Rowena Hannan
Clayscape
Glenlyon, Victoria, Australia
Website
rowenahannan.com
Instagram
www.instagram.com>rowenahannan
Studio Description
My studio is in country Victoria, surrounded by the Australian bushland. It is a large space with a wood heater in the corner to keep me cozy in the Winter. It is a wonderful space to spend time creating and to run workshops.
What type of clay do you use?
Mid-fire clay
What temperature do you fire to?
1200 degrees celsius
What is your primary forming method?
What is your favorite surface treatment?
Sgraffito and underglazing
Do you make any of your own tools?
No
What one word would you use to describe your work?
Figurative
What is your favorite thing about your studio?
It is surrounded by bushland.
What is the one thing in your studio you can’t live without?
My kiln
What are your top three studio wishes?
Have more time in my studio
What’s on your current reading list?
The woman in the library by Sulari Gentill
How do you save money on materials and supplies?
Recycling clay
How do you recharge creatively?
Spending time in the country
Do you have any DIY tips for studio efficiency?
Creating damp boxes by pouring plaster bases in plastic lidded tubs
What challenges have you given yourself to overcome?
Self-doubt
What did your first piece look like?
Mermaids
What ceramic superpower would you have and why?
Understanding the chemistry of ceramics, as I completed a Bachelor of Arts in Ceramic Design
What area of skill do you most look to other artists to learn?
Refinement
Who is your ceramic art mentor and why?
Adrian Arleo, for the emotional quality of her forms
What is on your studio playlist?
Laura Marling, Florence and The Machine, Beyoncé, Neko Case, Leonard Cohen...
Why do you create art?
As self-expression
Who is your favorite artist and what do you admire about that artist?
Paula Rego due to the narrative nature of her imagery
What is your best studio tip?
Avoid social media when you are in the studio, leave your phone in the house.
If you could change one property of clay, what would it be?
That hand-building bodies were able to have less grog to enable a smoother surface.
