The Ceramic World in Gulgong

Another fabulous day. Raced up to see how Marianne Hallberg from Sweden put hollow handles on her jugs. They are very comfortable to hold and she made them so easily. It was an interesting morning talking with her and a Thai woman who does similar blue and white ware.

Dianne Fayt was the morning lecture, she has an interesting technique but I find her work too literal for me. Marianne's talk was in the afternoon and I particularly am drawn to the way she observes things and interprets her emotions by illustrating simple everyday objects with a tin glaze for a white surface and cobalt oxide. Very Swedish.

Ane-Katrine von Bülow gave her talk this evening. What a difficult process is involved using screen printing black and white images. Quite amazing graphic images and very complicated printing using the computer and photoshop.

We finished close to 9.30pm with a film about Fuping in China involving Irish potters working in the factory using the facilities for five weeks to develop a body of work for an exhibition at the end. A few years ago I was accepted in the emerging artist competition with a work titled "Silent Song" and should have attended the conference in Fuping but was too ill at the time, what a shame as it would have been an incredible experience.

1 Log fence Gulgong
2 Marianne Halberg's hollow handle
3 National Art School Exhibition. Lecturer Sandy Lockwood wood fired platter
4 Sandy Lockward plates
5 NAS Exhibition Tania Rolland
6 Ceramic Study Group Collection* Gwynn Hansen-Pigott teapot
7 *Paul Davis jugs
8 *Janet Mansfield vase
9 Wood fired work from exhibition (sorry name escapes me)
10 Exhibit (ditto)
11 Gulgong building

11 days to Gulgong

The countdown has begun. I've set the route in my maps app, only a ten hour trip! But it is worth every agonising kilometre, it's CLAY PUSH in Gulgong NSW. It's on every three years and I've been going since 2001. It's a week of intense clay exposure with master potters, demos, show openings, old friends, take a look at the website http://gulgong2013.com/ and go if you can. My friend Kim and I are driving down on Saturday 27th April and we are very excited.

There will be one very sad omission from Gulgong this year. The woman who started the events in 1989, Janet Mansfield, died recently. She will be greatly missed not only in Gulgong but within the ceramic community world wide. What a woman, a big hero of mine.

My dear friend Robin Roberts in Tasmania sent me some images of recent work using Raku. It's on its way to a gallery, images I will place below. I was concerned that he had abandoned clay for photography but he has seen the error of his ways and is back into it successfully by the looks of it. He does take wonderful photographs as well. Look at his website. http://www.robinroberts.com.au/ceramics

I've gone off the boil with my shed activities for a few days with family activities but I quickly did some sgraffito on the small sugar and creamer. After very good suggestions from my friend Susan I am going to try graded colour which I think will work better.

The Twilight Markets at Cleveland and the Straddie markets are being held one weekend while I am in Gulgong but I'll be back.