News
Freedom, Simplicity, Function.For many years, my energies have been focused mainly on the production of porcelain tableware. This focus on production has provided me with a level of skill and discipline which is bringing more simplicity and freedom to my work.
Most of my work has a functional basis. As well as being visual pleasing (quiet, meditative and subtle) I endeavour to produce pieces which people get great pleasure from using on a daily basis.
I am enjoying the development of new work: continuing to explore the subtleties of working in porcelain, using chun and celadon glazes and rediscovering the excitement of firing with wood.
New tableware, 2008.
Over the last six months I have produced several new tableware designs. Some have developed from my one-off pieces, both the shape and the glaze/decoration. Some have also provided the inspiration for some larger one-off pieces.
I have particularly enjoyed the evolution of my new round dinner plates…….the shape the fluting produces, contrasting with the simplicity of the round plates…….the freedom of the hakeme and applied glaze decorations.
New Work, 2008.
Over the last year I have continued working on my ‘rocks’. So far I have fired some in saggars and I am now exploring some slips and ash glazes and beginning to make some much larger ones.
I am also continuing to develop my ‘poles’.
Anagama firing, Sturt Workshops, October 2007.
In October 2007 Bruce McWhinney and I fired the anagama kiln at the Sturt Workshops, Mittagong with the help of our friends Tanya, Trisha, Walter, Emi, Hidemi and Joey.
Bruce and I had learnt so much from our previous anagama firing so that the loading went much quicker although not without a few hiccups……..there was still a lot of procrastinating about choosing our best pieces for what was turning out to be very ‘limited space’!
This time we had a five day break before lighting the kiln so we were not completely exhausted as we began the firing. As the previous firing was a great learning experience, we made some adjustments to the fire box and our firing schedule, firing for only five days this time.
We had purposefully used a variety of clay bodies as well as several slips……many pieces were ‘tests’. As usual the results were somewhat different to what we were expecting and in some cases took a little while to get use to.……..both Bruce and I got a number of very special pieces. There are some images below and more in the Woodfired section of the Gallery.
Naborigama firing, Sturt Workshops, August 2007.
In August 2007 Bruce McWhinney and I fired the Naborigama at the Sturt Workshops, and with the help of our friends, Tanya and Trish. In the first chamber was mainly large blossom vases glazed with chun and celadon glazes. The work in the second chamber, which was salted, consisted mainly of Bruce's pod forms and some of my textured vases.
The firing took 40 hours. We were very pleased with the results from both chambers, which included some very special pieces most of which will be included in my up coming exhibition at the Freeland Gallery.
I have photographed my work from this firing and the images are now posted on the website in the Wood fired section of the Gallery.
