I make most of my work on a kickwheel, though I do some handbuilding such as making slabs for oval platters, plus a bit of pinching now and then. I use stoneware clay from Massachusetts. My glazes, which I make myself, are composed primarily of clay. I once- fire my pots in a downdraft kiln to 23360 F in light reduction. This means I close the dampers a bit, so that the flames rob the oxygen from the pots and glazes, giving them the color I like. My fires take from 24 to 26 hours. The kiln must cool for two days before I can unstack. Here you can see a bit of the process, and take a look at the kiln and studio.
Balls of clay ready to throw.
Throwing on my kickwheel is my favorite part of making pots.
A bowl freshly throw on the wheel.
Jake, Studio Assistant having a drink.
These batter bowls are drying so I can trim the foot rings on the bottom.
Adding my signature to the bottoms of soup bowls.
Pouring red glaze.
Pouring green glaze. It does not look green until after the fire.
Morning cups with wet glaze just poured on the interiors.
Pots drying on the studio shelves.
Pots drying outside.
Plates drying. I try to dry them slowly.
Kiln is stacked and ready for me to close the door and light the burners.
The burners late at night.
This is the light reduction part of the fire.
Bringing pots from the cooled kiln back into the studio.
New pots from the kiln.
Pots on the display shelves in the studio.
Yes, there’s a swing in the workshop.
Ready to use.
The last step is selling, here at the Coventry Farmers’ Market.
