deborahgowerceramics

Just wanted to quickly share this site with you –
http://www.jonathons.ca/mainpage.html
Jonathon Bancroft-Snell Gallery has some beautifully inspriing Canadian ceramics. Check them out

My Mother Nature’s Secret Library art piece will be on exhibition at the Small but Passionate exhibition at the Wayward Gallery, Byron Bay.  With all the excitement in the lead up to the Byron Writers Festival this is an exhibition not to miss.

Thanks so much to Harlequin publications for the Mills and Boon book covers. Makes you want to spend a wicked night curled up with  some chocolates, a glass of wine and a good M&B bedtime story full of passion and intrigue.

The sculpture show is passionately curated by Dev Lengjel.  Artists exhibiting are Usama Al Nassar, Jim Blower, Lelli Brown, Michael Bulloch, Ray Cavill, Daniel Clemmett, Samantha Collyer, Jonathan Crowther, Karl de Waal, Debby Gower, Erica Gray, Annique Goldenberg, Mike Gregory, Noel Hart, David Hickson, Allen Horstmanshof, Ken Johnson, Christina Khumari, Jeanette Krohn, Anne Leon, Hayden Mathrick, Suvira McDonald, Monte Lupo, Susie Olsen, Potts, Mel Robin, Otto Schmidinger, Hopi Steiner, Kylie Stoddart, Lucy Valder, David Walsh, Mick Ward, Rebekah Seriah Webster, Luke Zwolsman

Enjoy.

My Camoflage piece is in this months Journal of Australian Ceramics – so exciting – happy clay days

I had the most fun the other day at a free event put on by the Gold Coast City Council – Thought I would share the results with you – Yes it was a workshop on street art but who says that street art can’t have flowers in it.

Thanks GCCC, Beastman and Shida for a great event

Debby

All of my banksias vases survived the kiln. Today I did a test with one and painted the inside of the lips 3 coats with Red Desire Underglaze, then a coat of clear glaze then a wax resist ready to do the rest of the vase in black. Will see if its works out ok.

The orchids are coming along nicely and I have a few designs for the Ellis Rowan Picture no 2 piece. Giant Waterlily, Nymphaea pubescens, with a Giant Petaltail dragonfly, Petalura ingentissima. Watercolour and gouache by Ellis Rowan, 1911.

Apart from this I have been busy with a sculpture called Mother Natures Secret Library for the Byron Bay Writers Festival. More details and a pic will follow when the exhibition opens.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful day.
Debby

 Today I sculpted 20 ceramic orchid flowers. They take forever although I am getting quicker as I get more experience with the form.  Thinking I will do one for each year of Ellis Rowans life. (1849-1922).  So by my calculations that would 73 years plus 10 percent for the usual clay and firing wastage. At least 83 to be made.

So I only have 63 to go.  Hmmmmm. 

The orchids are to be attached to wire and hung from a scaffold type construction.  The idea behind this piece is to signify the impact of construction as civilisation encroaches on the natural habitat of the orchid. 

Northern Queensland is very much different today from when Ellis Rowan was fortunate enough to be able to journey and paint some of these most beautiful of flowers.

Some interesting information from the Orchids Society Council of Victoria Inc website –http://www.oscov.asn.au/articles3/austnat.htm “Australia is relatively rich in its native orchid population with over 750 different species. Two thirds of these grow in the ground – the terrestrials, and one third on trees or rocks – the epiphytes or lithophytes. The major populations occur along the eastern seaboard in New South Wales and Queensland, in Victoria and south-eastern South Australia and in the south-western corner of Western Australia. Some species extend across northern Australia and others to the west of the Great Dividing Range but few are found where the rainfall is below 400 mm per year.

A strong Asian and New Guinean influence is found in the orchids of northern Queensland. This decreases as we move south and is totally absent in southwest Western Australia. Between southeast Australia and Tasmania there is a similarity with species found in New Zealand. Many terrestrial species and in some cases whole genera are endemic to Australia. Many terrestrials grow with a specific fungus in a shared relationship. This is referred to as symbiosis. If that particular fungus is lost, the orchid dies, which explains why so many terrestrials are difficult or impossible to maintain in cultivation……

Some species are threatened with extinction due to man’s encroachment into their natural habitats. Hopefully, adequate nature reserves will be established for their preservation. Where appropriate, the collection and cultivation of some of these unique gems may be necessary if they are to survive and be enjoyed. Selected outcrossing of choice clones is also very appropriate and superior clones are resulting from this approach. Native orchids are part of our natural heritage and together with recent advances in hybridisation for colour, shape and multiple flowering time, combined with their delicate perfumes and massed flowering displays, they provide a most desirable addition to any collection. “

Yesterday was a huge day at TAFE 8am to 6pm – playing with clay all day – happy but tired clay days

I have a few banksia vase/sculptures drying now.  Three have gone through a bisque firing already.

Two I sculptured yesterday turned out great – hope they survive the kiln. 2 more to do I think and then onto the Ellis Rowan Picture no 2 piece. Giant Waterlily, Nymphaea pubescens, with a Giant Petaltail dragonfly, Petalura ingentissima. Watercolour and gouache by Ellis Rowan, 1911.

It has been sitting with me – ideas are swirling around – hope they translate to the clay well – we will see. 

Only four months to go and pieces all need to be finished – better get my skates on

And the favourite pic is Picture No 2 – Thanks everyone so much for voting – Now it is designing time. Waterlillies and dragonflies – beautiful

Giant Waterlily, Nymphaea pubescens, with a Giant Petaltail dragonfly, Petalura ingentissima. Watercolour and gouache by Ellis Rowan, 1911.

I am also working on other pieces for my exhibition but this will be a  favourite because of all the support and helpful comments from all of you.  Thanks again and stay tuned. I will keep you updated.

Debby