There are several types of pottery methods practiced at the studio including high fire stoneware and the lower fire primitive method of raku. Detailed on this page are the various types of pottery produced by members of our studio.
Stoneware pottery is produced from clay that is fired to a dense, hard, vitreous state at a temperature of over 2300 degrees Fahrenheit. When stoneware is fired in kilns that burn gas, flames come in contact with the ware. Reducing or increasing the amount of oxygen entering the kiln allows the artist to control the atmosphere of the kiln, producing a wide range of glaze effects. Stoneware is used for making functional, durable pots. Stoneware pottery is food safe and will hold water.
Porcelain clay bodies are generally translucent, very plastic and fires white. Porcelain is a totally manufactured clay, not found in nature. Various natural fine grained ingredients are mixed up according to formulas. Porcelain was first made in China—in a primitive form during the Tang dynasty (618–907) and in the form best known during the Yuan dynasty (1279–1368). This porcelain was made from a feldspathic rock ground to powder and mixed with kaolin (white clay). A good porcelain must be very white, vitreous, translucent while at the same time being plastic enough to work with. Most porcelain clays are high fired (cone 8 to 10). During the firing process, porcelain becomes vitreous or water tight making it so there is no need to glaze the inside of pieces, although glaze should always be used on utilitarian ware. Porcelain has a high level of mechanical resistance, low porosity and high density, which, on a daily basis, provide it with durability, inoffensiveness, soft touch and beauty. It is a unique product.
Raku is a pottery firing technique dating back to 16th century Japan. Modern raku is loosely based on the ancient Japanese technique. When the glazed ware reaches the temperature of approximately 1800 degrees, it is placed in a pit containing combustible materials [for example, paper, pine, and sawdust]. The red-hot piece ignites the combustibles and the pit is then tightly covered to reduce the oxygen and stop the fire. Pots produced using the raku method are porous and fragile and are considered nonfunctional, decorative pieces. They do not hold water and should not be used for food or beverage.
Horsehair Raku pottery is coated several times with a very fine clay slip called terra sigillata and burnished. Pieces are then fired in the traditional manner of 16th Century Japanese Raku, removed from the kiln while hot, and horsehair is applied to the surface. The burning of the hair as it comes in contact with the piece creates dramatic unpredictable black carbon lines and smoke patterns. The pieces are cleaned and waxed to a satin finish. These pots are porous and fragile and are considered nonfunctional, decorative pieces. They do not hold water and should not be used for food or beverage.
