Monthly Technical Challenge – February Winner

by | Mar 26, 2026 | Blog Post

 FEBRUARY TECHNICAL CHALLENGE WINNER

Ceramics Art QLD is excited to announce the winner of February’s Technical Challenge, Mushroom Texture & Realism.

Kim Nolan – pictured below in front of her work at the “Moments” Exhibition in Cairns, 2025.

Kim Nolan - Moments Exhibition, Cairns

February’s challenge required participants to push boundaries and explore the abundance of textures within mushrooms. 

Horse Mushrooms - Kim-Nolan 30cm x 20cm x 10cm Lumina White Raku Black clay with oxide and stain washes

Kim Nolan  ‘Horse Mushrooms’

30cm x 20cm x 10cm Lumina, White Raku, Black clay with oxide and stain washes’

February Judge – Bill Powell
Judges Comments:The February CAQ Mushroom Technical Challenge brought forward a variety of both mushroom forms and ceramic techniques. Ranging from fantasy compositions, and fresh interpretations through to double take realism.  I have selected the multi-clayed mushroom composition by Kim Nolan.  Kim addressed all aspects of the outlined criteria superbly. Using both black clay and white porcelain to mimic the nature of all the finer qualities of the Agaricus Arvensis or Horse Mushroom. With a quality image and such a convincing composition, it’s hard to believe its clay.  Congratulations Kim.

Interview with Kim Nolan

  1. What was the most technically demanding part of making the mushrooms look convincingly organic?

This is the first time undertaking to make something realistic so I needed to attached a memory or story to help me relate to what I was making.  I researched into mushrooms and it helped me remember the childhood memory of picking horse mushrooms with my sisters and mother from the family farm in NZ.  I work intuitively, drawing from memories or emotions, so I focused on the texture and softness of the skin of the mushrooms and how it feels to peel the mushroom. For me it always comes down to the small details to complete what it is I’m trying to say with my work.

  1. What was the biggest challenge in translating a soft, delicate natural form into a durable ceramic object?

Because there was not a lot of time to test, I chose to keep the work simple and work with Mid fire black clay for contrast, white raku for the gritty texture and Lumina porcelain for the soft white and only using titanium and rutile oxides to highlight the texture. I also used pink body stain with lumina porcelain to create the blush pink of the younger mushrooms.  Layering the clay bodies in the way I did was a new way of working for me and I really didn’t know how they would look after the final firing

  1. What is your artistic journey? Tell us what inspires you to use clay.

I was lucky that when I moved in 2018 to Cairns, the TAFE had a wonderful Ceramic Block and I learnt from some amazing teachers and had access to wonderful resources.  I was struggling to figure out who I was after moving around so much and the kids leaving home.  With this love of clay and being around like-minded people, I found my place.  Last year though we moved again to Ipswich and I’m in the process of setting up my studio and finding my feet again.  I participated in CAQ’s member exhibition last year and it was lovely to meet new like-minded people.  These monthly challenges have been great for me to having a starting point, to get creative and push my boundaries.