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We are firing up the wood kiln this Friday
mouse
Member Posts: 3,624
Some of you remember when I built this Anagama Kiln with some friends. Our 2nd firing turned out awesome pieces. I'm
excited, first time we've done it this late in the year. I'm
going in Friday to help load it in the morning. Then we work
4 hour shifts in teams of two getting it up to 2400 degrees C.
before we shut it up and wait to open it after it cools down
in a few days. May take 2-3 days to cool. Then the fun part,
seeing what the flames did to the bisked clay. I completed
a piece of sculpture I think is the best I've done. Have about
30 pieces going in. Also a sculpture my friend Valentine did
last year we couldn't fit into the kiln. It's a blast, have to
wear long fire retardent gloves, keep your hair off your face,
and wet a towel over your hat and hair or you'll singe your
eyebrows. As it is you look a little sunburned on your cheeks
if not careful when you open the fire door to stoke it.
The person manning the firedoor lifts it aside, and their partner
places wood into the kiln as quick as possible. I'm on the 8 pm
until 4 am shift. We all bring food, and chairs. We have a thermometer in the wall of a side tunnel so we can guage the
internal temperature. Then we keep an eye on the flame shooting
from the 25 foot tall chimney to determine when to stoke her
again. Can't wait![:D][:D]
excited, first time we've done it this late in the year. I'm
going in Friday to help load it in the morning. Then we work
4 hour shifts in teams of two getting it up to 2400 degrees C.
before we shut it up and wait to open it after it cools down
in a few days. May take 2-3 days to cool. Then the fun part,
seeing what the flames did to the bisked clay. I completed
a piece of sculpture I think is the best I've done. Have about
30 pieces going in. Also a sculpture my friend Valentine did
last year we couldn't fit into the kiln. It's a blast, have to
wear long fire retardent gloves, keep your hair off your face,
and wet a towel over your hat and hair or you'll singe your
eyebrows. As it is you look a little sunburned on your cheeks
if not careful when you open the fire door to stoke it.
The person manning the firedoor lifts it aside, and their partner
places wood into the kiln as quick as possible. I'm on the 8 pm
until 4 am shift. We all bring food, and chairs. We have a thermometer in the wall of a side tunnel so we can guage the
internal temperature. Then we keep an eye on the flame shooting
from the 25 foot tall chimney to determine when to stoke her
again. Can't wait![:D][:D]
Comments
it in this kiln probably because the salt plays havoc on the fire
brick. It erodes the brick and the kiln doesn't last near as long.
My teacher is on the internet. Clay Cunningham. He did some
amazing large pots with galloping horses across them. Can't wait
to see the results of his stuff either.
Dan; Did your wife do functional pottery like dishes, and plates,
or just about everything? Did you help with firing?
I've been having so much fun assistant teaching the high school
kids. It's a good feeling to see them grow both emotionally,
and artistically. I try to let the student do as much as possible,
only give simple directions when possible; Then sit back and
see their own satisfied face. The kids are usually way to critical
of their own work. I used to be the same way.
and she made everything..all by hand on the wheel or hand sculpture..she didnt like using moulds with the slip...she could turn out a plate in no time flat..and a coffee mug in under 3 minutes from the time she started till it was set aside to dry.
i used to help her...but as a potter i made a good fisherman or any thing else i could do..i just never picked up the knack.
and she was her own worst critic as well...i could`nt see anything wrong with her work, nor could anyone else, but she was never satisfied.
it's outrageous. The school put up the cash for ours, 10,000
dollars for materials...but all the labor was free or they were
looking at double that. Mouse
wood fired pieces are very earthy. You use flash glazes, or
leave the clay bare. We have a white glaze that flashes some
earthy browns and oranges this year. Also Celedon, which turns
out a blue about the color of the border on the reply screen,
even turns some greys. There are some reds too. Celedon
is my favorite, but I like leaving them bare and seeing what the
flame does. Omaha area has some incredible potters who get together
and wood fire together. If your a hard worker word gets around.
No one likes a lazy guy that just shows up to have his work fired.
It's a labor of love feeding the kiln wood for hours at a time.[:)]
he was a bit of a genius. What are his pieces going for now?
Wish I could afford to attend some of the workshops they have
all over the world. My teacher got to live and study ceramics
in Japan for 2 rs after college.
I think everyone can create art. Sometimes I look at some
sculture and wonder what the big deal is. Some I love, most
I dislike. Same with painting thou. Everyone has something
that tricks their trigger...that's what is interesting about
art. [:D]