In anticipation of some very exciting workshops coming up at the studio we asked local potter legend, Bill Powell, to share some of his wisdom. Covering his personal journey with pottery, advice for aspiring potters and his outlook on learning, discover what Bill had to say.
Q: Can you share a little about how you were first introduced to Pottery? And how long have you been practising now?
A: My whole life has been pottery in one form or another. I met my first potter when I was on holiday in Broadbeach at the age of 9 in 1968. His name was Bill as well, Bill Reid. He was known as the “blind potter”. I was fascinated. But it wasn’t until Springbrook potter, Errol Barnes, came to Miami High School to do a Wheel Throwing demo that I found a sense of destiny. I visited him and his apprentices at his Lyrebird Ridge Pottery. They were sipping coffee in the morning while looking over the coast from where they had just returned from an early surf at Currumbin Alley; in those days you could see it from there.
Their days seemed idyllic. Surf in the morning and make pots in the afternoon. I thought - that’s the lifestyle for me. I didn’t take much convincing. That was back in 1977 and I was studying Fine Arts in Toowoomba at what is now called the University of Southern Queensland. It was there that I majored in ceramics. Here I am now, 46 years later, going back to that very same studio to run the five-day Wheel Throwing 2023 McGregor Winter School Workshop in June. Now that’s what I call full circle.
Q: What advice would you give to an aspiring potter?
A: Advice is interesting. I’m not sure how useful it is because if there’s one thing I know it’s that all the good and useful lessons are learnt the hard way. Your mistakes are signposts on the way but it’s how you deal with them that measures your success. Take risks, work hard, live and love what you do. This isn’t a rehearsal and yes, you can do it. The learning never ends, and who’d want it to?
Q: If you could learn or expand on one skill what would it be?
A: Ah, that’s easy, ‘Time Management’ with a good amount of ‘Don’t Over Think It’ thrown in. We can be our own worst enemies at times. Cultivate life balance as a skill. It’s so easy to be totally absorbed in clay but the real skill is in knowing how to work, rest & play.
We had the pleasure of having Bill in the studio earlier this year to share his knowledge with our teachers. We received such an incredible response from you all on our social media channels that we asked Bill if we would come back and give you the same opportunity to learn from him...We're so excited to announce that Bill will be returning for workshops exclusive to Stone Studio, Miami.
1. Advanced Ceramics | Throwing Bottles
What you’ll learn:
“This full day, hands on wheel throwing workshop covers all aspects of creating elegant long necked bottle forms. With an emphasis on both throwing tips and techniques along with the vital trimming stage methods to develop clean and controlled full forms and a variety of long necks and enclosed forms” - Bill.
2. Advanced Ceramics | Throwing Larger Forms
What you’ll learn:
“I’ll be bringing all my knowledge and skills gained over many years as a full-time production potter. If you're stuck at a particular size and want to go bigger then this workshop will have you pointed in the right direction. Up” - Bill
3. Advanced Ceramics | Throwing 2-Piece Pots
What you’ll learn:
“There are a number of ways to achieve truly big pots and this workshop will include a demo of my primary method as well as more approaches to size problems” - Bill
