A Gallery of Work by Denise McDonald

01

Flannel Flower Range

This range of work incorporates a vintage flannel flower pattern sourced from an Australian Federation domestic glass window pane. The relief design is impressed into slabs of clay which are then manipulated into 3 dimensional forms, often with the help of the potters wheel. Available Colours: white/buff combination, deep green, deep blue and teal.

A generously sized mug, 8.5cm tall x 10.5-11cm dia. Approx 400ml capacity. Available in all colours of the range; Teal, Deep Blue, Deep Green, and Buff-White.
Tall mug 11.5cm tall x 8-8.5cm dia. Approx 300ml capacity. Available in all colours of the range: Buff-White, Teal, Deep Blue, and Deep Green.
A shorter mug – 9.5cm tall. Approx 260ml. Pictured in teal. Available in all colours of the range.
Cylindrical vase in three sizes; Small (13cm tall), Medium (16.5cm tall), Large (23cm tall). Made using a textured slab which is then ‘thrown’ on the potters wheel. Available in the four colours of the range; Teal, Buff-White, Deep Green, and Deep Blue.
Image shows the four colours of the range.
Cup 300ml. Available in all 4 colours of the Flannel Flower Range; White-buff, Teal, Deep Blue, and Deep Green
Teapot 600ml. Pictured in Deep Blue and also available in Teal, Deep Green, Buff-white. Special edition banksia knob or blue wren knob, or more usual swirly knob.
Tumbler cup (without handles) made using a combination of wheel-throwing and slab-building techniques. 260ml capacity. Available in buff/white (pictured), and all the other colours of this range.
Bowl available in large (27cm dia) and small (16.5cm dia – pictured). Available in all colours of the Flannel Flower Range.
20.5cm diameter side plate. Available in all 4 colours of the Flannel Flower Range; Teal, Buff-white, Deep Blue, and Deep Green.
28cm diameter dinner plate. Also available in a matching side plate. Available in all the colours of this range: Buff-white (pictured), Teal, Deep Blue, Deep Green.
Pitcher available in large (24cm tall) and small (16.5cm tall) sizes. The large is shown here in Deep Blue glaze, and the small is shown in buff/white.
A low and long jug perfect for gravy. Available in all the colours of the range. 450ml capacity. Pictured in Deep Pool Blue and Teal.
Small lidded jar and pourer. Jar is 230ml capacity, pourer is 200ml capacity. Available in all 4 colours of the Flannel Flower Range; Teal, Buff-white, Deep Blue, and Deep Green. Black Banksia Spoon optional for the buff-white jar.
Little cups for espresso or sake. 55ml capacity. Available in the four colours of the range; Buff-white, Deep Green, Deep Blue, Teal. Images shows some experimental ones in purple glaze.
Made from white translucent porcelain, the thin walls allow candle light to glow through the flannel flower pattern. Glazed on the interior for easy cleaning, the exterior is unglazed and sanded to a smooth finish. Available in 3 sizes; small, medium and large. The image shows the medium size.
Square plate with irregular rim. Available in 2 sizes, small (14cm x 14cm) and large (28cm x 28cm). Pictured here in Deep Green, they are also available in all other colours of the range – buff-white, teal and ‘Deep Blue’.
Small square plate as above. Pictured here in the 4 Flannel Flower colours; Teal, Deep blue, Deep green, and White-buff.
Rectangular plate 14cm wide x 28cm long. Pictured here in Deep Blue. Available in all the colours of the range; Buff-White, Deep Green, Teal, and Deep Blue (pictured).
Oval Platter with wavy rim. 32.5cm long axis. Pictured in Deep Blue and available in all colours of the range.
Deep Bowl in the Japanse Tea bowl tradition, 500ml capacity. Pictured here in Deep Green. Available also in Teal, Deep Blue and Buff-White.
Bottle shaped bud vase available in the four colours of the range; Teal, Buff-White, Deep Green and Deep Blue. 10cm tall.
The original glass window of Flannel Flowers

02

The Banksia Range

The Banksia Range features an original design of Australian Banksia (Banksia serrata), indigenous to the local Sydney area. Real leaves and carefully crafted stamps have been impressed into clay to make a textured surface. The same forms as the Flannel Flower Range are produced, using the same ’slab-throwing’ and hand building techniques.

Banksia Butter Dish
Banksia Serving Platter
Banksia Teapot
Banksia Square Plates
Banksia Vase Set
Banksia Tall Vase

03

Colour Duos

A range of functional mid-fire stoneware with an emphasis on simple elegant form and vibrant colour. I am working with satin and glossy glazes in combination to provide surface contrast as well as dramatic colour contrasts. Colour combos include; Satin/gloss teal, Satin Licorice/Teal, Magenta/Teal, Blue/Teal and Green/Blue.

A large simple shallow platter thrown on the wheel.
Shallow Platter in teal and magenta
Flannel Flower Platter (Triangulated)
The result of a commission for Black Market Roasters in 2015 and Auvers Cafe in 2017, these handle-less cups have become quite popular. They come in 3 sizes: espresso (70-80ml), regular (170-180ml), and large (280-300ml). They can be glazed as shown with a teal glossy glaze inside and Licorice (Speckled satin black) outside. They can also be glazed in a teal/magenta, blue/teal, or green/blue combo.
Espresso cup size of the Cafe Cup design. Also nice for sake.
Pourer in tiny (7.5cm tall) and small size (11cm tall). Both are easy to hold in the hand with no handle.
Pourers and espresso cups in teal and magenta glazes
A small round shaped bowl (11.5cm dia x 7.5cm tall). Available in Licorice/teal (pictured), Teal/magenta, and other colour combos of the range.
Small Round Bowl. Pictured here in Teal/Magenta option.
Simple bowl approx 16cm dia x 7.5cm. Thrown on the potters wheel and glazed in bold colour. Also available in a slightly wider version (19.5cm dia)

04

Sculptures

I occasionally indulge in the odd bit of sculptural work, usually animal portraits.

Blue Wrens. Free standing individual birds with wire legs
Blue Wrens. Free standing individual birds with wire legs
Currawong (Lifesize)
Noisy Miners
Noisy Miners (detail)
Blue Wrens. Free standing individual birds with wire legs
Blue Wrens – Sitting Pretty. Sculptural piece for the exhibition “Heathland’ held in 2013
Blue Wrens – Choosing. Sculptural piece for the exhibition “Heathland’ held in 2013

05

Commissions

Bespoke tableware created for restaurants, cafe’s and individual clients.

Coffee Cup – Black Market Roasters
Coffee Cups – Black Market Roasters
Narrow Trays – Pinbone Restaurant
Oval plates – Pinbone Restaurant
Doily Plates – Porcelain with impressed doiley lace. Commissioned by private client
Plates – Commissioned by private client
Large cup with handle – Glass Alley Cafe
White Tablewares
White Tablewares
Cafe cups – Auvers Cafe
Cafe cups – Black Market Roasters
Cafe cups – Black Market Roasters
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