I enjoy creating saggar and high-fire pieces that reflect a sense of movement, either through physical alterations on the wheel or through organic surface techniques.
High Fire
All high fire pieces are functional, meaning they are food safe and can hold water. They have been fired to cone 10 in a gas kiln, and clay bodies include porcelain, B-Clay stoneware and ochre.
Saggar
Saggar firing creates confined atmospheres within a container (or saggar.) Originally saggars protected a piece's finish from the wood or coal debris flying around the firing chamber. Several hundred years ago, potters reversed this, and now saggars hold various materials near the pieces to dramatically change the finish.
Saggar pieces are low fire and are not functional, which means they are not food safe or water-tight.
Raku
In western-style raku, pieces are removed from the kiln while at bright red heat and placed into containers with combustible materials. Once the materials ignite, the containers are closed, and the atmosphere inside affects the glazes and clay bodies. The drastic thermal shock also produces a deliberate crackling effect on the glazes.