My history in ceramics began in 1980 after establishing a home in a native forest near Nambucca Heads on the Mid North Coast of NSW.

Fantasies of building busts drew me into learning the basics of ceramics at a nearby old schoolhouse, where local potter Bev Butler was teaching. The first experience of building a pot with coils was a moment I still remember with awe, as a world of potential opened up for me. That first decade was of learning what was possible, using the figure as a basis for subject matter, trying everything and learning as much as possible.

In 1990 I established a business designing then producing moulds for ceramic studios in slip casting ceramic ware for students to finish, so Ozmosis Plaster Moulds was born. This was a venture that was an answer to the complete lack of Australian themes in mould subject matter that was available in Australia in those days. Nearly all moulds came from America, so a decade was spent in developing and marketing 250 different designs across Australia’s ceramic studios.

In 1999 I joined the ANU’s new Distance Ceramics Course, which made sophisticated ceramic education available to people from far and wide both in Australia and from overseas. In this course, which was attended twice yearly, professional practice and a plethora of highly developed methods and techniques were taught by Australian and other world famous ceramic artists. This valuable experience emboldened me to look beyond my local area – into the world at large for international experience and to develop my range of ideas.

I have been so fortunate to have worked in France, China, Turkey, Italy and Hungary, with great teachers and opportunities to grow as an artist. I practice every day in my studio and have done for forty five years. I teach workshops and hold regular classes and love to bring the joy of working with clay to others.

My art practice with clay has always embraced the sculptural as my themes are figurative, essentially. I enjoy humour with my Austral Avians and other work, the intangible in sculpture that leaves reality behind to find meaning of human foibles and beauty as well as oddity. I love to find subject matter with my drawings ….doodles with intent. It is my path to find out what is still possible, so the journey continues.

Image: Bust Of A Man

Connecting and engaging with the Australian ceramics community

Sally Hook

Sally Hook

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