The Journal of Australian Ceramics Vol 48 No 3 November 2009
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Tech nical: Selling <strong>Ceramics</strong><br />
Yarra Valley Open Studio<br />
Laura Windmill and Julia Franz discuss their success on a weekend in September<br />
Opening your studio is a fantastic way for artists to promote themselves and their work to a wider<br />
audience. Visitors have an opportunity to meet the artist, view their workplace and practices and<br />
purchase directly from the artist.<br />
Initially scheduled for April <strong>2009</strong>, the inaugural Yarra Valley Open Studio (YVOS) event needed to be<br />
rescheduled due to the devastating Black Saturday bushfires. Most artists lived within the 'fire zone', so<br />
finally the event was re-scheduled for the third weekend <strong>of</strong> September. A total <strong>of</strong> fifty-three artists <strong>of</strong><br />
many media were involved, including a number <strong>of</strong> potters. We, Laura Windmill and Ju lia Franz, live in<br />
Healesville.<br />
laura Windmill<br />
My work is mainly sold through the Studio@Flinders, a gallery on the Mornington Peninsular, as<br />
well as through exhibitions. I specia lise in non-functional saggar-fired pieces and I'm influenced by the<br />
landscape and colours <strong>of</strong> central Australia.<br />
Involvement in the YVOS gave me a chance to reach a much broader audience. Many locals weren't<br />
aware <strong>of</strong> my street, let alone the fact that a potter lived there. It was pleasing to meet people who<br />
had viewed my work at the group exhibition at Sticks Winery. Many <strong>of</strong> these visitors chose to visit me<br />
because they saw my work at the exhibition.<br />
Opening your studio is hard work. You must have plenty <strong>of</strong> stock for sale, a reasonably neat and clean<br />
studio and be prepared to talk about your work. My studio space is quite small and I needed to set up a<br />
display <strong>of</strong> work in our garage. This was necessary to protect pots from the elements and enabled visitors<br />
to view them in a less crowded situation. Many visitors were thrilled to watch me work at the wheel<br />
(particularly the children) and showed great interest in my firing techniques. <strong>The</strong> great bonus was that<br />
I met buyers <strong>of</strong> my work and they met the artist. <strong>The</strong> committee and artists <strong>of</strong> YVOS worked hard to<br />
make this event a great success.<br />
Sea Urchin series. saggar-fired, h.l Oem: photo: artist<br />
Studio shelf<br />
64 THE JOURNAL OF AUSTRALIAN CERAMICS NOVEMBER <strong>2009</strong>
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