A "friendly" wood-firing....

Robin's teapot

by MaryAnn Carroll

For those of you who have been following for awhile, you will know that my husband Bill is a Wood-fire Potter.  He built his own kiln a few years ago and after many firings, he continues to try to learn from each experience and make the next one better.  This very involved type of creating requires stoking the wood kiln every 1-5 minutes.  He loves it.  I love what comes out of it :o)  Not only does he stay at the kiln for up to 18 hours (it is smaller than the average wood-fire kiln so firing time is shorter than most), he cuts and splits the wood, stacks it, teaches workshops and also teaches full-time in the Syracuse City School District as a middle school art teacher.  During his last workshop for the Syracuse Ceramics Guild, we had the pleasure of getting to know some new friends Robin and Ryan.   Robin is in the guild and Ryan is her significant other.  Ryan loves photography and spent the weekend taking pictures.  He's putting together a youtube video for Bill. They spent both days last weekend loading and firing the kiln with Bill.  I say "day," but Bill didn't come to bed until 1 am Monday.

Ryan and Robin

Getting ready to load...

Loaded,  bricked up and the firing in progress...

Break time... First view of the opened kiln...

One of Bill's many bowls...

Robin's wood-fired peace ornaments...

Robin's vase

My beads....

Close-up.... This is the beauty of wood-firing.  That is ash melted into the glaze.

Another view...

Turquoise glaze...

Up close....

Gorgeous!