seppeltsfield studio and the big clay day out...

This is a slow day post a very busy long wkd in Adelaide…

I'm getting into a groove with my new space and starting to get a work flow happening, it is quite the challenge and very different to market headspace. But all good and meeting some fab peeps over for a holiday plus quite a few locals, which is nice! Recycling is still a challenge and my sludge bucket is filling up which means it will be getting stinky soon, I would say as the temperature warms up in the studio!

The Stephen Bowers show in the Jam Factory Gallery is in it's last days which means change over next week and I'm looking forward to seeing the Janet DeBoos show that is next. The opening is in a couple of weeks time and no doubt will be a bit of a feature here.

ang walford ceramics 

bat clay

lil birdie beakers

lil birdie serving dishes

The Big Clay Day Out 2015

A bunch of new lil birdie beakers and bowls will be ready soon and I've added a couple of serving size pieces back into the range. These pieces rapidly dried over sunday night and were ready for a quick trim yesterday...

The Big Clay Day Out 2015 - Kevin

The Big Clay Day Out 2015 was held at Flaxley this year, the Adelaide Hills Ceramic crew did a fabbo job this year complete with cup cakes for the intollerant guests :P just loved that sign…. Kevin got stuck in full gusto digging the pit and getting all sorts of preparations underway for the big day which was also very well supported by Mt Barker Council. Thanks guys for the fencing, the Loo and the Gazebos it all made for an excellent setup. I have dreams of making this annual event something way more extensive and having been part of 2 now am seeing where this day - event can go towards in the future.

The Big Clay Day Out 2015 - Kevin

the intolerant guests

The Big Clay Day Out 2015 - Annas glazes

Karen had the raku area all cranking and connie got stuck into the little raku rocket bins, they are a treat to fire! I see Anna had some of her fab glazes on the go again and the results are quite something. All the media is waiting for a few quiet hours so I can edit and put something special together, can't wait!!

The Big Clay Day Out 2015 - Karen

The Big Clay Day Out 2015 - Connie

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Special focus…

Special focus… I have been in my new studio for 3 weeks now and been productive for 2 weeks with a few throwing sessions. Getting into a new groove has not been without it's challenges. This space is quite intimidating and a challenge to make an impact on.
I thought about creating work flow spaces and economy of effort and for that very reason have placed my throwing station close to shelvage and wedging room which at the mo is the floor…

Down the track kilns will be wired and plumbed but for now I'm transporting wares to be fired, which also means driving like a granny ;) … my raku kiln will get cranked this week weather permitting and hopefully I'll stream that. stay in touch on periscope @angwalford, twitter @angwalford and instagram @angelawalford

shino noodle

I'm concentrating on a few wares like shino noodle bowls and servers and shortly the white range will get started again.  With the next few firings planned and exhibition works get finalised, there's a lovely project called the cup collaboration which I'm so looking forward to see what everyone has come up with! And the big clay day out is the end of this month too! So looking forward to that @ Flaxley this year sat 26 september midday til dark and no doubt a media production will happen too!

Anyhoo here's a small gallery of images from this week… happy days ;)

lil birdie

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All the essentials are in...

After a few trips to my new studio all the essentials are in.

Big thanks to Kevin for his assistance and being general lifter and mover! So Tuesday was the first throwing session just to get into a groove in the new space and a mad minute at the end of the day… if you're on instagram no doubt you have already seen it ;)

Also fired my gas kiln on Monday and yet again burner issues but kept going and after 14 hours finally got to cone 10 with 1 main burner down. On inspection of the cooler atmosphere in my kiln it was a very even firing. A lot of these pieces were twice fired and no doubt this added to the glaze surface, very happy with this lot!

And if you are heading out to Seppeltsfield for this Barossa Gourmet Wkd drop by and say hi!

Turn off at Greenock off ramp off the A20, then right at the intersection directly to seppeltsfield.

Had some lovely results firing my rocket kiln for SALA all these raku bottles are at The Terrace on Glen Osmond Rd Eastwood.

A small amount of tweaking the firebox gave much faster firing responses, it reduces like mad, woohoo!!

Anyhoo hope to see you this wkd in the Barossa…

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studio day byo cheer...

Some of this… before a wipe out day

One very productive monday in the studio with a test run of some gritty red stoneware. Some new tiles on the way with thoughts percolating again. Then the crash yesterday a big wipe out migraine day, haven't had one for ages and what a booger but out the other side today and covered up everything ready for trimming and handles. Anyhoo here's the vid… cheers

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journal update...

a raku firing video to get yu started

click for a link to my statigram feed ;)

I feel like I'm always playing catchup these days and in an attempt to journal update here's last weeks efforts. I'd been madly making raku bottles for last wkd's open studio and only managed to fire a few of them as it was difficult to get a firing rhythm happening with visitors etc, the kiln would cool down and it would take an hour to get it back up to temperature so not many raku firings occurred but we did manage to get a few Obvaras through with some lovely results. I found after a bit of experimenting with time some gorgeous results from a truly smelly concoction.

firing last week in my rocket raku kiln...my usual turquoise glaze coming out not so…but some lovely reds again

our tree audience for the day and cranky skies…

obligatory fire and studio buds for the day...

  

and then last wkd stirling market sunday another fine winters day with lots of peeps out enjoying the sun and I took my heated jacket out for a market test run….soooo nice you wouldn't believe what a difference it makes, I found the company online and they just happen to be in Adelaide what lovely service the guy even brought out samples for me to try on. So if you're interested look up all purpose heated clothing

anyhoo it's off to the studio for me and do some warm up throwing pots, it's been a while since I've made some nice bowl shapes so check in later on the dreaded facebook and instagram or twitter

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open studio...

OPEN STUDIO CERAMICS 2014
16 & 17 August at Tea Tree Studio

Anna Couper & Angela Walford
at Tea Tree Studio  30 Crouch Road,  Golden Grove SA

This year Anna and Angela are combining their open studio as part of The Australian Ceramics Association Showcase.

Nestled in the foothills at Golden Grove this delightful location has it all.
We will be working away on the pottery wheel, hand forming some intricate organic forms and firing these works across the weekend in a raku kiln.

Make sure you stay in touch on Instagram Angela Walford angdesign.com.au
and facebook Ang Walford Ceramics, twitter @angwalford  And facebook Anna Couper for updates across the wkd to see what we are up to and when the firing events will be where you can witness the pots straight out of the fire!

Tea Tree Studio is off Golden Grove Road, 30 Crouch Road Golden Grove in the green sheds next to the church. No doubt the coffee pot will be on hand and probably some scones baking too. 

Come on out and see us Saturday 10am - 4pm 

and Sunday 11am - 3pm.

 

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honest moments...

These are the days… the ones where things come together, moments collide, software works and computers behave themselves!! grrrrr…. I received notification today that a work of mine was gifted and you may remember a little thing called the blogger show curated by Meredith of Whynot Pottery it was a show that brought so many of us ceramists/potters together in North Carolina USA.

The work that I was creating at the time was very much driven by a desire to see beyond the kitchen table. Although the works I make are so often beyond function I desired to create something that was so far from utilitarian that it repelled the notion of function and became a landscape in and of it's own right. Early settlers painted imagery of Australia are so steeped in our artistic cultural heritage but not made of clay. Any of you who know me are well aware of my stance on our medium of choice and it's perception in our contemporary culture.

I started to create a flat body of work, a series of wall tile palques that were accessible to contemporary culture and representative of the media, abstract in form and loose in creation. 2D and 3D by nature.

This imagery is well embedded in my psych and I feel compelled by my surrounding to continue it's exploration. Given the abundance of local clay and iron content this subject nature could keep me obsessed for a lifetime.

and head on over to the frogpond for this sundays splash...

The work… 'Hills Edge' … It is one of a series of tiles symbolising the natural landscape of our City's eastern region, the beautiful Adelaide foot hills. 

 A gift by the city of tea tree gully to Mirioko Chuo High School in Japan, it is a great honour that my work would be selected to gift to our (city of tea tree gully) sister city delegation on their visit last month… photography by Derek McClure Photography

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this months marathon...

the barn

it has dawned on me that keeping my journal updated more frequently would be a good thing…

so here begins this months marathon in reverse… todays studio effort of printing some tiles and trimming the end of last weeks work, some sw baking dishes with textured handles. saturdays decal and lustre workshop I'm testing some new decal paper and lazer decals. Oooh also a few small platters, they have been testing my elbow strength or lack of and a gentle reminder to break out the weights again!!

and my gorgeous nieces 30th b'day, a superhero event :) I took super nanna along, so funny she enjoyed the night out! on ya mumsie…

ok and sunday's exhibition openings the barn at aldgate and gallery 1855's reconcilliation exhibition…. we really do openings well… nowhere else do I see such a serve of food and beverages!!

well that's about it, tomorrow off to hear about Kirsten Coelho's adventures in Japan residency...

rita hall and jeff mincham

gallery 1855 reconcilliation exhibition

openings at gallery 1855

my nieces 30th bday

ang design studio

ang design studio

ang design studio

ang design studio

ang design studio

ang design studio

ang design studio

ang design studio

ang design studio

ang design studio

ang design studio end of session...

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