for future ceramic posts.  I will put up some pics during the next few days to give you a taste of what I experienced.

Turkey ceramics were detailed with intricate patterns that all had historical meaning.  It was interesting to see the Iznik tiles and how some patterns were repeated on new works to give a new twist to old traditions

.

And the visit to Anzac Cove and Lone Pine Memorial gave me inspirations for my upcoming works on “Discovering Ernest” a relative who died in World War One.

Inspiration is everywhere if we only take the time to open our eyes and of course to remember.

Lest We Forget

Debby xxx