Welcome to the GCPA News Update and documents for the September Committee Meeting
September 2019
Members' and Students' Exhibition Entry form
These forms are available at Benowa and Mudgeeraba and can also be downloaded here and here
Nicci Parry - Jones - potter for 20 years
Sunshine Coast/NSW now living and teaching on the Gold Coast
Tool making Demonstration - a review
What does a roll of tape, glad wrap, a pie cutter and a toothbrush have in common? ... Give up?
They are all handy tools with a wide range of applications in pottery of course! GCPA members were wowed by the ingenious and thrifty tool designs presented by Nicci Parry Jones at the latest member demonstration evening. Nicci has been working as a potter for 20 years across southern Queensland and Northern New South Wales (check out her work at https://pj-pottery.com ).
A long list of tools were created and their uses demonstrated – everything from cutting, shaping, templates, stamping and decoration. What really stands out is the ability to take an old and unwanted item (toothbrush, metal palette ties, old paintbrush) and give it a new life. Of course it can help to have a boiler maker on hand to cut, shape and sharpen – but there are so many useful tools that don’t need a large time or monetary investment.
Check out the pictures below for the action. We look forward to seeing members at the next free demonstration evening on Monday the 30th of September. Amy Coleman will take the floor, demonstrating decoration techniques.
1) Using the wheel to spin fishing line – Create a pattern on the bottom of pots.
B) A stretched spring can create interesting textures when cutting from the wheel or slicing for decoration. It took some persuasion to stretch that spring!
C) Laying patterns in clay with homemade roller (hot glue pattern on PVC, string / twine wrapped roller for a natural texture)
D) Get your pliers ready – make a sharp and long lasting turning tool from pallet ties, create a grip that suits you from an old brush or broken tool). A great sgraffito tool, nail art applicators are readily available.
E) Smooth the rim of wheel thrown work with a strip of glad wrap – no more fluffy chamois in your work!! ( and glad wrap will last a reaalllly long time!)
F) Did someone say Edward scissor hands!?! Custom made fettling knives using re-purposed butter knives – get the perfect blade shape and rigidity by way of grinder (note a professional boiler maker was on hand for this project!).
