Throwing, Spraying and ^6-8 Electric Firing

I love the variation that occurs naturally across the surface of salt, soda and wood fired pots. I salt fired for 2 years in the early 70’s, but spent the next 38 years reduction firing in gas kilns. During the time I reduction fired I learned to create atmospheric surface qualities through careful blending and layering of sprayed glazes.

In December 2008 I discovered that reduction plays a rather insignificant role in the finished look of my pottery. The cascading rivulets of ash-like glazes and mysterious microcrystalline mat surfaces work just as effectively in oxidation as they do in reduction! Even the rich brown and orange colors that I have always attributed to reduction firing are possible in oxidation.

This workshop is designed to help you get the most out of YOUR glazes, applied to YOUR pots and fired in YOUR electric kiln. I will demonstrate the basic techniques of spraying and also spend time with more advanced theories of layering and blending glazes. I will cover ^6-8 glaze firing and briefly discuss lowering the maturation point of ^10 glazes to ^6-8. I will suggest ways to experiment with the layering process to create your own unique look. 

On the first day I will throw, assemble, apply slip and discuss my philosophical approach towards making functional pottery. On the second day I will demonstrate my personal techniques of spraying and layering glazes and students will glaze their pottery. We will then load the kiln(s) and fire overnight to ^6-8. On the third day I will lead discussions on firing schedules and the equipment required to set up your own spraying studio and on further glaze experimentation. The workshop will end with unloading the kiln(s) and discussing the work.

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

Day 1

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

Day 2

·       I will lecture on spraying and demonstrate the techniques involved. Participants will glaze in the afternoon and we will load the kiln(s) and fire overnight.

Day 3

·       Further Discussions on spraying techniques, firing cycles and the equipment to set up a spraying studio. Ideas for glaze experimentation after the workshop. Unload kilns and discuss results

Participants should bring in 4 – 6 small – medium size cylindrical pieces ready to be glazed. They should be in the range of mug to small vase size (no more than 6-8”) They may also bring 1-2 small horizontal pots (bowls, plates or tiles), to see how the glazes react on non-vertical pieces. My work will be raw glazed (bone dry) and single fired, but participants should bisque fire their work if they are used to glazing bisque ware. The clay used should be ^6 or ^10 porcelain (preferred choice) or white stoneware. If students use a darker stoneware or red clay it will make my glazes dark and dingy.