Sharon O’Donnell takes out gong at Cairns Potters Club Melting Pot 2020 National Ceramics Exhibition

A Townsville ceramic artist has been recognised for her interpretation of an organic Australian melting pot.

A Townsville ceramic artist has been recognised for her interpretation of an organic Australian melting pot.

After discovering pottery 16 years ago as a way of meditation, mother-of-four Sharon O’Donnell has spent her time creating ceramic functional wares.

She entered the Cairns Potters Club Melting Pot 2020 National Ceramics Exhibition in December and was picked as the Collins Booksellers winner for her entry Leaves.

Sharon O'Donnell has been making pottery for 16 years and recently won the Collins Booksellers award at the Cairns National Ceramics Exhibition. Pictreu: Evan Morgan

Ms O’Donnell said it was the first competition she had ever entered.

“I just thought why not?

“If I never put myself out there I won’t ever be judged or have the opportunity to be recognised,” she said.

“It really lifted my spirits and I was quite shocked but also really proud to be in among some amazing Australian potters.” It took Ms O’Donnell 10 days to make the globe shaped vase which is etched with banksia and acorn leaves. The Canad­ian-born artist has lived in Townsville since 2014 and said the competition’s theme was close to her heart.

Townsville ceramic artist Sharon O'Donnell was chosen as the Collins Booksellers award winner at the Cairns Potters Club Melting Pot 2020 National Ceramics Exhibition for her entry 'Leaves'.

“I was thinking about what a melting pot is and I have dual Canadian and Australian citizenship and my kids are part Jamaican so we are a bit of a melting pot,” she said.

“I choose a banksia leaf and an acorn leaf which is a melting pot of Australian native flora.”

Originally published as Sharon O’Donnell takes out gong at Cairns Potters Club Melting Pot 2020 National Ceramics Exhibition