AusBonsai

A friend & I had the pleasure of an afternoon with our local club resident potter Penny (Mudlark Potteries). We were greeted at the bottom of the drive by Penny and her beautiful & kooky dogs. Plants everywhere and dogs underfoot we made our way round to the main storage/work area. Pots everywhere, I have seen many of Penny's pots at club meetings (she often brings 'seconds' at bargain prices for us clubbies) and have a few.

The main purpose of the trip was to commision or find a pot for a fig. My mate & I had discussed pot ideas on the drive down and went thru them with Penny and slowly discarded her extensive stocks as potentials. Some got close but none matched the feel I am after.

Off down to the kiln & more pots everywhere... A new firing has just been unloaded this morning & I spot a this beautiful little oval 20x16x5cm.. Its perfect... Its MINE! Loads of newly fired pots on the ground in front of the kiln and every one absolutely beautiful, she hands my mate 3 small pots, red-black-white glaze, rough & textural absolutely stunning... Whats this my ears are hearing, she is not happy with them so we can have them. Understandably we snapped them up, 9.5cm dia x 6cm high, straight out on display with the rest. My mate is getting a pot made for one of his junipers so while they talk I peruse the shelves, floor, anywhere & everywhere she can find space by the look of it. There on the floor next to my feet absolutely covered in dust this gem. Its almost exactly what I came looking for. And beside it beneath a few more pots & more layers of dust is this absolutely stunning pot, when cleaned off I am in heaven. To me it has the feel of an ancient chinese pot, solid & very grounding for a mature old specimen (of which i have none...Yet!) 29x18x7cm Penny, thankyou for a fantastic afternoon, we were both sorry to have to leave as soon as we did. I can see myself with alot of trees in your pots in years to come. Keep up the fantastic work.

People, if you are heading to the AABC convention get your butts over to see Penny and her pots, I know you wont be disappointed in them. If only we could convince her that others would appreciate what she feels dont come up to standard eg my red/black pot.

Matt

Matt, hi! I absolutely love the first pot and that last pot! Extraordinarily beautiful. What a score!!

Just a little green with envy

Is that the ML logo on the bottom left of the second pot?

I am trying to figure out, whos pots I was looking at, at Ray Nesci's. Swear they are Mudlark, just can't reference the logo.... Is it a Pd in a circle?

Nice pots Matt. I reckon the dogs are big enough to keep unwanted visitors away arent they.

Penny - You must have fired up the kiln and designed some new pots....I didnt see any of this style before - look forward to picking up a couple if Matt hasnt already snavelled all of them
Regards
Steve

Mitchell wrote:Is that the ML logo on the bottom left of the second pot?

I am trying to figure out, whos pots I was looking at, at Ray Nesci's. Swear they are Mudlark, just can't reference the logo.... Is it a Pd in a circle?

Hey Mitchell, Yes these are Mudlark pots, Penny signs all her pieces with a seal bearing the initials PD.

Matt

MattA wrote:

Mitchell wrote:Is that the ML logo on the bottom left of the second pot?

I am trying to figure out, whos pots I was looking at, at Ray Nesci's. Swear they are Mudlark, just can't reference the logo.... Is it a Pd in a circle?

Hey Mitchell, Yes these are Mudlark pots, Penny signs all her pieces with a seal bearing the initials PD.

Matt

Thought so! She has heaps at Nesci's, well a few.... would be great to see more of her work there, her pots stand out amoung the crowd to me when checking pots.

She does a new lichen now hey? I recall seeing a really realistic lichen straight off the bat, the ones currently in stock have the older, not so realistic lichen. Still the best imitation i have seen though.

Get along to the AABC in Bankstown next month, I know she has been busy making & firing pots in preparation for it. Personally I am not a huge fan of freeform pots or the lichen glazes, tho they can look good with the right tree. I really like the more traditional style of pot and more subtle toned glazes, they really blend well with the natives so much better than the glazes of imported products.

Matt

MattA wrote:Get along to the AABC in Bankstown next month, I know she has been busy making & firing pots in preparation for it. Personally I am not a huge fan of freeform pots or the lichen glazes, tho they can look good with the right tree. I really like the more traditional style of pot and more subtle toned glazes, they really blend well with the natives so much better than the glazes of imported products.

Matt

I am and dido.

Thanks for those kind words, Matt. I forgive you for eating all my mud cake.
Steve, I've always got stuff lying around everywhere and I'm always trying new ideas. I find I need to make them first to see if the idea works and then change or refine it until I am satisfied with the eventual result. The prototypes usually lie around the place and get broken or snapped up at a cheap price when someone sees the potential in them. The rejects are given away to anyone who happens to be in the right place at the right time.
Penny.
ps: I'm firing now and will be unpacking tomorrow.

well it was really nice and you went & got more, I couldnt be rude

Now for you to see the potential & beauty in your own pots, but in the mean time any that you are going to break up I will happily take care of for you. I know a little side businees when I see it... art pots at incredible prices

Matt

Hi Penny
I look forward to the AABC meeting in a couple of weeks to see some more of your great pots.
Are you going to take some mudcake down there for me - sounds nice by what Matt said

Regards
steve

Hi Penny,

The race is on to the AABC.....no "friends" from here on in, buster!!!!!

.....but, I must say, I like the small oval, very much!

Your ...friend ,
Pat

Thanks......."friend". As you mentioned, the race is on and I'm fast running out of time. With your commitments, you'd be flat out too.
Steve, if I have time, I'll make cake and bikkies to bring down. I need to keep my energy levels up. But don't wait till then, I usually have something on hand (cake or pots).
Matt, when you're making pots professionally, Pat will verify, you (should) have a certain standard to maintain. Most people don't know or understand what really makes a good pot. Anything that doesn't make the grade is chucked. If they are still "useable", I'm happy for them to go to a good home under the condition that they are bad pots - seconds and I have a little more room (until the next firing). A lot of people are happy to have something that wouldn't normally be able to buy and they look better than foam boxes. When they break, nothing's lost.
Penny.