NEWS & UPCOMING EVENTS
Welcome to the news and events page where you can view news and activities of interest to china painters.
DEMO - LESCHENAULTIA - A TRUE BLUE WILDFLOWER
I will be guest demonstrator at the Porcelain Artists of WA's general meeting to be held 1:30am 7th February, 2026 at St Augustine's Church Hall in Bayswater.
The demonstration is titled 'Leschenaultia - A True Blue Wildflower' and I will be demonstrating the technique I use to paint this much loved native flower. We'll also look at the various ways to incorporate this flower into a pleasing design.
If you would like to attend, all are welcome. If you require more information, please contact me.
WORKSHOP - BACKGROUNDS & GROUNDING with DEE CREDARO
The Australasian Porcelain Art Teachers Association of WA will hold a two-day workshop on Sunday 8th and Monday 9th February, 2026 with Busselton Artist Dee Credaro. The venue for the workshop is McDougall House in Como and the cost is $100 for APAT members ($130 for non-members). All painters welcome with some places still available.
Titled 'Backgrounds and Grounding' the workshop will cover various types of grounding and backgrounding and Dee will be featuring stylised wildflowers, inspired by flowers experienced in the North of WA.
For more information visit APAT-WA's website at www.apat-wa.com.au.
2026 APAT - AUSTRALASIAN PORCELAIN ARTISTS CONVENTION
SALT - 13-18 October 2026 Busselton WA
The Australasian Porcelain Art Teachers of WA will hold their next National Convention in the City of Busselton. The setting will be a brand new arts and cultural convention centre, Saltwater, in the heart of Busselton's art hub, within walking distance of galleries, accommodation, beach, jetty, museums and great eating places. As well as Australia, artists will be attending from as far away as New Zealand and Hong Kong.
As well as the much anticipated exhibition of porcelain art. there will be the opportunity to attend mini-workshops and demonstrations from a wide variety of APAT members. At the conclusion of the Convention a three-day 'summer school' will take place featuring Texas artist Susan Thumm. More details will be posted here as they become available.
If you wish to register for the event of or catch up on the latest information, please visit APAT-WA's website at
www.apat-wa.com.au and follow the links for details.
Shown above photo of the new Saltwater Convention Centre in Busselton.
WA ARTIST BRENDA HENDERSON (1941-2024) - a TRIBUTE
It was with considerable sadness I recently learnt of the passing of Perth based artist and friend, Brenda Henderson.
Brenda was one of WA's, indeed Australia's, most innovative and talented porcelain artists and potter. Her uniquely individual style was held in high regard, from general china painting to pottery including the distinctive masks she produced and painted across many years. Her work is currently on display at the WA Museum Boola Bardip.
Brenda's originality in the use of paints and products to produce her distinctive designs was much admired by her peers. Please follow the link above to read more about Brenda Henderson's life and career and see more images of her beautiful artworks..
APAT-WA Regional Exhibition November 2025
'THE MIDAS TOUCH'
The Australasian Porcelain Art Teachers-WA held their regional exhibition in Busselton in November 2025. The exhibition titled 'The Midas Touch' featured hand painted porcelain by APAT WA members. As the name implies, there was a special display featuring gold painted pieces and other bright metallic finishes. There was also a large range of both traditional and abstract subjects.
The exhibition took place between 18th and 25th November at the Bond Store, Busselton Cultural Precinct, 4 Queen Street, Busselton.
For more details visit APAT WA's website at www.apat-wa.com.au
shown above Wrens on gold, bowl painted by Anne Blake
shown at left bowl and lidded box abstract gold pieces by Anne Blake
2025 PAWA ANNUAL EXHIBITION - 'OSMOSIS'
The Porcelain Artists of WA (formerly WA Guild of China Painters) held their annual exhibition and sale of work on Friday 2nd and Saturday 3rd May, 2025 at The Palms Community Centre in Subiaco.
The exhibition theme was 'Osmosis' with PAWA members invited to submit a collection of up to seven pieces to interpret the theme. There was a sales section featuring members' work painted from 1964 to date with work available for sale.
PAWA have held porcelain painting exhibitions for over 50 years and host WA's premier display of unique hand painted porcelain. Both traditional and contemporary designs were on show with several hundred pieces exhibited. Many visitors to the exhibition commentated on the high standard of the work on display.
Congratulations to PAWA President, Heather Tailor and the hard working Committee for an inspiring event.
Follow the link above to see more photos and commentary. For additional information about the Porcelain Artists of WA visit their Facebook page.
shown above left: vase by Heather Tailor
at right - pieces from display by Anne Blake.
APAT's 2024 NATIONAL EXHIBITION & CONVENTION
'FIRED-UP - PORCELAIN ART TODAY'
The Australasian Porcelain Art Teachers national exhibition and convention, hosted by APAT NSW, was held from 23rd to 26th October 2024 in Cronulla, NSW at the Rydges Cronulla Beachside Hotel.
Following drinks and canapés the exhibition was officially opened on Wednesday evening. The porcelain exhibits were beautifully displayed and created quite a 'wow' factor.
Follow above link to see additional article with photos.
Congratulations to the hard-working NSW committee for hosting a wonderfully successful event and making visiting members feel so welcome!
APAT NSW's dedicated website for the 2024 Convention is:
shown top:'Under the Jetty, platter by Anne Blake
Other work shown: 'Blue Flower' by Clohilde Ruegg
and 'I'm here' - tile by Estrella Munoz
2024 ALBANY PORCELAIN ART WORKSHOP
with ANNE BLAKE
The Albany Porcelain Art Workshop group held their last workshop for the year in September. The workshop with Perth artist Anne Blake took place over three days and was held at the Veteran Car Club's premises on the outskirts of Albany.
The subject of the workshop was 'Designing for a Divided Background'. Students designed a full length feature to divide their plate or tile, the background effectively split into two sections. The sections were then treated separately using contrasting finishes, one of which was a 'brocade' finish.
Frangipanni Plate by Anne Blak
Follow the link above to see more photos and details from the workshop.
Sincere congratulations go to Brenda Caellli, President and all the Committee, Barbara and Ruth, of the Albany Porcelain Art Workshop for a well organised, successful and extremely enjoyable event.
PORCELAIN FROM THE POWERHOUSE MUSEUM, SYDNEY
On a recent visit to Sydney I had the great pleasure to visit the Powerhouse Museum in Ultimo. This museum is a major branch of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences in Sydney and occupies a beautiful old building - a converted electric tram power station hence its name.
The museum houses a wonderful and eclectic mix of exhibits and stand alone exhibitions. In addition to the science and industrial exhibits, there are many exhibits representing the decorative arts including porcelain.
Shown above is a wonderful Cauliflower teapot and tea-caddy set produced by Josiah Wedgwood around 1760. It was manufactured in his Burslem factory in Staffordshire, England from creamware.
PORCELAIN ART FROM THE GALLERIES & MUSEUMS OF LONDON
This article concludes a series featuring some of the fascinating porcelain and glass exhibits I had the great pleasure to see during a visit to the UK last year. To view the complete series including the Sèvres Inkstand, with photos and information about some of the London museums visited, follow the link below.
On display at The Wallace Collection in London was this Turquoise-blue grounded, Sèvres Flower vase. The vase, painted in 1755-6, is part of a very large collection of Sèvres porcelain on display at The Wallace.
Painted with two cherubs and 'engraved' with flowers and fruit, the vase's background is finished with an eye-catching turquoise-blue grounding. Note how areas of white have been left in the grounded colour at each end of the vase to create the effect of open handles rising to the scrolling on the top edge. The vase forms part of a set of several pieces featuring this design.
The Wallace Collection Museum offers free entry to the public and is located at Hertford House, Manchester Square in London. The extensive collection houses art in many forms, painting, sculpture, porcelain, glass, furniture, clocks, armour, early weaponry and much more. For more information visit their website at www.wallacecollection.org.
shown above: Sèvres Flower Vase c.1755-6
'GOLDEN REFLECTIONS - A CELEBRATION OF 50 YEARS' by ANNE BLAKE AND KAYE MACLEAN - BOOK LAUNCH
The West Australian Guild of China Painters (now known as the Porcelain Artists of Western Australia Inc) celebrated its golden jubilee year in 2014. To mark this very special occasion Kaye MacLean and I wrote a history of china painting in Western Australia and more specifically the foundation and history of the WA Guild through to 2014.
READ MORE ABOUT THE BOOK,
BOOK LAUNCH, THE GUILD'S
50TH ANNIVERSARY REUNION
AND HOW TO ORDER YOUR COPY
The finished book, which took several years to research and write, was launched by the Hon Richard Court AC at a special reunion function for past and present Guild members and special guests held on the 2nd May, 2014 at Guildford.
image shown: former State Premier, Hon Richard Court AC at the launch of "Golden Reflections- A Celebration of 50 Years" on 2nd May, 2014 at the Guildford Town Hall.
Download book order form (pdf reader required).
Copies of the book are still available for purchase. For more information contact me or the Porcelain Artists of Western Australia Inc.
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