Behind the Scenes: Preparing for the Australian Ceramics Triennale

A new year always brings fresh energy and new challenges, and 2025 is shaping up to be an exciting one. I’m currently working towards my exhibition at the Australian Ceramics Triennale, and this time, I’m stepping outside my comfort zone in a big way—I’m diving into porcelain.

Porcelain has a reputation for being both beautiful and temperamental. It’s a completely different experience from the clay bodies I’ve worked with before, and I’m quickly learning that it demands patience, precision, and a willingness to embrace the unexpected. The translucency and delicate quality of porcelain are what draw me to it, but mastering its quirks—its tendency to warp, crack, and behave unpredictably—has been a real learning curve. Despite the challenges, I’m excited to see how my work evolves with this material and how it will shape the pieces I present at the Triennale.

One of my biggest hurdles so far has been sculpting a face in porcelain. I was so accustomed to how my previous clay responded that adjusting to porcelain’s unique properties was frustrating. The material would collapse or crack when I least expected it, making the process feel impossible at times. But after several failed attempts, I finally discovered the right firmness, which allowed me to shape the form properly. Now, I’ve begun working on a little sculpture—a sewing machine—marking a turning point , yay I can do it.

Over the coming months, I’ll be sharing more behind-the-scenes insights into my process. I want to take you along for the ride as I experiment, troubleshoot, and (hopefully) create something that resonates. But instead of putting everything on social media, I’ll be diving deeper through blog posts, YouTube videos, and exclusive photo updates. If you’re curious about the ups and downs of working with porcelain or just want a closer look at my studio practice, be sure to subscribe to my newsletter—there will be plenty of things I won’t be sharing anywhere else.

Here’s to a year of creativity, challenge, and discovery. Let’s see where this journey with porcelain takes me!

janelle

I’ll link a short vid showing what I’m up to https://youtu.be/BsSdbrtablA?si=uMHdsWrQJIjStnbe