Smoke Firing: Contemporary Artists and Approaches

"Gathering together the expertise of nearly 30 artists who use the methods of smoke-fired pottery, both with and without recourse to kilns, the author gives us a broad perspective on the possibilities of smoke firing to achieve a multitude of contemporary approaches and results."€”from the Foreword, by Janet MansfieldThe ancient technique of smoke firing transforms raw clay into durable ceramics while carbon from burning leaves, sawdust, or paper embeds itself in the clay, mottling it with blues and grays, leaving cloudy forms around resist materials, or blackening the surface completely. Each smoke-fired piece is a unique record of collaboration between heat, chemistry, and creativity. The method has its roots in traditional pottery, but its technological simplicity lends itself to today's artistic improvization and experimentation.Jane Perryman explores creative possibilities of this time-tested yet liberating method in Smoke Firing: Contemporary Art