January...time to make make make.....and make!

January has been my big chance to get lots of "bread and butter" work made. 
It has been a delight to have spent much of this month in the studio focused on my own work.
Due to a major kiln disruption at the end of last year classes have been postponed for 2018 until July
when my new kiln should be up and running.
( I am missing my students BIG TIME!)

However, given the circumstance,
I  have had a chance to change my focus to making production ware
rather than preparing for teaching and firing.
This has its advantages.
My days have been spent creating work to fill my on line store,
making stock for my Open Studio which will happen much later in the year and
making pieces for Station Street Store ( which is the only retail outlet that sells my work ).
It is great to catch up on this aspect of my work.

I always find it tricky to know which items I should concentrate on
and which will be most in demand so I have been trying to cover a lot of ground
in forms and various clay types.
I have been pumping out mugs, cups, bowls, vases, all in a variety of sizes, colours and shapes.
These always seem to be popular.

A weekend workshop with Sandy Lockwood at her Balmoral Studio 

was a great chance to get some teapots and jugs made.

Teapots have so many components 

that I like to know I have a few uninterrupted days to work on them.

Our hot Australian Summer makes it quite a juggle  

when attaching spouts, strainers, handles and finishing lids. 

Timing is crucial when judging just the right moment of clay dampness.

This workshop at Sandy's was a "handles workshop" over 3 days

so a perfect time for me to sit and make complex forms 

while catching up with my dear friends 

Adriana, Kellie, Jane and Lisa.

 I start back at uni, ANU, in February/March 

and my focus will turn to more sculptural work

so best to get my functional work done and dusted 

ready for the next few months before I start back.

While I am not teaching I will try to

 knock over a good slab of study on my Masters.

It is a good chance to use my time to practise practise practise.

There is always so much room for improvement 

I need to keep my skills up as both a maker and a teacher.

I find that when I am teaching I focus on my students 

and I am more concerned about looking after their work progress 

than my own. So it is good to be able to give myself this time.

 I have finally started the process

 of getting my little Steve Harrison relocatable wood kiln

to fire with gas as well as wood.

Thank goodness Steve has been helping me with this

as I would have made some BIG mistakes without his guidance.

Thanks Steve, I am so lucky to have you and Janine to talk to about such things.

Exciting times !

I am very much looking forward to what comes next .

To finish off this post for January,

here is my favourite insightful reading link for this month

Is exhibiting important to you?

The Art of being an Artist

"Art is a Verb not a Noun"

check out this link to read more about this quote

http://www.artadvice.com/blog/2013/09/20/art-is-a-verb-not-a-noun-2/

While I am not working on an exhibition at the moment it is always on my mind.

Thought for the month....

I am not sure which famous artist said

Don't worry about WHAT you are....

as  describing yourself as a noun like

 "I am a painter", "I am a potter", "I am a photographer" etc

 will restrict your practice

instead use a verb like

"I like to paint", 

"I love making pots sometimes", 

"I have an interest in photography" 

This leaves all creative options and influences 

 open to you and your practice 

rather than being simply restricted to one.

 I like to think that being creative is expansive, 

evolving and active.

And now a little inspirational clip to watch 

Toshiba Takaezu : Portrait of an Artist

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWFiDfb-W2M

Happy creating.