Process Information

I have two major lines of work. My signature, sip-carved pieces are thrown, thrown-and-altered, slab-built, or slump-molded from white stoneware clay. At the leather-hard stage I apply slip by brush. It is at this stage that the carved decorating occurs by removing slip in patterns or designs. The work is then bisqued to cone 06, followed by dipping or spraying in terra sigillata or glaze. The final firing is done in a propane kiln in oxidation or minimal reduction to cone 10.

My second line of work is fired in tightly lidded saggars(thrown or
hand-built) in a propane kiln fired to cone 10. The saggars are partially filled with coarse hard-wood sawdust. The carbon penetration into the clay from the resulting charcoal in the saggar is the only surface decor that these pieces receive. Since they are high-fired, the clay becomes vitrified and hence holds water.