For the last year I have been fortunate to be able to work with Claire Tennant at her workshop Addison Road Creative in Marrickville, We had connected on the phone years ago but only just started working together last year. I enlisted her expertise as a mould-maker for some very large pieces I have been sculpting for one of my clients. Full scale bronze knights in shining armour and life size 2.5 meter wingspan wedge-tail eagles in brass, bronze and stainless steel.

Not only is it great to see a successful woman in the maker industry (Claire studied industrial design, runs her mould-making business and runs ARC studios as well as teaching mould-making courses), it’s great to see another mum making it work in this industry.

Claire and i collaborated on a chandelier make recently. A client of hers wanted a large flying saucer to hover above his dining table in his very eclectic split level home. I built and hand carved the UFO out of polystyrene (a good old film trick). I used a hot knife to cut out all the internal channels to hide the wiring for 7 down-lights and created the housing for each down-light out of PVC pipe. This was a completely custom, one-off build.

Claire then hard-coated the sculpture in resin and gave it a schmick automotive paint finish. She installed the piece and it looks amazing lit up in it’s new home.

Claire is a diamond in the rough! We make a great team and will continue to work together.

www.clairetennant.com.au