Throwing

Many of my forms are thrown.  I use a variety of stoneware clays and porcelains.

Trimming and Carving

Pots are trimmed to remove excess clay and some are then carved with decorative rims and/or faceting.

Hand Building

I occasionally hand build small sculptural animals.

Casting

I cast pieces using a variety of hand-made molds.  My casting slip is grolleg porcelain based.

Loading

Pots are bisque fired, glazed and wadded prior to loading.  Click here for a video of the soda kiln being loaded.
Picture
Panorama of the anagama being loaded (taken from the side door). Photo by Spencer Dixon.

Firing

Firings range in duration from 24 to 130 hours, depending on the kiln.  Wood is added to the kiln every 5-15 minutes around the clock.  The kiln is then sealed up and allowed to cool for 5-15 days.  

Unloading and Cleaning

During the unload the pots are studied and admired - the location, surface, and interaction with other pieces are noted.  They are then cleaned and photographed.  

Wood Preparation

Our wood is primarily sourced from two local mills and a local arborist.  We use a mix of hardwood (walnut, oak, maple, alder and madrone) and softwood (fir, cedar, and cottonwod).  We burn 30-50 cords a year.  The wood is cut to length, split, stacked, and seasoned prior to use.