2020 biennial North
Queensland
Ceramic Awards

Warren Ogden: Oh, my name's Warren Ogden and I try to make pots.

Interviewer: Where are you from?

Warren Ogden: Originally, Kingaroy down that way. I came off a farm down there. I live in Townsville now, been here for 25 years.

Interviewer: What was your introduction to ceramics?

Warren Ogden: Mainly because of my wife Catherine. She was doing a TAFE course doing ceramics and painting. I've always liked ceramics, even bought a bit over the years, so I thought I'd give it a go too. I did a few lessons on the wheel and that didn't work out well because it turned out I had a heart problem, so I took to hand building, and I can cope with that.

Interviewer: Why was the wheel hard for you?

Warren Ogden: Because you've got to stay focused all the time and you can't just let it go, sit back and relax, and look at it because that just doesn't work. So that's when I decided to try hand building with coils and things like that. I really enjoy that because you can take a rest if you want.

Interviewer: What influences your work?

Warren Ogden: I do like wood-fired pottery, I have to admit. I like anyone that makes something that's fairly organic. I'm not into really fancy design. I like it, but it's not something I could possibly do. So something fairly simple and a bit wobbly.

Interviewer: Why did you choose to enter Monolith.

Warren Ogden: I really liked the shape – it came out really well. I was very happy with it. I thought it was good enough to put forward. I didn't expect to win anything with it, I have to admit. It was the last thing on my mind. Anyway, I'm happy with it.

Interviewer: How long did Monolith take to create?

Warren Ogden: I'm not sure, but it would probably be a couple of months. From the time you start making it, probably two or three days on and off, then it's got to dry for at least a week, in this case probably a month, then it's got to be fired at what they call bisque firing and then put some glaze on it and put it in to fire it again. We set it at 1280°C but our kiln always fires a bit hotter, so it knocks over Cone 10, which is at 1300°C, so it's definitely stoneware.

Interviewer: Why can't you live without in your studio?

Warren Ogden: I don't have a studio as such. I work in the backyard. I've got a table under a big bottle tree. That's where I do most of my work. As far as things I can't do without, I don't know for sure, I think it's just the peace and quiet. I really like birds coming in, since it helps me relax, so that's probably something I couldn't do without and why I enjoy it.

Interviewer: What's the best advice you have been given about being a ceramicist?

Warren Ogden: I guess just try your hardest. It's always something that's been instilled in me.

Interviewer: What are some of the challenges with displaying your work to the public?

Warren Ogden: You've got to make it for yourself. Don't make it for somebody else. If you make it for yourself and you're happy with it, that's good enough. That's the way I look at it anyway. The moment I start thinking I've got to make something that looks like something somebody might like, it doesn't work. When it comes to this sort of thing, for me anyway, forget about exhibitions, you're just making it for yourself.

I get a lot of positive feedback. If I do get criticism, I haven't heard it directly to my face. I get a lot of positive feedback from different people that have bought my work. I just hope they're happy. They must be happy if they buy it. I guess that makes me feel really good that people think it's good enough to put in their home.

Interviewer: When did you sell your first piece?

Warren Ogden: Probably not long after I started, which was about 2012 and I sold my first piece here at the Perc Tucker Regional Gallery. It was a little vase, and it was one of the young girls that worked here who bought it. I don't remember her name, but I remember I came in one day and they said you've sold it. I asked who bought it and they said one of the staff. I don't think she's here anymore, but she was then. That was the first one I ever sold.

Interviewer: Do you have a favourite piece in the Awards?

Warren Ogden: Yes, I do. I don't remember his name, but it's downstairs, the big white one with the black stripes. There's another one in the next little room, the big garden bowl. But the one the black and white, as soon as I walked in the door and saw it, I thought, "That's the one". Everything else is amazing, but that one suits the way I think and that's why I like it so much.

Interviewer: What is it like bgin part of the North Queensland Potters Association?

Warren Ogden: It stays fairly busy, I suppose. We've met a lot of people through there. They're just really good people. They've helped us a lot from when we first started there. Catherine and I joined as members. I remember Fiona Banner took us under her wing. She helped us out a lot and still does. They are a wonderful group of people, and we've learned a lot from them.