Mel Robson is a Queensland based potter whose diverse rangeof ceramic vessels are both functional and decoratively sculptural. In her domestic ware the espresso cups and beakers are sparingly decorative and fine. Robson’s most recent porcelain forms are feather weight, paper fine and entirely sculptural. Incorporating images of sewing patterns, wall paper designs and recipes, the translucent, bone coloured works are raising all sorts of questions as to their very survival of an otherwise robust medium. The original forms are thrown on the wheel and then a plaster mould is made from this form. The actual pieces are slipcast in porcelain from this mould. They are fired once (quite low) and then sanded and polished. they are then fired again up to 1300 degrees embedded in a silica powder. This stops them from warping and slumping which can happen with such fine pieces. They are then polished again, and the imagery applied using ceramic decals (like a transfer) that I have made to my specifications from imagery that I scan and then fired again. It is a long and involved process, and many break along the way! Although time and experience is lowering the number of breakages. These pieces are actually quite strong once they have been fired.