CERAMICS, SCULPTURE
Toni Bielby is ceramic sculptor who uses clay as her medium of choice to encapsulate the special character of the birds, animals and plants she encounters around the Sunshine Coast. Based in Yandina her studio is located in a lush rainforest which is flush with natural inspiration. She often has a lot of feathered visitors in and around her studio who are often reflected in her sculptors. These include a bold Yellow Eastern Robin who often comes in to inspect the rafters for spider snacks. And a cheeky golden Whistler who loves chattering and knocking on the windows while she works.
Through quiet observation and patient sculpting Toni channels her skills to create lifelike tributes that reflect the individual personalities or stories of each of her subjects. Often her sculpture consists of textured pressing of bark, flowers, fruits or leaves that reflect what each species needs to survive. Through her work she hopes to highlight how precarious the relationship between birds and their chosen habitat and reminds us why we need to help preserve and protect our natural environment.
MEDIA
Clay, Ceramics.
CONTACT DETAILS
Name: Toni-Marie Bielby
Address: 79 Colemans Road, Yandina, Qld, 4561
More About You
I have been creating artworks all of my life and have worked with a range of mediums. When I was a young adult drawing was my passion until I discovered clay. Since my discovery of clay the main focus of my work has been free hand pottery sculpture, particularly creating people’s pets with clay.
I am passionate about sharing my art skills and knowledge with others so became and visual arts teacher and have been teaching children and young adults to create artworks using different art mediums and styles for the past 10 years. For the past year I have been hosting adult and children pottery workshops at my pottery studio located on my property in rural Yandina.
Recently I have taken on the role of arts curator at the Yandina Historic House Arts Gallery. I love that I am able to meet and work with other artists and that I am helping to promote and share the artwork of our talented local artists with the wider community.