Finalist in the National Emerging Art Prize 2024

So excited to have been chosen as a finalist for this year’s National Emerging Art Prize with my work - No Fruit Bowl is Sacred – 2024 (ceramic wall work, crayon and glaze on stoneware)

My family are dumpers! All those little bits and pieces that spill out of pockets and somehow find their way into the closest receptacle, mostly the fruit bowl. Flowers and fruit often get all the love when it comes to still lifes and I am also guilty of making them the heroes, but the other stuff of lives is also beautiful in its mundanity and the juxtaposition of the two creates a magic for me.

Out of 1700 entries just 78 painting and 28 ceramics finalists. Chuffed to be in such talented company!

Recent Wallworks for Sydney Ceramics Market – October 2024

Sydney Ceramics Market 2024

I am excited to be a stallholder for the second time with this fantastic Market. Following on from my successful recent exhibition, Little Big Life, I have decided, for this one, to show only my still life wall works. Looking forward…come and say Hi! This year is bigger and better than last year, over 2 days with an incredible lineup. See all details below and get tickets online via the button below, for fast tracked entry.

Little Big Life Works – June 2024

1-2 June 2024 – Block J Studio Shop, 1605 Botany Road, Botany

This collection of still life wall and standing ceramic works (on plate forms) celebrates the beauty and solace in the objects that surround us and the everyday tasks we perform; an open drawer of utensils, a shared meal, fruit chopped on a board, washing sorted...These are not just everyday objects and moments, on objects we use every day, they are windows into life.

Wall works (with hanging device)
Hand built stoneware with crayon and glaze

Standing works (with foot)
Hand built stoneware with crayon and glaze

Little Big Life

If you’re in Sydney, I would love you to come to my exhibition pop-up…
at the Block J Studio Shop, 1605 Botany Rd, Botany

It’s on just for 2 days
Sat 1 June till Sunday 2 June, 11am – 4pm

A collection of still life wall and standing ceramic works on plate forms.

This body of work began with my series 'A Little Life' which was a finalist in STILL: National Still Life Award 2023. Inspired by an extended period of time spent at home during cancer treatment, these works reflected my reduced world.

The expanded collection celebrates the beauty and solace in the objects that surround us and the everyday tasks we perform; an open drawer of utensils, a shared meal, fruit chopped on a board, washing sorted...

These are not just everyday objects and moments, on objects we use every day, they are windows into life.

Hope to see you there!

Love Gift

I'm back in the studio and starting off the year with a LOVE gift!
20% off everything with the code LOVEBIRDS24...hurry offer ends 12pm on Valentines Day (14 Feb 2024)

Apply code at checkout. If you are not in Sydney, Australia, you will need to use World Clock to calculate the time difference so you don't miss out. Enjoy

Gift something hand made this year!

My last Shop update for 2023 (where did this year go!) will be live on Sunday 19 November at 9.30am (Sydney, Australia time) World clock is very handy for working out what that equates to in your country. Check out the preview via the button below.

Claypool Christmas Laneway Pottery Market

For those of you in Sydney, Sunday 12th November... come and visit our little laneway market. Great chance to get to know the work our talented tribe and snag some treasures for the gift giving season. This year shop local and handmade and help creative people keep creating!

Hope to see you there!

National Still Award 2023

So excited to be a finalist in The National Still Life Award 2023 currently showing at the brand spanking new Yarrila Arts and Museum on Gumbaynggirr Country/Coffs Harbour.

‘The award that pushes the boundaries of the still life genre’, 1100 entries were submitted with only 63 finalists chosen.

A Little Life – In this collection of painted ceramic plates, I am exploring everyday objects and moments, on objects we use every day. This work of 10 pieces was inspired by an extended period of time spent at home during cancer treatment. No visitors due to Covid, my world was further reduced. There is so much solace and beauty in the objects that surround us. These are plates but they are also windows into life.

Sydney Ceramics Market

I'm super excited to be taking part in Sydney Ceramics Market next weekend and have been making, making, making. For those of you in Sydney, Saturday 7th October... come and say hi. It's only $5 entry fee and you will be treated to more than 90 ceramicists in one place. Check out my instagram @vbean and @sydneyceramicsmarket for updates. I'll be adding pictures to my stories showing all the available pieces right up till opening.

Hope to see you there!

I'll be taking most of the pieces listed in my online shop so if there's anything you would like, please purchase by 4th October. For those of you unable to attend, I will be listing the remaining pieces and making more work in time for Christmas (can't believe it's almost that time again, this year has whooshed by)

Spring renewal!

Spring has arrived for those of us in the southern hemisphere, a time for growth and renewal – so very relevant for my latest work – new forms, surfaces and glazes. I am coming back to health after cancer treatment and experimenting and exploring has re energised me. There's something about the process of joining, smoothing and shaping clay that is so cathartic. These works will be available online on Sunday morning, 18 September at 9.30am – Sydney Australia time. View the preview via the button below.

“The use of the hands is a powerful medicine...the cure for many ills is to make something ”
— The Labyrinth by Amanda Lohrey

June Shop Update

It's June already! – before I wing my way overseas for an old friend's wedding (postponed twice, thanks to Covid), I'm squeezing in a shop update. New Peep Lights, Birdy Juglets, Jumbo Planters and a few Fairybread Tumblers. These will be available online on Sunday morning, 5 June at 9.30am – Sydney Australia time. View the preview via the button below.

From the Archive

Over the years I have kept back some pieces...the ones I couldn't let go of or didn't feel ready to...but it's time to clear some space for new work. These will be available tomorrow morning (Monday 25 April) at 9.30am – Sydney Australia time.

YAY

A happy chappy little word which I couldn't do without. These works commemorate and celebrate the end of my (seemingly endless) cancer treatment...a yay moment if ever there was one. They have eased me back into making, a slow process but a good distraction from recovery. I have chosen to make artworks rather than functional plates as these labours of love need to be always present, reminding us of things worth celebrating.

Group Exhibition – Holding Space: the modern vessel

Excited to be showing my work with 8 talented artists: 29 April – 8 May, Block J Studio – 1605 Botany Rd, Botany. Join us for opening drinks Thursday 29 April 6-8pm. Gallery open daily 10-3.

For this exhibition I wanted to explore new handbuilt forms in stoneware and porcelain, imbued with a hint of the human, animal, vegetable. Hybrids of animate and inanimate, these pieces combine my love of graphic patterning, colour, personality and modern materials. It no longer matters if the vessels are functional or not...

stoneware and porcelain clay bodies, handpainted underglaze, glaze, neon rubber wire

holdingspace-digitalflyer3.jpg

A loveable month!

Introducing first time petal plates in both wall hanging and table sitting varieties, different sizes and shapes, all overlaid with a matt white glaze. The beauty of this glaze is that it quietens the bright colours and fires unpredictably, sometimes leaving lovely crystalline patches and surprising in different ways each time it is used, making each one truly unique. These plates make me happy! Oh and there's a few of the old favourite birdy juglets, burst dishes, peep lights and bloom tumblers as well this month.

Landing in my online shop this Sunday 28 February at 9.30am (Sydney Australia) Be there or be….

A word on shipping... expect covid delays. Thanks for your understanding and support!