The wonderful process of pit firing explained.
Materials are gathered and dried in preparation for the firing. Seaweeds, copper wire, cow dung, dried fruit skins and nuts.
Pre-fired pots are wrapped in the dried materials to seal them against the pots surface using aluminium foil.
Copper mesh is also added on some to create red patterns. Copper will mark the pots red when the atmosphere of the kiln has little oxygen
Wood is piled up high beside the hand built kiln. Created from red bricks, clay and straw this simple kiln traps in the sea of the fire, and allows me to control the airflow through the kiln. This allows for a long, hot, slow firing for maximum effects.
The kiln is carefully loaded with dried hardwood, dried seaweed and the pots. Liberal amounts of iron oxide is sprinkled to create deep rusty oranges.
Some pots are added loose, their surfaces are always most misty and muted as they absorb smaller amounts of the colouring fumes.
The kiln is sealed off and lit only allowing air to flow in at the base and out the chimney. It will now burn for many hours and be left overnight to cool.
After the kiln has cooled the pots are unearthed from there ashes to reveal their unique and beautiful surfaces, rich in colour and patterns.