iddy biddy pourer

The smallest stoneware pourer was thrown into the firing before Xmas. I made it way too quickly, and it is, well, rather tiny. But it was a good exercise about what not to do and I'm sure it will find a progressive reincarnation in the not too distant future. Meanwhile, I think it will be perfect for soy sauce.

stoneware dish

stoneware dish with underglaze and glaze

When I picked up my first hand built dish from firing, I was so disappointed. It was made especially as a Xmas pressie, and my initial response was... there is no way I can gift this. I was relatively happy with the shape, but I felt really let down by my decoration. (I thought decoration would be a cinch, but I'm actually finding it a real challenge). So we started using it at home for dinner (salads, beans, baked vegies), and surprisingly, we fell in love with it. So, reluctantly, as initially intended, it was wrapped and popped under the tree.

But I've had to make a promise that I will make a replacement for our own use asap!

headspace 223

glazed stoneware

When you're learning something new in a very concentrated period of time, like making slab vases/cups, 'decorating' can become somewhat intimidating, esp when it's the thing you were most excited about. I'm not particularly au fait using a brush, so I inked out some quick ideas... but alas, in the final moments before marking the clay, I changed my mind. I wasn't very happy with the clumsily executed result, but it received great feedback which has made me like it more.

headspace 222

glazed stoneware

There's no surprise that the daily headspace project kinda came to a grinding halt quite some time ago! I'm still pretty chuffed I kept it up for so long, especially since I'm not a natural creature of habit. The festival was also an incredibly demanding one this year, so maintaining momentum was a major coup. It's been a great project where I have unabashedly explored a whole host of styles and mediums, and I still intend to keep adding to it every now and again... like now. 

It's been an odd second half of the year. With lots of spare time alone, creative production has been essentially non existent. Every few years I find myself going through an extended period of 'hybernation'. A very personal admission, but one I think many creatives may understand from their own experience, and so, worthy of attention. When life seems to evoke a degree of change, time out is somehow a necessary evil to try and recharge, build momentum, or just gain plain ol breathing space for the next phase.

One of the absolute positives of this period, was that I completed a hand building ceramic short course at the fabulous Northcote Pottery (which is actually in East Brunswick off Lygon Street)... that I loved. It was certainly far more challenging than I ever would have thought, and I have a looong way to go re building skills and concepts. But this little guy came out of a pinch pot session, and, well, he's rather lovely.