Kick Start!

Robin Best

So I thought to myself, if your really serious about doing this clay thing again, well your gonna need to do some research, some listening, some learning?
I thought if I approach this turnabout the same way I created,
Ouch Flower then I could do no wrong?
So some time ago I became a member of Craft Victoria and last week I attended this event.

Talk About Craft: International Focus

'For a chance to network with key ceramic identities and listen to Robin and Kris discuss how to market your ceramic practice and gain representation within an international arena'. 

ROBIN BEST
Born in Perth, Western Australia, Best attended the South Australian School of Art, Australia to attain her Diploma Design Ceramics in 1976. Best continued her studies at the University of South Australia, Australia and received her Graduate Diploma Visual Arts in 1993.
After her studies, Best went on to develop her work in Jingdezhen, China which resulted in work included in the 2013 exhibition “New Blue and White” at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
She is noted for delicately painted narratives and patterns on translucent, porcelain vessel forms.

Robin Best

Kris Coad

Kris Coad

KRIS COAD

Kris Coad is a ceramic artist living and working in Melbourne, Australia. She has been a practicing ceramicist for over 20 years, dividing her time between her studio and being an educator at RMIT University Melbourne Australia and Hong Kong.
Kris produces ceramic works for exhibition, pieces for commission, and a translucent porcelain bespoke tableware range for selected retail.
In 2002 Kris was awarded a Masters of Fine Art by Research RMIT. During the same year she was the only Australian honoured at the Sydney Myer Fund International Ceramic Award Shepparton Art Gallery.
Kris has exhibited in over 80 exhibitions internationally

Kris Coad

Both create such beautiful work and I could of listened to them talking about there ceramic practise for hours but I din't learn anything new about gaining international recognition that I didn't already know?
These ladies are doing it 'old school', the way that my 20 something self found too inhibiting then. 
Getting a portfolio together and working with galleries who weren't interested in new up and coming in the 90's?
Working with agents to source projects and act as go between for galleries?
There was no mention of social media and collaboration?
There was talk about working with stylists, that's about it?

Granted the art pottery audience is very different from the standard insta-community but it's a great platform for self promotion and sharing!

What was the best bit about the night was meeting
Christopher Plumridge a renown Australian potter who's name I remember in circulation when I was at Uni,
His work is divine! A potter's Potter!

Chris Plumridge

Chris Plumridge

I hope to meet with Chris again and view his studio some time :)

If your on insta check out Sheppartons Art Gallery insta feed for more clay goodness!

Next up is some pottery classes, at the Slow Clay Centre in Melbourne!

Prue Venables

I'll be creating porcelain jewellery with another renown Australian potter, Prue Venables.
You can imagine my excitment!!!!

There alot of porcelain clay making workshops around....but for me it's important to learn from someone with a bit of pottery street cred!
I could rant about that alot, but that's for another post :)

 If you have got this far in the post, thankyou for reading!
I hope you'll join me on this new journey!

Pippa

Prue Venables

 

Prue Venables