The Journal of Australian Ceramics Vol 48 No 3 November 2009

Education
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Ceramics @ Ravo
Amelia Judson. Year 9. reports on her ceramics journey and ceramic cupcakes
After-school ceramics classes at Ravenswood School for Girls are run for Years 7-12 two afternoons
a week. It is a great place where young artists can come and discover the joy of creating their own
ceramic artworks. The class runs for an hour and a half every Thursday or Friday afternoon. With the
help of our teacher, Amanda Hale, we learn new skills and develop our own unique style in a nurturing
environment.
The emphasis is on learning good hand-building techniques using coil building, slab construdion and
plaster moulds. It is amazing to find out just how much can be created using these simple, and not so
simple, techniques. After learning the basics we have the freedom to use our imagination to explore and
create anything, from tiny porcelain flowers to large garden sculptures.
My journey started in Year 7. The first sculpture I made was a large blue vase with a carved surface.
I then went on to pioneer the Ravenswood renowned Cupcake Box. This ceramic vessel is a jewellery
box shaped li ke a cupcake, with the icing forming the lid of the box. It has gone on to become the
favourite objed to make for beginners to the class. This little creation is not only a strong reinforcer
of the techniques required to create pots, but it also gives beginners the opportunity to experiment
with colours and really see what clay can do. For those in the ceramics class, a passion for ceramics is
developed, something they can continue to explore for many more years .
I have developed many new skills. I have experimented w ith slip pencils and created sketches of
animals on white slab dishes. I have also developed my sgraffito skills. I have only just discovered the
craft of the wheel. It was difficult at the beginning but I am working on it and Slowly becoming more
proficient. I enjoy throwing with smooth terracotta as it is a less groggy clay than others we have used
and is lovely on the hands, not to mention the striking colour after it is fired. I then decorate with
various coloured slips and underglazes.
The slip casting that occurs in the studio can be messy but the interesting and varied shapes and
textures refled our experimental approach. I feel that this year has led to a breakthrough in my artistic
confidence and ability. Some people may think that art is easy but the truth is you can't fully understand
the true beauty of art until you are aware of how much effort and life essence each piece of artwork
holds. Ceramics has helped us to understand and perceive the world of art not just as a slab of clay
moulded into an object, but as a snippet of an individual's perspedive of life.
Although ceramics is about art, the class gives us the opportunity to socialise with people we
wouldn't usually see every day. SocialiSing with all these different types of people with the same
common interest allows us to gain a wider knowledge of our community and how unique every single
person is.
This opportunity at Ravenswood has been amazing. Having a mentor and teacher throughout
this whole journey has given us an opportunity to extend our artistic skills and learn a new life long
passion. I am a boarder from western NSW, near Parkes, and there is no way that I would have had this
opportunity if I were still in the country.
Although we may not be the next Picasso or Robert Klippel, we all have so much fun as a ceramics
group. If anyone is thinking of beginning ceramics, I strongly urge you to do it. Like Franklin D.
Roosevelt said" Happiness is not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in
the thrill of creative effort." Th is is exadly what you can experience in ceram ics. Ceramics is fun and
intuitive and gives us a great insight to the world of art.
54 THE JOURNAL OF AUSTRALIAN CERAMICS NOVEMBER 2009