14/10/2024
This 12-hour firing took our kiln up to a scorching 1300°C (2372°F), and it was an intense, beautiful experience.
Until a few months ago, I had barely heard of wood firing, but after my trip to Portugal, I’ve been completely hooked. This process feels like a deep connection to the elements—using earth (the clay), water (in the glaze minerals), fire (to heat), and air (to stoke the flames). It’s symbolic, like harnessing nature to create art.
This firing taught me a lot about how to control the fire and maintain the ember bed. We choked the kiln a couple of times, setting us back by a few hours, but I’m grateful for the lessons learned from it.
Controlling the fire, embers, and ash to reach that 1300-degree mark was a challenge—feeling the heat as it burned, sweating while wrapped in layers of protective gear and enduring the physical demands of the process.
But there was also stillness: watching the embers, listening to the crackle, and reading the flame. I can already tell this will eventually become intuitive, and I’m excited to come back and push deeper into the craft.
Thank you , .a.wilson for all your guidance. And for the vid!
