The Pottery
If you ever visit The Pottery, you may notice several kilns around the studio. There are now two kiln rooms here at The Pottery for the nine kilns. All are gas fired; even the salt and wood are started with gas. There are two wood kilns now and one for salt glaze. The gas company thinks he's a great client and Otto goes through 50 cords of wood and 832 pounds of rock salt in one year!
Otto fires HOT! His temperatures have reached over 2500°F. Otto uses a high-fire, reduction process when making his pots. In a kiln, reduction is accomplished by shutting off air (the amount of oxygen) into the kiln so oxygen is pulled out of the clay instead.
Consistency is the trick when firing kilns, because there are so many variables! What temperature, what changes are made and when, which type of kiln to use, when to reduce clay, where the pots sit in the kiln, what they sit next to... It's a lot to figure out!
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Otto gives a special wedging and throwing demonstration |
Otto's new summer apprentice: visiting grand-niece Brooke |
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In the glazing studio |
The kiln room at the Pottery |
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Otto salt glazing with baby sister Olga. |
Otto removing the brick; Olga ready to throw in the salt. |
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Opening the vault... |
Checking the final results. |
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