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When she takes the wheel, Dr Penny Baker-Gabb from Parkway Veterinary Centre in Kambah, ACT, creates beautiful, functional pottery.
“I use a wheel to create almost all my pottery. I make functional wear such as plates, bowls, mugs and vases. I’ll often make a set of plates or mugs that match but I also like making one-off pieces. It might be a big fruit bowl and I pay particular attention to the shape and the glaze.
“Glazing is an art form where the end result can be very different to what I expect. Potters talk about the kiln gods—you have to learn to accept whatever comes out of the kiln. Fortunately, there are often happy accidents where the finished piece turns out better than expected.
“I took a course at Canberra Potters 15 years ago but only got serious about pottery three years ago. I bought my own kiln and created a working area under our carport. It’s a tiny space but it works for me. Having my own kiln is very liberating because I no longer have to rely on manufactured glazes and other people’s firing times. I’ve been experimenting with making glaze using the wood ash from my pizza oven. I really like this type of process. The raw material doesn’t cost anything and I’m transforming it into something functional.
“I work three days a week as a vet and spend two days a week on my pottery. Veterinary work can be very overwhelming but pottery certainly helps me decompress. When I’m making pottery, I don’t think about vet work at all. It’s a very consuming hobby.
“While I generally use shop-bought clay, I’ve started digging up my own clay and processing it myself. Not only is it hard work but it also takes something that’s time-consuming and then multiples it by 10. But the results are very promising.
“I sell most of my work at markets in Canberra. I set up a stall about once a month in summer but avoid winter because it’s too cold. It’s nice to get positive feedback and most of my stuff sells very well.
“Like any hobby, if it appeals to you, just jump in and give it a go. The pottery world is full of friendly people who are willing to share their ideas and offer help. I think the joy of pottery is that it’s a hands-on way to create something beautiful and functional. It’s great fun experimenting with glazes and seeing the different results that can be achieved. And at the end of the process, you’ve created something beautiful and new that someone else can use.”
Visit Dr Baker-Gabb’s pottery Instagram page at: @studio_34pottery
