Painting With Fire
Bon Fire Techiniques
Your choice of clay, bisque
temperature, decorating
techniques, choice of pit,
combustibles, stack, flux,
oxides influence the results
of the firing.
Pit Fire Basics
• CLAY BODY earthenware, stoneware or porcelain
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The good, the bad, the ugly
Aesthetic choice or technical
Light or dark
Smooth or rough
Temper, grog, sand, volcanic ash.
Slips, terra sigillata
BISQUE The lower the temperature the more the
clay body absorbs the carbon and oxides and the
higher the risk of cracking and weakness. C018-011
Pit Fire Basics, cont.
• SHAPES: Strongest are closed forms which is
ideal for showing off the fire marks. Any shape
can be attempted but hard edge slabs are
more more likely to crack.
• DECORATING TECHNIQUES: Stains and
underglazes applied before burnishing can
enhance the surface. Elaborate slip designs
are not recommended.* Burnish is the most
popular aesthetic choice.
Pit Fire Basics, cont.
• Atmosphere: Oxidation vs reduction,
carbonizing, fireclouds vs flashing
• Pit Design: open or closed, big or small
• Combustibles: The stuff that burns.
–For heat
–For color
–Start searching for pallet wood, hardwood,
sawdust, bay, eucalyptus, fruit peels…
• Fluxes: The stuff that aides flashing.
– (sodium bicarbonate, sea weed, fertilizer, salt…)
• Oxides: The stuff that gives color. (copper, iron)
Combustibles/Saggar
Pit Fire Basics, cont.
• STACK – How the pots are stacked makes a
difference. Foot up or down. How much
sawdust. Should I use a saggar. What materials
can be used to resist (sand, metal, clay)
• BURNISHING - when (leatherhard, bonedry)?,
• With what tool (spoon, rock, bone, plastic)?
• Sanding material – drywall, green scrubbie,
metal sandpaper. Health issues.
Joe Battiato
Joe Battiato
Michelle Collier
Solid or hollow?
Judy Hummel
Magdelena Odundo
Swanica Ligtenberg
Munemi Yorigami
Mat Hougland
Mankind has been
pit firing for a long time.
Black Mata Ortiz
Ritualized vessel
Kat Morrell
http://katmorrell.com/Pit_Firing_Process.html
Sawdust firing
Briar Patch Open Kiln Pottery
greenfiring
Native American Pottery
• Maria Martinez
• Nampeyo
• Native American Pottery
Blackened Pottery
• Korean, non smoked
Mata Ortiz
• Making pot
Webster Groves Gives Flair to
Pottery
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mudslin
ger1/sets/72157604049010991/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v
=sV7Q_QmiJpk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v
=b2whhFMaH_g&feature=related