I have just returned from the most amazing trip into the centre of the wood firing mecca of France, LaBorne.
This place has been on my mind for the pas 40 years or more.
This trip was all about meeting and chatting with potters who fire their kilns with wood. Conversations around selling, marketing and making a living from producing hand made works.
Visiting workshop and kiln of David Whitehead Ceramicist
In conversation with Hervè Rousseau
I recently did another firing in my catenary arch kiln ‘Asha’ Straight after the firing I headed off to WEDGE Ceramics Triennale Western Australia.
Firing ‘Asha’ for the second time 2025
Save the dates Saturday & Sunday 7 & 8 December 2024 10am - 4pm both days.
I will be opening my studio to the public so that you can see and learn about the processes involved in wood firing. There are kilns to view as well as works to see.
Firing catenary arch kiln
I have recently returned from a trip to Pondicherry on the east coast of India. During my time there I attended Golden Bridge Pottery where I made and fired works the Chinnagama in the company of John Dix, Nick Schwartz, Aarti Manik and ex students of Golden Bridge.
The clays used were a white porcelaneous and dark body using local materials.
Pots were pack in the kiln raw. The firing went for 7 days roughly 150 hours and the timbers used were a mixture of casuarina and tamarind.
The kiln was cooled for 4 days before unpacking.
Results were incredible with plenty of liquid green ash built up on the surface of pots depending on how pots were placed in the kiln.
Golden Bridge Pottery
Packing Chinnagama
Guinomi
Guinomi
I have recently completed my annual anagama firing for 2021. This firing went for 5 days a total of 120 hours.
Works from this firing are available direct from me or through @bess_paddington
Anagama showing firebox and front stack
