Thursday, August 15, 2013

Remember artistica?

She used to live symbiotically with Domestica in our old farm house on the hill. Seems there is less time than ever for attending to her needs lately, especially in household areas like stool painting and op shop trawling. However one of the perks of the job is that I do get to help making some resources and demonstrating techniques for the students.
A couple of things were finished off recently with some kiln firing, another skill that it was nice to dust off.


 These are the Hermansberg style pots. I'm particularly fond of the bottom on the pink lady. It is comfortingly generous.


I'm sure this has been done before a gazillion times but I found these mud wasp nests just as I was loading the kiln one day. There is still some thought going on what to do with them. I'm thinking pastel underglazes and mounting them in a box frame like tiny Baby Bjorns in a row- which they kind of are when you think about it. (Oh look. There's one of the marbles I lost.)


 Last week my esteemed colleague made these with the boys so I had to have a go too because how can you not? Mine is on the lower left with the unfortunate underbite.


There is a strange pleasure to be had in loading and unloading the kiln. It is the magic of the transformation when things are fired. It never gets old. I just can't wait to open it up and see they have become. It's a bit like the cocoon, wasp nest thing I suppose. Here they are all lined up expectantly facing the yawning maw of the open kiln before being fired.


Speaking of being fired,  the northern mountain was thoroughly roasted the other day. On another gloriously clear warm winter's day, the crispy grass went up like paper straight over the hill. We saw it start behind some houses on the way home from soccer when it was just leaping up a couple of trees. An hour later when we drove back over to Nanna's it had spread across the entire mountain.


 Nature is quite dramatic even in the suburbs in Queensland.

10 comments:

  1. Annie, that pink lady pot is simply beautiful. You are so very talented.

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  2. The lady is beautiful. I don't know about the skulls. They are a piece of art ... As is the fire but also scary.

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  3. Hi Annie,
    Hope you're travelling well and 2013 has been good to you so far. Gosh, you are so talented!
    I'm just popping in to let you know about a little #reverb-like blog challenge my friend Meredith and I are offering from August 21 to 31. It's called August Moon and it looks all set to be magic!
    We'd be so excited if you joined us. You can find out more here: http://www.katmcnally.com/p/august-moon-13.html
    Take care,
    Kat xx

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  4. I miss doing pottery. I did lessons for a while there and really enjoyed it.
    Your pots are lovely. x

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    1. No original comment box popped up so sorry for piggy backing on Zara's comment.
      Annie - your pots are fantastic - my kiln hasn't been fired up for 13 years - I'm now a bit scared of it as I can't remember how to work it.

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  5. Life comes around in cycles I think, sometimes you find yourself with oodles of time whilst at others time is sparse and to be treasured, used to best effect! Hope you get some time soon! I was with my friend last night, her husband has just retired early and has built a kiln in his garden, the first time he lit it, it was too hot....lost 3/4 of the pots he wanted to fire! :) x

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  6. The fire is scary beautiful. I love the pots and generous bottoms as well. Those skeleton heads are the cat's meow!
    xo

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  7. I'd love to get my hands on some clay. I really would. I wonder if anyone in the Western suburbs teaches pottery? I love how the art done at your school always has boyish undertones. The older my two boys get the more I realise that boys are in a class of their own.

    Keep the art coming mother.

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  8. I'm not sure about those skulls ... I'm on my way to bed, I reckon they're going to feature in my dreams!

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  9. Hi Annie, I love your Pink Lady and the skulls are brilliant! My boys would go nuts over these :-) Yes, please keep showing us your work. And a Bushfire already? It is clearly a LOT warmer up there than down here. Hope you are well. Mel xxx

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