Intuitive Handbuilding in Clay

Discover new approaches to handbuilding in clay with a focus on making colourful ceramic vessels and objects using experimental techniques to push the boundaries of the form. Learn to work with a range of techniques including pinching, stacking, joining, coiling and slab constructions.

Holly Macdonald encourages you to harness your intuition to allow the form to emerge, leading to new possibilities in the way you think about clay as a sculptural form. You will utilise slip decoration and glazing techniques over multiple firings to achieve surprising results and unexpected outcomes.

Open to students of all levels of experience in ceramics.

*Short courses are open to students of ages 16 years and over.

Please note: there will be no class on Saturday 2nd September due to NAS Open Day

Holly Macdonald initially studied architecture and engineering before discovering her true passion for ceramics. Her creative practice combines drawing, installation, and hand building in clay to interrogate the dynamic relationship between object, memory and place.

Holly has exhibited throughout Australia with solo exhibitions at Firstdraft and Sabbia Gallery, both in Warrang, Sydney. Notable recent group exhibitions were Home is more than a place, curated by Sophia Cai for Hamilton Gallery and NETS Victoria and Take It Out of the Garden, Manningham Art Gallery, Victoria. She has been a finalist in many awards including the North Queensland Ceramic Award and the Gold Coast International Ceramic Award.

Holly has undertaken residencies both locally and internationally including in 2018 the Onslow-Storrier National Art School Studio Residency at La Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris. In 2016 her work was featured in Clay, published by Thames & Hudson.

As well as maintaining a studio practice, she teaches workshops and has contributed time and enthusiasm to organisations such as The Australian Ceramics Association and kil.n.it Experimental Ceramics, Sydney. She is a graduate of the National Art School and holds an Honours degree in Fine Art (First Class) from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology.

• Notebook
• Protective clothing (such as old shirt or apron) and covered footwear
• Any handbuilding tools that you may already have. You can purchase a kit at the art store on campus for approx. $15-$20

All clay and other materials are provided.