Journal

Why every potter needs a split-leg apron

April 2, 2020 by Deanna Roberts 13 Comments

When I first visited China in 2015 on a pottery residency, I noticed so many potters using a split-leg apron. Upon returning to Australia I sought out various fabrics that would suit my own design and began to source upholstery fabrics for their hard-wearing capability and endurance. We potters do make a mess and this type of fabric is perfect for the clay and glazes we tend to throw at it.

As a pottery teacher I have made myself many of these aprons as teaching a few classes a week requires a clean apron each time! Many of my students have also purchased these aprons and are proud to parade them around the studio and even at work.

The aprons are ideal for when you’re sitting at the pottery wheel working as they keep the mess off your clothes and cover your legs (usually to below the knee depending on how tall you are. Aprons can also be customised to suit your height).

They’re also great for working at a bench as it saves having to have a towel draped over your legs.

There’s quite a bit that goes into these aprons:

Firstly… the fabric is sourced (as much as possible) from industry off-cuts that usually end up in landfill. Website image - pottery split-leg aprons 1 These offcuts are new and unused and by using them means that in a small way, we’re all contributing to saving the planet, one apron at a time.

Secondly… the fabric is pre-washed to minimise shrinkage and paired up with a contrasting fabric.

Next…. pieces are laid out and cut to size, individually overlocked, seams ironed and pieces sewn together with a designer label and washing instruction label inside.

Website image - pottery split-leg aprons 2

Next… neck and waist straps are then chosen from either, black, white or cream-coloured herringbone tape and measured to fit. These are then ironed once sewn on.

Next… each apron is photographed, each photo edited and then used to advertise online.

Website image - pottery split-leg aprons 6

Then… upon purchase, each apron is carefully folded and packed and on its way to you.

As a side note – caring for your aprons is a must. If they’ve got a lot of clay and glazes and other residue on them, be sure to give them a good hose-down by pegging them to your washing line first. For many, this type of wash will suffice. You can then throw them in your washing machine on a gentle cycle and add fabric softener too if you wish.

Thanks for all your support. It’s such a pleasure making these aprons and I’m only too happy to share the joy around. Please leave me a comment below or testimonial from having bought your own, unique split-leg apron.

To purchase your own unique, one-off apron – visit the Shop

Cheers, Deanna

19 How to organise a market stall

May 17, 2018 by Deanna Roberts Leave a Comment

So, you’re looking to sell your wares at a local market? There are lots of things to consider when thinking about how to organise a market stall. Here are a few hints and tips that may assist you when getting organised:

How to organise a market stall (1)

Local Markets

Do your homework. What markets are in your local area?
What do the markets sell now that may be in competition to your items or that sell well? Are there buyers queuing up to buy your type of goods?
What is the weather going to be like? Is it a factor in whether the market runs or not? Does it affect your setup?
How often do the markets run?
What is the cost for a stall? Is it going to be worthwhile?
Are you required to have your own insurance? (highly recommended)
What happens if you cancel your stall?
Check the Market’s terms and conditions. If there aren’t any, be wary.
Is the market purely for arts and crafts? Is it a trash and treasure market combined with crafts? Generally, buyers expect markets to offer cheaper prices. Be prepared to barter with your customers and to bring your prices down if you’re at a carboot sale or trash and treasure type market.
Have a look at online reviews of the markets you’re interested in, or visit one for yourself and check out the local traffic, parking facilities, custom, hours of operation etc. Talk to some of the stallholders and regular visitors for their thoughts and what they’re looking for and expecting to pay for goods and stalls.
Book ahead and pay for your site. Plan ahead and think well in advance about how you want to stock and set up your stall.
Night markets v. day markets? Which ones suits you best? Which ones will most likely attract your target market?
Does the market allow you sufficient space? Your stall size could be 3 m x 1.5 m, or 3 x 3 m or something different… see what options are available.
Does it allow you space to demonstrate your craft?

Stock

Make sure you’ve got plenty of stock.
Don’t lay out all your stock first. Clutter = confusion and makes it really difficult for a buyer to choose the right item.
Once an item is sold, then replace it from your stock.
Pricing your stock is not always an easy task. Check out what your competition is charging. Talk to the market organisers as to what their customers expect – cheap or higher pricing? Visiting a trash and treasure market might be ideal for you to offload some of your excess stock or seconds at a cheaper price than normal.

How to organise a market stall (4)

Display

Keep it minimalistic. Less is more.
You can pick up all sorts of display items cheaply at trash and treasure markets, carboot sales, local tips – where they keep items back from landfill for sale, recycle centres and op shops.
Think about display boxes, cloths, ornaments, food (for functional ware) eg apples in a large bowl, trinkets, dividers and any sort of partitioning and shelving.
Be sure to check whether you need to BYO tables and chairs or whether they’re provided. Investing in a couple of trestle/fold-up tables and camping chairs is a great idea.
Think about the setup and how your customers are going to feel when they see your display. Is it welcoming? Is it intimidating? Is it light or dark and easy to see your display? Sometimes people don’t feel comfortable having to move into a space where you’re sitting or if it’s too far back from the main path or if they feel they’re being watched. Consider a u-shape design where they can move around easily or even just a front table where you sit or stand behind.
Storage boxes are great to turn upside down and place under cloths to gain extra display height.
If the ground is uneven on the market site, take chocks along to raise your table height, or if possible and safe to do so, use a hammer or pick to create a hole in the ground to lower one side of the table.
Keep your cash float hidden. When customers purchase using a credit or debit card keep the card in their view at all times so that they know that it’s not being tampered with or scanned etc. I’d highly recommend using Square for credit card purchases – it’s cheap, quick and easy and you receive notification (via email) of sales instantly. It takes about 3 days for the cash to hit your back account and yes, they have a fee, but you can also include that in your purchase price of course. If you’re interested in signing up for their services, just click here and receive free processing on up to $1,000 in sales during your first 180 days – Square.

Signage

What signage do you have to promote yourself and/or your business? Do you have a banner?
Business cards and posters
Display signs showing the price of items
Consider displaying a short paragraph or two about yourself and your background, how you came to produce the items you do, your inspirations etc – people love a good story.
Think about the colour of your signs. They need to be easy to read and also stand out. Bargains are always a standout in a red coloured font.
Sandwich/A-frame boards are also a good idea as people will see them before they even get to your stall

How to organise a market stall (3)

Insurance

Consider purchasing your own public liability and product liability insurance. There are plenty of providers out there for one-off events or for an annual premium. If you’re an Australian Ceramics Association member you can organise insurance along with your membership. Regional Arts Victoria also offer insurance packages, as do various insurance brokers. It’s worth doing your homework.
Keep insurance at the top of your priority list and protect yourself.

What to take

A friend to help you setup and sell!
Marquee/display tent
Cash float
Tables, boxes, shelving, racks
Table cloths
Display boxes and stands
Stationery (bulldog clips, notepad and pen, price tags, price stands, scissors, rubber bands, Blu-tak, thick textas,
Wet wipes and cleaning cloths (some sites can be dry and dusty)
Promotional banner, business cards, gift certificates, flyers
Carry bags, gift wrap, gift bags
Tools – hammer, rope, tent pegs, sandbags, S-hooks
Food and drinks
Wet weather gear – umbrella, rain coat, gumboots, tarpaulins, plastic cloths
Your products
Trolley for moving items from your car to your stall
Camera – always good for PR shots of your stall and promoting the event on social media!

Markets are great fun and can be a wonderful community of people who are willing to help you out on the day, look after your stall and share their hints and tips. Get along, have some fun and sell your stuff!

How to organise a market stall (2)

Leave a comment below and let us know your thoughts and experiences in setting up your own stall!

18 How to write an artist statement

August 7, 2017 by Deanna Roberts Leave a Comment

So, you’ve got an exhibition in mind and you’re ready to apply right? They’re asking you for an artist statement and you’re wondering how on earth you write something like that? Ok… maybe you’ve written a few already and are still not sure whether it’s the right thing… or you’ve done an online search on how to write an artist statement.

Well, let me say, I’ve written a few myself too and I’m still not 100% sure what’s right or what’s wrong, but I am sure that there is no 100% right or wrong. Different gallery owners and exhibition judges look for different things, I do know that. Remember too that there are a lot of people that are going to read your statement, should your application be successful. Of course you can have it featured on your Faceboook, Instagram page and website but also, if it’s going to be displayed on a plinth at an exhibition, people will stop and read about you.

Having hunted around on the internet myself on many occasions I’ve found that the main gist of writing is to include information about you and what inspired your work to come to fruition. It doesn’t have to be deep and meaningful or complicated. Keep it simple and keep it true. Avoid babbling on. You want to keep the reader there, looking at your work, not bored with verbal diarrhoea.

Add some humour to it too if it pushes your buttons. It may include a story (why not add in a cartoon perhaps?) from your childhood or an occasion where something ridiculous happened and from that came the inspiration for your work. For example… let’s say you face-planted a birthday cake one day by accident. From that point on you began to make face sculptures that had additional texture and layers added.

It’s all about sharing what’s true and genuine. Talk about yourself but keep it simple. We’re not sending out life stories here. Sincerity is the key.

Here are a few links which I’ve found helpful and you may also find can assist you in composing your statement:

Art League

Agora Gallery

Art Business Info

Of course, plagiarism is out of the question but do check out some of the artist statements of artists you admire and you know have built a reputation for their work. Compare and pick out the bits you like and ask yourself why you like them. What is it about those sentences or paragraphs that you like so much? What appeals? Then write your own with all of the above in consideration.

Lastly, get someone who’s done it before and had success to read yours and pick it to bits. You may get a gold star, sure, but you may also get some objective criticism, which is of course invaluable to your own success and progress. The key thing with succeeding at how to write an artist statement, for sure, is to look at those who have gone before you. What have they done to succeed? Learn from them and utilise those learnings in your own development.

Knock yourself out! And… good luck 🙂

17 Transformers autobot in San Bao? What the?

May 23, 2017 by Deanna Roberts Leave a Comment

Entrance to Ancient Artist Museum – San Bao (© Deanna Roberts 2017)

Transformers in San Bao? What the? Keep reading…

So, you’re off on a day trip and someone’s suggested San Bao, about 15 mins from Jingdzhen. I guess you then wonder what to do in San Bao. Well… there’s plenty to keep you occupied. You can always hire a taxi to take you there, jump on the back of a motorbike or pedal your own way. San Bao is only a short distance from Jingdezhen and when you head up the main drag and hang a left, you’ll see that big blue sign on the road that announces the entrance to San Bao.

Road to San Bao (© Deanna Roberts 2017)

In 2015 the amount of roadworks undertaken in San Bao was huge. The roads certainly left a lot to be desired but have since been fixed up a great deal and make travel that much more pleasant. Be sure to find out what you can about the area before departing. There’s lots of history in San Bao, lots of stories and loads to look at.

Pop by the Ancient Artists Museum adjacent to the Hang Guang Ceramic Cultural Center and explore the grounds. The entrance road may seem long but the scenery is gorgeous and the mountains in the background are beautiful when lit up by the sun. Follow the path around to the left and you’ll see the artisans at work, displaying the old and traditional methods of craftsmanship.

Raodway entrance into the old part of the museum (© Deanna Roberts 2017)

(© Deanna Roberts 2017)

There’s a great deal to see and the artists there may even offer you a paintbrush to have a go yourself. It’s really interesting to watch and you can only admire the patience and skill these artisans have. They spend hours and hours perfecting their craft and showing it off on beautifully crafted ware.

(© Deanna Roberts 2017)

Venture out the back of the museum too. The buildings have been constructed in a very traditional manner using materials that look like their going to flake off at any time, yet have stood the test of time and endured the elements.

(© Deanna Roberts 2017)

Not sure whether this workman was fixing the road or weeding the path, but either way it was hard work and lots of elbow grease as he painstakingly sat in the scorching sun chipping away at the sandy mortar between each stone block at his feet.

(© Deanna Roberts 2017)

Hang Guang Ceramic Cultural Experience Centre (© Deanna Roberts 2017)

Be sure to look out for things along the way too and take your camera; you just never know what you might find!

‘Transformers’ autobot figure on the road to San Bao (© Deanna Roberts 2017)

Transformers in San Bao? What the? This ‘Transformers’ autobot figure pictured above was found behind this wall (below) – you can just see a glimpse of the autobot on the right of the archway. It was the archway that caught my eye straight away – the work that must’ve gone into it to put it together… and keep it stable no less! Amazing workmanship. Once you enter the timber yard, you’ll see little pockets of galleries along the side and a few bits of artwork scattered across the path. A fascinating place to visit.

Timber yard and gallery entrance on the road to San Bao (© Deanna Roberts 2017)

16 Where to find food in Jingdezhen

May 11, 2017 by Deanna Roberts Leave a Comment

It’s really daunting when you arrive in a strange country, let alone a strange city where time appears to have stood still in many ways. Not being able to speak the language is one thing but not being able to find or ask for food that you need is another. This blog article ‘Where to find food in Jingdezhen’ is more like a list of what to look for, look out for and where to find it. There is a wealth to choose from. Jingdezhen has no shortage of restaurants or food outlets, whether it’s on the street or in the most sophisticated of restaurants. Over the years the number of restaurants and cafes have grown from a meagre few to buckets of them… the choice is huge and dining out is certainly a popular pastime.

So, let’s kick it off…

One thing I discovered at a restaurant in San Bao was the drink Wang Lao Ji. It’s not everybody’s favourite thing but it was certainly mine. I was ever so pleased to find out I could buy it back in Australia at the local Asian supermarkets! It’s also apparently for calming the body’s changes in temperatures and restoring body balance and ‘climatic normality’. I really enjoyed it with most of the food I ate anyway.

It’s pretty much available everywhere. If you don’t find it at a local street shop you’ll find it many restaurants and cafes. It’s like the Coca-Cola of China.

Try it!

© Deanna Roberts 2017

Definitely give the street food a go. Ok… some of it you need to be wary of – eg if it’s been out in the open for a while. Go for the freshly cooked stuff. This guy here was making amazingly thin pancakes and filling them with his special sauce, chilli, chopped greens and a crunchy crostini-type thing. Whatever it was, it was yummy.

Pancakes, dumplings, fish, you name it. Street food has soooooooooooo much on offer. Many of the the street food vendors are selling food at night and also many during the day. You can find a few dotted along the main drag and also at each end of the Sculpture Factory road. The markets also have a lot on offer and street food there is very popular with people queuing up on occasion… especially for the fresh stuff.

© Deanna Roberts 2017

Now you just never know who you’re going to meet. Maije and her husband found me in my residency studio after asking around. A group of us had visited her hubby’s studio a few weeks beforehand and I’d admired his work, asked about it and posed for a few photos. Next thing I was at their home learning how to make dumplings with them and eating mountains of food coupled with a plum wine and lots of conversation. Good thing I had someone there to interpret. What was going to be a short lunch turned into an afternoon of entertaining discussion. Nothing beats the traditional fare I have to say.

Naturally, there’s a wealth of tea to choose from. Whether you shop at the local supermarket, market or venture to towns like Yao Li, the choice of tea is huge. Some of the packaging is simply exquisite and gift-boxed so that you don’t even need to worry about wrapping paper and a card! Shop around though. Green tea ranges in price from just a few dollars for a few hundred grams to hundreds of dollars a kilo. Yes, there is definitely a difference in the taste, and I’m told… how it has been hand-picked and handled, so it really comes down to what suits your taste and budget. Rose bud tea was definitely a fave and again, delightful to know I could also purchase it back home. Most restaurants will serve up green tea automatically on your arrival and it’s customary to rinse out your glass, chopsticks, spoon, bowl and plate before use. There’s usually a pot of tea in the centre for all to use to pour and then a bowl to pour in the used liquid. Some restaurants will also serve you with crockery pre-wrapped and vacuum sealed plastic in order to show you that it has all been carefully washed and is hygienic.

© Deanna Roberts 2017

Tea, is, of course, such a natural part of the Chinese culture. To sit down and talk for hours and share tea, carefully brewed and handled is all part of the customary process. Don’t be surprised if you are also offered small treats along with it, for example, fruit, snack bars and other little sweet temptations.

© Deanna Roberts 2017

Whether you dine locally or venture out of town to places like Po Yung, there’s always more to discover. What you know as a favourite dish locally may also be called the same thing when you’re dining out of town but can look and taste slightly different. Be prepared for those variations as we’re not talking fast-food chains here. Many restaurants also have plastic sheets on the tables as it is also customary to leave your food scraps beside your plate and on the plastic. The plastic is then removed and often just wrapped up and thrown away… scraps ‘n all. You may be invited to sit down at a table where others have just left and their scraps of chicken or fish bones and other discarded items may still be sitting there awaiting disposal. Be prepared for anything really.

© Deanna Roberts 2017

With fine dining, there’s usually the big ‘lazy-susan’ thing in the middle and you’ll no doubt end up sharing various dishes with your other guests. The most respected guest at your table usually sits furthest away from the door and often one person at the table pays for all guests. The waiting staff will often be holding a mobile device and select menu items from there so it pays to know what you’re ordering – ask to look at the images or take photos of food you have discovered you like and show it to them. Lotus root, fried chicken and fried dumplings are certainly popular.

When we say be prepared for anything… well… yes… there may still be the odd restaurant that serves dog. How its all served I don’t know. I have never been game enough to try, nor do I intend to. I’m not even sure how many of those restaurants still exist but if you spot a cage of dogs outside the front of a restaurant, well… you can draw your own conclusions. I’ve also heard that restaurants serving dog are now banned in the major cities (maybe a rumour?) but how far that rule has reached I cannot say. Ask around. It may or may not be your thing, but it’s worth checking either way. There are certainly lots of different ways that we do things, regardless of what country you’re from, we all have our customs and our preferred cuisines. It just comes down to what you’re prepared to try and how your taste buds are going to react. Having someone who speaks and reads the local lingo though, is definitely worthwhile.

© Deanna Roberts 2017

In comparison there’s also the hot pot concept where you share a table with a group of friends and have a hotplate and hot pot directly in front of each of you. Decide between yourselves what fresh ingredients you’re going to order and plates of fresh hot pot items will arrive for you to share around and make up your own concoctions.

Often the water in your pots may already be boiling if they’re anticipating your arrival and you may well find a few dates and perhaps a piece of lotus root in the pot, bubbling away, and adding a small, refreshing touch of sweetness along with beautiful aromas. Try different combinations, test a few things out. Its the perfect opportunity. Its fresh, its tasty and its totally up to you what you throw in to your hot pot.

© Deanna Roberts 2017

There are also some very contemporary cafes around too and it’s worth popping in for the atmosphere. Yo Yo Cafe in Gallery street is well worth a visit but be prepared to pay through the nose for a coffee, ie about 4 times more than what you might pay elsewhere.

© Deanna Roberts 2017

Yinji Cafe is also very eclectic (located just around the corner from the Jingdezhen Ceramics Institute) and well worth a visit. Venture up the stairs to their little gallery of antiquities or stay downstairs and watch a movie on the big screen while you devour a piece of cheesecake and a cuppa. Makes for an interesting night out too.

© Deanna Roberts 2017

Well, now you can say you’ve had a taste of what’s on offer (no pun intended). Failing all of that there is the supermarket and the fresh fruit stalls. The red dragon fruit (Hóng lóng guǒ) is delectably sweet and delicious and should be on your ‘bucket food list’. If you want to remain with completely westernised styled food, there’s always Walmart. Be prepared, again, to pay through the nose for what you want, usually located in the foreign-food section.

If you’ve got your own food ideas and experiences of where you’ve been in Jingdezhen and what you’ve tried, whether it’s their amazing chicken soup (head ‘n all) or turtle or the simplest of cuisines, we’d love to hear about it. Please share here in the comments below.

Happy dining!

15 How to carve into clay in Jingdezhen

April 26, 2017 by Deanna Roberts Leave a Comment

Carving – Chen Min – Sculpture Factory, Jingdezhen © Deanna Roberts 2017

Learning to throw on a potter’s wheel and learning how to create amazing sculptures from clay is one thing… learning to carve into it is another thing all together. That’s why a trip overseas is so worthwhile so that you can learn how to carve into clay in Jingdezhen. It is the porcelain capital after all and where all the masters of this incredible artistry work and live and breathe ceramics. It is the mecca for ceramic artists and is the place to visit to learn about its history and those skills and mastery have been handed down from generation to generation, over thousands of years.

So, if you’re a visiting artist in Jingdezhen, be sure to capitalise on the opportunity to take up a carving lesson. One of the best in the business, one of the masters, is Chen Min. Her carving skills are amazing and her talents are beyond measure. The beauty of Chen Min’s teaching is that she is so patient, so endearing and so skilfull. She’ll work with you, show you every little detail and even provide you with your own set of tools, handcrafted and sharpened by her own hand.

Here are the basics:

Create a ceramic piece so that it’s bone dry
Select your design
Draw your design on to your piece in pencil

Using a narrow carving tool start to carve around the edges
Using a wider carving tool carve around the outside to slowly taper the edges into the rest of the piece

Use a razor blade (carefully…) to shave off any excess and level out the surface
Carve the inside edges of your design

Dust as you go (those big bushy brushes you can buy in Jingdezhen are the best!)
Bisque fire your piece and/or glaze your piece (celadon glazes are the best to show off your design) and fire it accordingly
Brag yourself silly 🙂

Take the time to pop into Chen Min’s studio in The Sculpture Factory too – she’s so accommodating and will no doubt share a pot of green tea with you and show you her work and probably that of her apprentice too.

Travel around Jingdezhen as much as possible and check out some of the carving at the Ancient Kiln Museum and at the Fake Antiques Market too – the work there is simply mind blowing. Many of the larger pots are thrown on the wheel by the big-pot throwers and the walls left thick so there’s something to carve into. The patience and pain-staking work involved is astounding.

14 How to make decorative tableware

April 16, 2017 by Deanna Roberts Leave a Comment

Ok, so this is a break from the normal Jingdezhen travel tales, but essential I feel! As it happens I was sent an image of a piece of tableware with a cherry blossom design and at the time happened to be selecting a cherry blossom image for a Spring edition newsletter I was writing for an aged care facility. The way things work out huh? I know…so here’s one way you can learn how to make decorative tableware.

Anyway, so came about this Blossom Series of tableware that was an unforeseen success due to the wrong glazes being used. The idea was to use a clear glaze over a copper rust glaze but instead of using the clear glaze I grabbed the White Glaze bucket instead and the results were fabulous.

Blossom series jug - (9) 12 x 9 x 13.5 H (excl handle) - Deanna Roberts

Blossom series - (6) 14 x 7 cm H - Deanna Roberts

Blossom series - (3) Bowl - 12.5 x 10 x 9.5 cm H - Deanna Roberts

Blossom series bowl (2) - Deanna Roberts

The next test was on the marketplace, the people, the pottery addicts, the fans and the admirers who attend the annual Pottery Expo at Warrandyte, here in Melbourne. Well… to keep it short – sold out! Good thing I was able to repeat the success.

Here are a couple of links to two of the finished items: Cherry Blossom Bowl and Blossom Vessel. You can view more in my Shop.

Here’s the drill:

Throw your pots
Trim/turn your pots to the desired shape
Carve in your desired pattern into the side of your pot and paint in your slip mix
When dry, scrape back the excess to reveal a lovely clean line
Bisque fire your pots to 1000 deg C
Glaze the pots as desired, then using a sharp tool, scratch out the ‘blossom’ petals
Fire to 1280 deg C oxidation, electric kiln or gas 1340 deg C
Voila!

Here’s the visual version:

So have a go, it’s easy enough, but time consuming. It does require patience and a bit of testing in your own kiln, own glazes etc but it’s worth it.

To purchase the items, please visit my Shop to view more wonderful creations!

13 Jingdezhen Travel tips – What else to consider before you travel

April 5, 2017 by Deanna Roberts Leave a Comment

Travelling to Jingdezhen encompasses a whole lot of considerations, many of which you will learn along the way but there are other things to consider before you travel.

Photography Do’s and Don’ts

Many shops, markets and other general outlets allow you to photograph artworks. Look around first though as there may well be signs prohibiting photography. You may well find these in galleries and exhibitions, festivals and expos, airports, tourist areas and specialty shops. When you visit markets it’s almost expected that you’ll take photographs. Do the right thing though and ask for permission from the artist first, just to be sure. Some will get pretty annoyed with you if you don’t ask first, even though a no-photography sign is not displayed. If you are showing off any of your own artwork also expect that it will be photographed. I’m not sure what the copyright laws are in Jingdezhen, let alone China, but courtesy never goes astray.

Also, as a tourist and foreigner in Jingdezhen, chances are that you will also be photographed by the locals. Foreigners are seen as quite a novelty so you may be photographed without even knowing it. Keep a lookout if this bothers you. Also avoid photographing anything military. You may well be asked to leave the area or to show your camera to the authorities. Avoid visiting the Helicopter Factory unless you’re accompanied by a local or guide or someone with the appropriate authority and security to move through that area . It has high security and tourists are not welcome in that area. The best option is to simply stay away.

Dining out

Street food is pretty good if it’s fresh. Be careful with food that’s been sitting in the open for a while or is not packaged. I’ve purchased freshly cooked cakes, dumplings and pancakes and also bagged sweet potato chips and tea from street vendors without a problem. Of course that doesn’t mean that you won’t have some sort of reaction. Just be careful. There’s always the supermarket of course and loads of restaurants and they’re usually pretty good. Some are super fancy and very clean and some are just average and some in-between. Shop around and ask for recommendations. Again, I haven’t had any issues but I’ve been in some very classy places and some, well, let’s put it this way…. I would definitely not go back there again. There are lots of cafes and take-away food outlets, fruit and veg shops, supermarkets and street food outlets. Just know what to ask for. Jingdezhen cooks love to add chilli, rather liberally, to almost everything – be careful – it’s hot! Really hot! Learn how to ask for chilli or other ingredients to be excluded from dishes if that’s what you prefer and ask for it up front, even at your artist residency kitchen.

Public Toilets

Be prepared for ‘squat’ toilets and not flushing your loo paper – or in fact there being any available – take some hygienic toilet wipes or tissues with you. Many public toilets have bins for disposal of toilet paper and other hygiene products within the cubicle itself and the bins are not always enclosed so be prepared for unpleasant odours. In saying that, there are some public toilets that are monitored and cleaned constantly and some where western toilets are also available, depending on what city you’re in.

Getting around

When hailing a cab have the addresses of where you’re staying written in Chinese and in English – use something like an online translator before you go (standard Chinese is best) or get someone there to write it down for you in Chinese. Jingdezhen has their own dialect but the locals can usually understand the standard Chinese characters that Google or other app spits out. Buses can also easily get you around town. Again, know where you want to go, how to get there and what it’s likely to cost – have your money ready to give to the driver on embarking. Buses are cheap and cabs are too. Cab drivers do not seem to be afraid of the traffic at all and will weave in and out in order to get to your destination as quickly as possible.

Chances are a motorbike ‘taxi’ will pull up beside you and offer you a lift. Be wary. I’ve known people to utilise this as a service without a problem however it pays to be on your guard. Familiarise yourself with the Chinese words for stop, slow down, turn right or left etc and ask your artist residency for a list of common phrases in order to get yourself around. If you’re really not confident, organise with your residency, hotel or hostel to hire a driver. Rates are very reasonable and you can book them for a few hours while you go shopping, visiting or enjoying other outings.

There is so much more to think about when travelling to Jingdezhen. Tune in to the next blog post for more information and hints and tips. If you have any questions or comments, please make a note below and let me know.

Deanna 🙂

Why every potter needs a split-leg apron