I love the variation that occurs naturally across the surface of salt, soda and wood fired pots. My earliest inspiration came from salt firing and the first kiln I built was an oil fired salt kiln. After this I reduction fired in gas kilns for most of my career, before I eventually switched to electric firing in 2009. My goal has always been to create atmospheric surface qualities through careful blending and layering of sprayed glazes. 

In the fall of 2020, Alison Palmer and I will be collaborating in an experimental soda firing workshop. Alison will supply the soda kiln, the glazes, and her firing expertise. I will teach you everything I know about spraying and do throwing demonstrations of my gestural forms. 

As my eye developed as an artist alongside my technical skills as a potter, I yearned to make forms that breathe – pots that look as though they are still soft after they are fired. On the first day I will throw, alter, assemble, apply slip and discuss my approach to gestural forms.

On the second day I will introduce spraying and layering of glazes and students will glaze their pottery. I will concentrate on the basic techniques of spraying and also spend time with more advanced theories of layering and blending glazes. We will be working with the glazes that Alison uses in her soda kiln and I will augment them with my Strontium Crystal Magic to encourage crystal development. Since her soda kiln and glazes are new to me, I consider this workshop experimental! We will then load Alison’s soda kiln and she will fire it on the third day. While the kiln is firing, I will lead discussions on the firing schedule I use in my electric kiln and discuss the equipment required to set up your own spraying studio. I will also suggest ways to experiment with the layering process to create your own unique look after the workshop. On Monday we will reconvene to unload the salt kiln and discuss the results. 

I will bring fired examples of finished pottery to discuss with students and they will be available for purchase.

Schedule for 4-day participatory salt firing workshop:

Day 1

·       I will throw a few pots, assemble and quick dry them. 

Day 2

·       I will lecture on spraying and demonstrate the techniques I use. Participants will glaze in the afternoon and we will load the kiln and begin the firing.

Day 3

·       Alison will fire her soda kiln and we will have further discussions on spraying techniques, firing cycles and the equipment to set up a spraying studio. Ideas for glaze experimentation after the workshop will be covered.

Day 4

·       We will reconvene the following Monday to unload the soda kiln and discuss the results.                             

·       Participants should bring in 4 – 6 small – medium size upright pieces ready to be glazed. They should be in the range of mug to medium vase size (no more than 6-10”). They may also bring 1-2 small horizontal pots (bowls, plates or tiles), to see how the glazes react on non-vertical pieces. The work should be bisque fired before the workshop. The clay used should be ^10 porcelain (preferred choice) or white stoneware.