RED BIRD STUDIO

Located in the leafy suburb of Hawthorndene in the Adelaide Hills.

Alisons work reflects her love of clay as an endlessly versatile medium. She enjoys its challenges as much as the rewards whether she’s making functional pots or elaborate sculptural pieces.

gin bells

Ring the bell and someone will bring you a gin and tonic !

*not guaranteed to always work, some training may be necessary

These bells are made with finely sculpted porcelain clay, pinched between my fingers until it’s ultra fine but robust enough to resonate with a strong sound when rung.

They are then hand painted with underglaze and fired three times, the final firing fusing the handpainted gold lustre into the glaze.

The last step is to string them with the colourful beads that I collect from upcycled costume jewellery.

Each one is unique in form, pattern and sound.

practical pottery

‘Have nothing in your home which is not useful or beautiful ‘ William Morris

As we try to move away from plastic and cheap mass produced goods, this is an opportunity for potters to take up the challenge to make practical items for everyday that are both useful and beautiful and will be enjoyed for many years.

Swapping plastic for handmade, unique pottery is easily done.

A handmade keep cup will last for many years and replaces countless disposable cups

Making a single cup of coffee using a ceramic pour over and a paper filter instead of a machine with plastic pods can become a more satisfying daily ritual

Beautiful handmade soaps draining on a unique soap dish last longer and use fewer nasty chemicals.

sculptural ceramics

If you could see me now

A series of alpaca sculptures created in 2019. Inspired by English porcelain figurines, the domesticated alpacas that inhabit the in South Australian landscape, introduced and out of context. Animals adapting to change, here taken to evolutionary extremes.

Winner of the 2019 Urban Cow Studio Art Prize