Firing process

The majority of my work is fired in long, high temperature wood kiln firings. These kilns, typically of the anagama style, are long narrow kilns with a firebox in front where wood is stoked continuously for ~5 days. Most have an additional stoking location or firebox halfway through the kiln. These kilns are large community undertakings which bring 20-30 potters together to fire their work all at once. 

Every pot is influenced by the flame, and the pots around them, and the exterior decorations on my pieces are primarily unglazed and result from the local flame-ash-reduction atmospheres. We stoke a variety of woods, predominantly oak and pine here in the Gulf South region, with occasional pecan or magnolia. Every wood has its own mineral composition that influences the quality of the ash deposits on the pots.

I am lucky enough at present to have a great community of woodfiring colleagues here in the Gulf South, whose kilns I am able to fire in while I work towards eventually having my own kiln someday.  I am forever grateful to Zach Sierke, Cindy and Alex Williams, Melanie Eubanks and Mark Rigsby for opening up their firings to me over the past several years here.