My process

Making Smoke Fired Ceramics

It all begins with clay

Here are some of the stages of slab building pots for smoke firing. I’d like to say this is my favourite part of the job, but i enjoy it all so much that its not fair to have a favourite. The damp clay and me just have so much fun.

Here is a link to a handbuilding video. https://youtu.be/8Gdsdd9PPHM

Decorating pots for smoke firing is a wonderful part of a wonderful job. After a design session with the biscuit fired pots, I paint the design in slip directly onto the pot. These areas remain white or red depending on the clay body, and create the striking contrast to the black of the smoke firing.

And now for the fire. Expect the unexpected and to smell like a bonfire for days. Burning materials as a part of the job is the cherry on top. It seems straight forward but there is so much to consider during this process. Not everything makes it out to a satisfactory standard.

Scrubbing the pots for the big reveal is always amazing. The big red one had an added matching beetle.

After thoroughly drying the pots I polish them up with beeswax. Because the surface of the pots are burnished in the making stage, the naked clay has a soft tactile finish.