sarah jane therese

I am a ceramic artist  and painter living on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland, Australia. My practice spans ceramics, painting and drawing, celebrating the beauty of nature, particularly flowers, and the colours, textures and intricate details of the world around us

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Much of my time is spent in the studio, throwing porcelain on the wheel and decorating my vessels with clay, slips and underglazes, using a multitude of brushes and engraving tools. I enjoy every stage of the process, from shaping the forms and imagining the designs to applying each detail slowly and carefully by hand. My ceramic work is distinctive for its intricate decoration, expressive surfaces and vibrant use of colour.

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Alongside my ceramic practice, I work with ink, watercolour, acrylic and oil paints, occasionally incorporating yarn and fabric, perhaps influenced by my former career in the fashion industry. My oil paintings often explore still-life arrangements of personal objects collected around my home, including my own ceramic vessels. Painting these familiar objects allows me to revisit their forms, colours and surfaces through a different medium, creating a connection between my ceramic and painting practices.

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I was honoured to be a finalist in the Siliceous Ceramics Awards in 2021 and the North Queensland Ceramic Awards in 2022 and 2026. My professional development has included a three-week ceramic residency in South Korea in 2024. In 2027, I will undertake a two-week residency at The Skopelos Foundation for the Arts on the Greek island of Skopelos.

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I have also worked and exhibited under my married name, Sarah Drysdale. Alongside my studio practice, I have been actively involved in arts administration and community leadership, supporting ceramic education, exhibitions and initiatives that encourage artist development.

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My practice continues to evolve through an ongoing exploration of material, surface, colour and process. Whether working with clay or paint, I am drawn to the beauty and complexity of natural forms, and to the possibilities of transforming everyday objects into works of art that invite closer attention and bring joy to everyday life.

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