From the Wood Kiln

These are my latest pieces. They were fired to around cone 10 in Rob Sutherland's wood kiln. This is the first time I have fired anything in a wood kiln. Many thanks to Rob and Good Dirt in Athens, Ga for their help, generosity in letting me fire these pieces in their kiln and encouragement!!

So remember that mother/calf whale piece from so long ago?....

Back view..
Front view...
Inside...
Waking the Barnacle II...For my Dad.


My latest plates...




I so look forward to the next wood firing! You can find all but the Waking the Barnacle II for sale at Good Dirt in Athens, Ga. www.gooddirt.net.

On a side note, let me just say how much I love pottery.
"GOSH, I LOVE POTTERY!!"
I find so much joy from making these earthy, delicious, textural celebratory-of-all-God's-creature's pieces! I hope you enjoy them too. :)

Last night I built 2 plates and two bowls. The extremely dry air made it possible (and necessary) for me to complete these from start to finish. The plates are going into the wood kiln and the bowls are going into a cone 6 electric firing. And man was it cold in my studio!!

Humpback Whale

Although there is no "cyber" evidence, I have been busy making pottery the last few months. Of course I took off lots of time to celebrate the holidays with family- which was wonderful! Merry late Christmas, Happy New Year!
I've been working on some bowls, plates and covered vessels. I am really looking forward to putting some work in a wood firing early this year. Here is one piece I finished building yesterday.
This piece was a joy to build.
I could feel the salty air brushing my face, hear the whales singing and smell the seaweed and brine mingling in the air while creating this homage to the Northwest. I find my home-land very inspiring and memories of the place I was born and spent my early child-hood provide constant fodder for my work.
This piece was hand built using thrown slabs of cone 10 Zella Stone clay. I hand sculpted a momma humpback whale with two nursing calves. You could say it represents me with my two boys. :)
I'm looking forward to popping this into the wood kiln and leaving the rest up to chance. The wood-ash and flames will hopefully complete this piece to make it one of a kind.
I just pray it doesn't crack or get unsightly singe spots...
That's part of the fun of letting the kiln finish the job, though!