"It’s been interesting to discover the importance of electronic communication in the development of my career as a potter."
For most of my adult life I’ve been teaching English and Geography in high schools and helping raise a family.
I left teaching at the end of 1996, began a pottery hobby class at Potters School, Warrandyte in 1997 and ended up at RMIT in March, 1998 starting a Fine Arts- Ceramics degree.
This developed into an honours degree, finished in 2002.
It’s the beginning of the 4th year of working by myself and it’s a good time to sit down and reflect on what’s happening.
Q: What do you make?
I make functional and sculptural pieces. I throw porcelain beakers, vases and bowls which are softly shaped and suggestive of movement . Because of their asymmetry and curvy rims they respond well to grouping.. The sculptural pieces are composed from thrown and assembled forms and are based on moving water and the shoreline.
Q: What are your influences?
I think a lot about the sea and moving water. There is a purity and energy about waves which I find both stimulating and restorative. It is exciting to look south from the Victorian coastline and think about the the Southern Ocean swirling and driving around the Antarctic at the bottom of the planet.
Q: What is your working environment like?
I work at home in a new room which was built onto the garage. It’s clean, well insulated, very quiet and looks out onto the garden and the bush. I’d like it even more if it were bigger. The kiln is in the garage.
Bowls
Q: Which part of the making process do you enjoy most?
I love throwing. I like the physical nature of it, in that there’s quite bit of co-ordination, skill and strength. On top of that, your eye is constantly making judgments about the form as you work it. I love the plastic quality of the clay on the wheel and the way you can work with that There’s the challenge of always being able to improve and work on small changes to keep the work moving ahead..
Q: What has been the most difficult thing you have encountered in your work?
It’s been interesting to discover the importance of electronic communication in the development of my career as a potter. Who would have thought it! I have to say that I am not a natural with the computer and find that aspect of my career the most difficult and frustrating.
Q: Can you survive on your craft/art, or do you rely on other income?
My art supports itself and more, but I have some superannuation from my teaching days and a supportive family. I consider this time a trade-off for about 25 years of fulltime work and family raising.
Wind & Wave series range between 3cm to 15cm in height
There’s been no particular book but I’ve enjoyed studying books of Japanese prints of the Floating World. I like the sway and curve of the women in their kimonos and the way they are grouped. I’ve also spent quite a bit of time looking at Japanese garden design, especially dry landscape gardens
Q: Have there been major turning points in your career as an artist?
Being selected for the Potters’ Society of Australia’s exhibition ,“Beyond Earth – exploring the plastic possibilities of clay,” held at Manly Art Gallery and Museum in January 2005 was very important. It made me produce a body of work which was presented to an entirely new audience, gave me confidence to approach ((successfully) Sydney outlets and helped me obtain a Craft Victoria In Site grant for photography by Terence Bogue for a CD. The digital images have been used in the media.
Q: What have you learned as a businessperson over the years?
As far as business is concerned, I think that it’s important to enter, meet, and approach as widely as possible – you can never tell what will eventually come out of any of those contacts. It’s useful to have good photographic images , especially digital, on hand.
As an artist, I try to have periods of time to slow down and give myself time to think about where I’m going with my work – that’s quite hard to do.
Wind & Wave detail
Q: Do you see any business challenges specific to potters or ceramics artists?
Huge question!
I’ll refine it to wheel throwing. Here, the challenge is to chart a path forward for the ancient discipline of the wheel. What steps can be taken beyond the modern tradition of classic stillness in grouped, symmetrical forms?
Q: How has the Internet affected your business?
The Internet has certainly speeded up some communications with my outlets. However, as a rule I prefer to talk to people. It will be interesting to see what happens with my new Website ( www.lizlow.com).
Q: Where do you sell/exhibit your work?
I sell at Craft Victoria and Little Salon in Melbourne, Collect and Planet in Sydney, Form and Aspects on Kings Park in Perth. The Potters Expo at Warrandyte has been a valuable experience, especially as I made the transition from university to the outside world. Exhibitions have been mostly selected group ones.
Q: What would you like to be doing in 10 years time?
I’d like to be working quietly and reflectively, making fewer but more “special” pieces.
Having said that, why can’t I try to do that NOW!
Vases
Liz Low
www.lizlow.com
see more of Liz Low work in VCG directory
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