About

What do you do? I’m an emerging artist on the cusp of a new career. Where do you live? I live in ‘family ville’ on the outskirts of Canberra.  My hubby and I stand out like beacons – no pram, no four-wheel drive, and no manicured lawns. Instead we have Miami – a dog who refuses to die*. Tell us about your recent graduation from Art School. For the past 18 months I have worked on a self-directed project – hand making large, convex pendants to adorn the body, engage the senses and provide the wearer with a touch of individuality.  Along the way, young (and wise) ceramic students have supported me and we have shared pot-luck meals, wood-fired pizzas and gleefully attended workshop cleanup every Friday! Oh! And we did make pots, plates, glazes and when opening the kilns to see our prized possessions … either thanked the gods … or said ‘Bloody Nora!’ What is your next project? As a graduating student, commence a 6-week artist residency mid-January 2012. This was awarded to me by the Canberra Potters’ Society and I hope to take my readers on a virtual experience as I create new and exciting work. Why ceramics? I’ve always like pretty teacups, plates and all things nice.  I dragged my hubby @ European galleries and factories mid-2011 and by the end of it he was “porcelain out”. I used to paint on greenware many moons ago but a mortgage, working in the advertising game and partying led to the inevitable…putting my art practice on hold.   Nearly 17 years later I got the call “Honey, hand in your resignation…” summoned up the courage to go to Art School and now a legit emerging ceramic artist ready to practice**.

*Miami is seriously loved but was my ‘little man’ before hubby came along and Miami is determined to be top dog and outlive the ‘skinny man’.

**Apologies to Frankie Magazine but I love your interview style and couldn’t help myself with this ‘mock interview’.

Artist Statement

Anne Masters gained a Bachelor of Arts (Communication) from the University of Canberra in 1993.  She began painting on ceramics in Sydney in 1995.  From 1998, Anne worked in the Canberra arts scene where she ran her own casual arts-based business, assisted a private gallery in promoting visual arts practitioners and worked for local government in the arts.  In mid-2010, she returned to study to refine and develop her own artistic practice with reference to the ceramic artist Les Blakebrough as well as French art deco glassmaker René Lalique. In 2011, Anne spent time in Europe investigating traditional porcelain techniques. In 2012, Anne was awarded the Master of Visual Arts from the Australian National University School of Art.