just visiting

^a quiet corner .. in a quiet backyard..  in a lovely home.. of a good friend^

Im not sure how much I want to say about these images.

Im hoping they will just speak for themselves - 

and tell you what a lovely time I had visiting the home of a good friend. 

When I go on holidays I usually do it in two parts.

After the amazing time I had in Magnetic Island, 

it was lovely to follow that up with a trip that involved 

lots of creative and relaxing time in a home that constantly inspires me.

As you can see....

^studio shadows^

^mood board^

^the afternoon light^

^flynn. aged 2 and a bit^

^bookshelf samples, test pieces and magazines... ^

^flynn was here^

^buttery colours and afternoon light^

^hello ms freeman^

^lounge-room envy... such a beautiful collection of ceramic, glass and indigenous artworks^

an afternoon in the ceramic studio of Alex Standen

^Alex Standen in her studio at Sturt in Mittagong - explaining some new ideas and experiments...
to a captive audience!^

This post is rather timely as I have just spent a magical week in a beautiful place called Sturt ,which is an art/craft/design centre in Mittagong, a town which is located in the Southern Highlands of Sydney. 

I was there to teach a weaving/drawing/textile course. 

And I was there, in part, because of this beautiful lady who introduced my work to the lovely people at Sturt.

Alex and I met while we were working at Object: Australian Design Centre a few years ago, and we've been great mates ever since. Alex is an amazing ceramic artist with an impressive cv for someone who recently graduated from The National Art School with a BA honours degree in ceramics.

Last month I had the privilege of visit Alex in her beautiful studios space at Sturt - 

and these are a few of my photos from that trip.

I hope you enjoy this tiny tour of her studio.

And if you would like to know more about Alex you can visit find her on instagram... 

and on the McLemoi Gallery website.

^tiny moments on her studio bench-top^

^fresh strawberries...a painted stool... and a ceramic donut.
just the usual things you find in the studio^

^beautiful collection of nesting bowls ^

^lovely light^

^Window sill... full of inspiration^

^colour experiments^

^blue features a lot in her new work^

^just for fun.
Alex plays with these pieces and many of them follow her home to her kitchen^

^all in the details^

^ such a beautiful space^

Thank you again Alex for letting us come for a tiny visit....

v i s i t i n g

A quiet moment at the home of Honor Freeman.
These succulents looked very happy in her ceramic 'warp and weft' beakers -
made in her backyard studio.

While I was down in Adelaide, I spent some of my time at the lovely home of Honor Freeman and the two men in her life - Lucky and Flynn. They have a beautiful home in a quiet suburb in Adelaide - where most noise is created by a certain little man who loves to dance, dance dance!!

I love seeing the way other people live and feel the rhythms they create throughout their day...

I guess everyone is different. But to truly understand that concept, you need to see and feel the way people live and look at the creatures comforts and objects that make that homes special and unique.

As you can see from these few photos, Honors home has a beautiful sense of light, texture and detail.

Every object tells a story. 

And if you listen very quietly....

You can hear their stories.

Honors ceramic lemons quietly sitting on the window sill.

Waking up to home made bread.
Such a treat!

I normally love to sit on the floor so
this beautiful and well loved floor cushion is usually one of my favourite things
to sit + relax on....

Tiny shoes for a tiny little man.

On set.

Beautiful ceramic soap artworks by Honor.

Ceramic shavings... all in a pile.

Beautiful morning light...
Illuminating all the little things on the wooden ironing board.

winter collections

^ a few favourites from my tiny collection^

In Winter I hibernate.

I snuggle. I retreat. 

I turn into a cat and curl up into a tiny ball at the foot of my gas heater. 

Winter and I have always had a strained relationship - as my body was never truly designed for the cold nights and driving Winter rains. I was born with cold hands and cold feet. And try as I might to warm them up, Ive never really known them to reach the status of toasty without the searing sunrays of summer! I still have flashbacks to when I was living in Edinburgh and those frosty Winter winds that would pass straight through me! brrrrrr....

So here I sit. Inside my home and enjoy some lovely Winter pastimes, such as rediscovering my collection of objects and artworks that dont receive the attention they truly deserve in Summer.

This is just a tiny sample some of my favourites - that in one way or another inspire me each and everyday.

Some were found in second hand stores and markets.

Some were lovingly given to me by talented friends.

And some were bought as sneaky purchases (usually while being egged on by friends who knew a beautiful ceramic artpiece when they saw one!)

............

And speaking of talented ceramic artists - one sadly passed away on Friday in London.

Vale Gwyn Hansson Pigott.

With an amazing 45 year career in the arts -

You will be greatly missed.

(1935-2013)

before time.

alex standon's beautiful solo ceramic exhibition at Sabbia Gallery

A few years ago I met a lovely lady called Alex Standon when she came to work behind the gallery desk at Object.

Alex was completing her honours degree in ceramics at the National Art School, and was about to head out to an indigenous arts community for a few months on a residency. At the time I remember how excited she was to be leaving for her big adventure - curious to see how the desert would inspire her work.

Well - nearly two years have passed since then, and Alex has now graduated, been awarded the 2012 Sidney Myer Fund Australian Ceramic Award in the emerging category, AND, has exhibited her award winning pieces at Shepparton Regional Gallery in Victoria. 

Phew. 

Big few years!!

This year Alex moved her studio to the Southern Highlands and created new collection of ceramic pieces for her first solo exhibition entitled Before time could change us, that opened a few night ago at Sabbia Gallery in Paddington. And before the gallery space swelled with friends and family,  I took the opportunity to take a few photos and enjoy a long, close look at each piece. 

In her artist statement Alex described the way she likes to make objects that are natural, structural and contained - objects that can draw breath, hold volume - and speak of energy and emotion. 

I love the raw feeling that is contained in her hand built, wood fired pieces. 

Maybe they reflect her journey to the indigenous arts centre... and the burnt orange desert that surrounds it?

Ill have to ask Alex when I see her next.

But in the meantime... Im just going to enjoy looking at these beautiful objects.

It is a brilliant exhibition and well worth a tiny look.

Congratulations Alex! 

I hope you enjoyed the opening night 

x

Alex Standon

Before time could change us

Sabbia Gallery

23 April - 18 May 2013

in the studio : sarah o'sullivan

Sarah working in her new studio, Sydney, 2013

There is something about visiting an artists' studio that makes me excited.

maybe its seeing alchemy take place?

maybe its seeing a workplace that is all about play + creativity?

maybe its seeing and feeling different materials and surfaces?

Maybe its knowing that you're getting a rare opportunity to see and talk to a creative person about their process - a behind the scenes glimpse into their artistic world that is usually hidden away behind closed doors.

Anyway - 

no matter what the reason I just love it. 

Unfortunately it doesn't happen that often. 

Like with most things...life gets in the way and plans takes forever to realise.

So when good friend Sarah O'Sullivan invited a few of us over to her new studio for a visit...

I jumped at the chance.

Sarah is an amazing ceramic artist who recently graduated from the National Art School with honours.

Her work is all about the everyday object and the memories, nostalgia and beauty that is contained within it. 

Each of her ceramic pieces is unique and extremely detailed - making you want to touch and take a closer look at every pattern, every mark, and every colour. 

Later this year Sarah has an exhibition at Sabbia Gallery in Sydney. 

So on top of moving into her amazing new studio space, Sarah has been getting to work on a new body of work. 

Busy busy lady. 

But enough of that... lets start the tour! 

(do I sound like an impatient kid in the back seat of the car? maybe...)

Getting work on a few new ceramic pieces.
You see... beautiful patterns, colours and marks.

I found so many beautiful colours and textures.... that  were glowing within the
stark white walls and windows in her space.

The everyday objects that Sarah constructs moulds from....

filing... shaping.... sanding.... shaping....

I loved the floor!!  Of course I would! Its green and textured!

Shelves covered in work materials.... all lined up and ready to go!

Jess asking questions about a new piece that Sarah is working on...

The old vs. The new.
Sarah is a collector of all things nostalgic .. like me!

Amazing light... and space in her new studio in Marrickville.
What the building was in a previous life is anyone's guess!

Thank you so much Sarah for having me over to your new studio.
I truly loved it and felt like I was walking back in time.

Happy making and enjoy every moment in your fantastic space!
Cant wait to see your exhibition later this year.

(Ill let you all know when its happening!)

k i t c h e n a l i a

Kitchenalia found on the bookshelf in Honor's ceramic studio, October 2012

Its true.
We all have our little secrets.
Things that we like to keep to ourselves -
Little pleasures that remain hidden from the world
That are very rarely spoken about.

If we dig a little we can find the most amazing pieces of information about our friends and family. 

Things that we would have never have guessed at. 

So what is one of my little pleasures? 

Well - I know on this blog Ive spoken about my love affair of magazines throughout the years. 

But - lets face it - that's not ground-braking stuff.

Ummmm lets see....

At the moment I have to admit to the fact that I love sitting in my lounge room... late at night... and watching crappy tv while eating out of a tub of ice cream - no bowl necessary! 

I was never really into ice cream until recently. And now this tiny little ritual has developed into a daily, or nightly, occurrence! Why? Just because!

Speaking of food and kitchens.

While I was away and visiting a good friend of mine and her family, I noticed that throughout their house and art studio there was a clear theme. 

That of kitchenalia.

Most of Honor's latest body of work is all about the quiet moments spent in the kitchen... 

And as you can see from these shots, Honor has captured these kitchen objects in porcelain - adding another layer to their beauty. 

I loved trying to take a close up view of these beautiful pieces of porcelain .. as the tiny details found on the surface of each piece were so amazing.

Take a look...

Honor Freeman's layers of work... all in various stages of production in her home studio.

Can you believe those lemons are in porcelain?
So so beautiful.
Thank you for the tiny tour Honor x