While I was an undergraduate at Towson University, I really got hooked on firing with soda in a converted electric kiln. It is amazing to me how many of the things I learned on my parents padio 5 years that are still relevant to what I am doing with wood firing today. I probably fired a few more that 20 times in a 7 cubic foot gutted electric kiln shell made of soft brick. With only a few modifications you can fire one of these things with propane and wood to cone 10 in about 7 hours, and unload it the next day! This pot is from one of those firings on October 8th, 2008. At the time, I knew I liked the colors and surfaces, but I now know how important they are to me and my work. This piece was made from Standard's 306 body and had a thin layer of temmonku glaze sprayed around the top third. With help from the intense flame and soda vapors, the glaze ran and acted much like an ash glaze. I strive to get these effects on my current work. You can also see the orange peal effect of the soda that breaks up the raw brown clay body. While I wait for construction of my new, much bigger, and much more permanent kiln to start, I am thinking of revisiting this way of firing with some smaller loads.... Classes are filling up at The Little Pottery Shop on East St. in Downtown Frederick! The up coming session will be the last of 2012. I will be teaching Monday and Tuesday mornings from 9-12:00 pm and Wednesday nights from 6:30-9:30 pm. You can see the full schedule of class here |
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April 2019
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