Since I began working in clay, my goal has been to make beautiful vessel forms and adorn those forms with surface decoration. Many times that decoration follows a theme or series. My current work involves the very basics of making pots, namely, the use of clay, water and fire.
For years, I've studied and enjoyed the pots of many ancient cultures. Through this study, I became interested in their firing techniques, specifically their firing of work in a pit. I became attracted to the random action of fire on clay, or what has been termed “the gift of the flame.” The excitement of this firing technique is the pleasant or sometimes unpleasant surprise discovered once the pit fire has cooled. Once the fire is cool, all that remains is the random marks made by the fire and ash.
To learn more about my techniques for making pottery, read about pit firing and saggar firing in the Techniques section.