#sodafiring

My first soda-fired bowl! Soda is sprayed into the kiln at 1200 deg Celsius and then the kiln is shut off when it reaches 1300 (approx cone 10-11 firing). It’s been a dizzying whirlwind of learning here in Chile at @centrodeartecuraumilla with @ayumihorie ! Among many things, we practiced the Mishima technique (custom-made colored slip inlay), so the lines on this bowl were one of my attempts at practicing Mishima! One factor that made it more challenging is that we once-fired, which means there was no bisque firing and we had to directly apply Mishima and glazes to greenware at varying stages of dryness. (Mishima at leather hard, glaze at bone dry). This is because there is no power source besides solar and generator at the art center, so the kiln is primarily gas-fired with supplemental wood and fans used. Ayumi and us students are not used to once-firing so it was nerve wracking and scary at times, but we all love the mystery and risk of ceramics, so it added an element of hightened anticipation for all of us, as we waiting to see what would happen to our pots in the kiln! We all went through ups and downs this week, worked early and late into the nights with headlamps, and rewarded ourselves with walks to the beach and dips in the wood-fired hot tub overlooking the ocean. I haven’t yet had time to process much of my two weeks, but I have a week now to chill in Chile and wander before heading home. Thanks for following along and supporting me through buying my work and your friendships. I am always so inspired at how clay can bring us together no matter what hemisphere we’re currently in! Now I’m off to explore the hauntingly beautiful city of Valparaiso Ciao! #sodafire #sodafiring #mishima #cone10 #coloredslip #curaumilla #ceramicsinchile #valparaiso
https://www.instagram.com/p/B8oZeMag55S/?igshid=cxu6zm4fwlld