Craft refined through patience and practice

Ceramic artist Karen Steenbergen is not at all surprised by the recent resurgence in popularity of her chosen craft.
The Torquay creative took up ceramics 15 years ago and remembers it was love at first sight when she first saw a friend bring a vase to life at her potter’s wheel.
“I was just so amazed to see something appear from nothing,” Karen recalls.
“It was a ball of clay and with a few direct hand movements it turned into a very three dimensional, very tactile and very beautiful thing.
“It was so inspiring to see.”
For Karen, who moved to the Surf Coast from Melbourne a few years ago, ceramics was a natural progression from other creative pursuits such as knitting and mosaics.
She completed a Diploma in Ceramics at Holmesglen Institute of Tafe in 2012 and recently returned from a two-month residency at Guldagergaard, International Ceramics Centre in Denmark.
Now working under the business name KARst Ceramics, her bespoke pieces and commissions are mostly made with translucent clay and inspired by the natural environment – from bright ocean blues to earthy ochre tones.
“I grew up on a hobby farm in Gippsland so I bring the green pastures into my work,” she explains.
“Then there are the colours and textures of the local coastline and also the colours of the You Yangs from when I am out hiking.”
Karen says she was drawn to the Surf Coast for the fresh sea air and the vibrant arts community.
“I moved from Melbourne’s western suburbs where the arts were more hidden,” she says.
“I kind of knew the Surf Coast was a bit of a mecca for artists.
“I have met so many artists and got so much inspiration to progress a career in the arts.”
Karen quickly immersed herself in the community, joining multiple local organisations including Surf Coast Arts, Surf Coast Art Space and Anglesea Art House.
She also runs ceramics classes and workshops.
Karen says it is wonderful to see more people enjoying the benefits of learning the art of pottery and ceramics.
She attributes its recent popularity to a couple of things – mindfulness and sustainability.
“I think one of the reasons is people are so into social media and this a chance to put those devices down, and turn off the TV and Netflix, and create something with their hands,” she explains.
“It’s very mindful. The hours fly by because you really can’t think about anything else so it’s a lovely break.
“People are moving away from disposable things – they want to do something that is more sustainable and not mass produced.
“It has a history because someone has thought about the design, colour and texture.
“Something that has the hands of the maker on it.”
Karen says while working with clay is rewarding, it is not easy and requires plenty of patience and practice.
Recently she started experimenting with 3D clay printing after her partner, Lars Pehrsson, built her two printers.
“It’s kind of a collaboration between the two of us and we’ve been playing with some designs.”
Some of those 3D pieces feature in a current group exhibition called REVEAL at The Hive Gallery which runs throughout August.
The exhibition is part of the Surf Coast Shire’s newly launched #NotTheSurfCoastArtsTrail presents PORTAL, an online festival developed in response to the COVID-19 restrictions to ensure there is still a gathering space for Surf Coast creatives of all disciplines.
Karen is the Aireys/Fairhaven/Lorne Co-ordinator for PORTAL and is relishing the opportunity to help promote the talents of creatives in those areas.
“Rather than abandon the festival the idea was to see if we could get the artists to go online,” she says.
“It’s exciting to hear new ideas bubbling that may never have appeared in a normal arts trail year.”
Visit surfcoastartstrail.com.au to find out more about PORTAL events during August. To discover more about Karen’s work and classes visit
karstceramics.com.au.