Nancy Whittaker, Tarrangower Times
Have you seen Tracey Koolen’s amazing ceramics? If not, you need to do so when she opens her Koolclay Art Studio for the Australian Ceramics Open Studios 2023, on Saturday 11, and Sunday 12 November, from 10am to 4pm.
Creativity is the watchword for Tracey’s ceramic works, and for her classes in clay which she runs from her bright and airy studio in Harker Street. There will be a range of Tracey’s work on display, together with work by her students, many of whom return year after year.
For lovers of all things ceramic, the Central Victorian Potters Clay Trail is a chance to visit 17 regional studios and peek behind the scenes into the working lives of the artists. It is a wonderful way to connect with individual makers and gain an insight into their processes. The trail is part of the broader Australian Ceramics Association’s Open Studio event.
Tracey is a well-established sculptural and ceramic artist with many years of experience. She is presently busy preparing for the Australian Ceramics Open Studios 2023. Meanwhile, she is offering classes in her studio in Hand Building and Wheel Throwing, as well as Gift Vouchers, because a ceramic class makes a perfect gift.
She loves nothing more than to guide others in the wonderful medium of clay. Her classes are for the complete beginner or the experienced. She said, “I have a passion for clay, which I like to share with others and believe anyone can make anything with clay.” Her classes include the full use of facilities, tools, materials, clay and glazes.
Her own work epitomises her focus on creativity. For example, a recent sculpture called ‘Cats’ is hand-built using 10mm slabs of paper clay. A glaze combination of manganese and gold is sprayed on to highlight areas on the body.
Tracey explaining her philosophy about the importance of creativity…, Seed Pod from Mars, Cats.
Photos courtesy Tarrangower Times
Another intriguing recent work called ‘Mars Seed Pod’ has a highly textured surface contrasting with smooth sprouting tendrils. Her infectious enthusiasm is epitomised by her comments about this work, of which she said, “This one was fun to make. I slapped on a paper clay slurry to create the rough surface. The glaze is splatters and smears of copper oxide, then a matt orange sprayed over the top. Producing hues of yellow, orange, green and blue. It was a glaze revisit from 25 years ago!”
Sounds like fun! Drop into her studio in November to find out for yourself
Maps for the Australian Ceramics Open Studios 2023 are available around Maldon, in coffee shops and the newsagent. Or check the website.
For further information contact Tracey on 0439 522 644 or www.koolclay.art, www.centralvictorianpotters.org.
This article appeared in the Tarrangower Times, 10 November 2023.
