Bio…….
Shannon Garson is an Australian ceramic artist, writer and curator with a studio practice spanning 20 years that includes commissions for festivals, exhibitions at public and private galleries, and arts advocacy. Shannon’s practice encompasses thrown porcelain vessels, drawings, painting, public art and performance, she works primarily with Australian porcelain and drawings.
Enduring themes within Shannon’s practice investigate the relationship between human activity and the infinite variety of striations, spots, and marks found in nature. Shannon‘s interest in endangered ecosystems has led her to make work about wallum swamps, the sclerophyll forest of South East Qld, endangered (and beautifully common!) birds and the fungi of the sub-tropical rainforest.
Shannon holds a Masters degree in Ceramics and is a Churchill Fellow, and previous winner of the Gold Coast International Ceramic Award, and has work in national collections.
Shannon has a history of community involvement in the Arts and was President of the Australian Ceramics Association from 2013-2017. She is regularly invited to hold workshops and exhibitions nationally and internationally. Her writing on contemporary ceramics is regularly published in Australian and international journals.
In addition to her studio practice Shannon hosts bespoke tours exploring creative life through behind the scenes glimpses of artist studios, and intimate gatherings sharing meals with artists, designers, farmers, and chefs.
“I want the surface of the ceramics to be part of the drawing, not just a surface for the drawing to sit on. I want the whole pot to be experienced, from the weight of it as you pick it up, the texture, the drawing, colour, smoothness of the glaze, all the elements draw the viewer into experiencing the vessel.”
All my work starts as a lump of porcelain clay then thrown on an electric wheel. I turn the pots when they are fairly soft and use a cut down metal rib. I turn the tops of the pots to refine the rims further and then use the back of a steel tool to burnish the exterior making a beautiful smooth surface for the drawings.
I use a lot of different techniques when drawing on porcelain vessels, sgraffito, brushwork, water erosion, stencils, terra sigilata, inlay, the important thing is the connection with the subject matter. all the work starts with detailed intense observation. My beginnings in painting and drawing underpin my whole practice.
Image by Greg Piper
Creative Voyages
In addition to her studio practice Shannon also hosts creative travel experiences, tours, workshops and retreats. These “Creative Voyages” create a space where you can think, look, be inspired, laugh, smell, taste and touch another world entirely. A world of creative people where it is possible, just for one day, one week, one year, to be inspired from morning until night.
A little taste of the beauitful locations and creative inspiration you will find on of of Shannon’s trips……