Up in Smoke PotteryIn 1992 I was introduced to clay after meeting my wife and her family who are artists themselves. The idea of “mud” flowing through my fingers and changing into a usable vessel fascinated me. My father-in-law gave me a five-minute lesson and with that I began to play and learn. Since then I have attended several workshops featuring local potters. Each one offered a resolution to the problems I was facing at that time allowing my work to grow and improve.As my throwing ability increased I began to search for a finish or voice for my work. I started in stoneware, but lacked the knowledge or understanding of chemicals at the time to truly express myself with glazes. Next, I tried raku pottery. The instant gratification was very appealing and I loved looking at the marks left by the fire as it danced along the sides of the pieces. However, I did not find a great variation of the glazes that appealed to me. I started to look for other methods to achieve the fire marks, which is when I discovered pit firing. Pit firing is the original method to “bake” the clay used in vessels dating back thousands of years. The basic of pit firing is placing clay pieces in a pit filled with lots of combustible materials and making a large bonfire. After researching the original methods and the modern applications of pit firing, my wife and I developed our own style. We enjoy the process and the results so much we now work primarily without glaze. All the colors come from the smoke and fumes released in the process. The forms are simple to allow the finish to speak for the piece. -Chad & Keisha Dykstra View Galleries « BACK |