Soda Fired

This year I have begun working with St. Johns Clay to participate in soda firing. As with my other work, all wares are hand thrown and trimmed using red and white stoneware clays and fired to cone 6. The introduction of soda as a vapor during the firing cycle and the reduction, atmospheric nature of the firing leads to wild, dynamic, and sometimes unexpected results. I use the same glazes I’ve developed for standard wares, which appear very different in this firing environment.

With soda fired wares, I use slightly different forms that are intended to work in this firing style. Often a color gradient can appear where the convective flow in the kiln is revealed. White clays, in particular, work well in this environment. Red clays can give exciting results, as the iron in the clay body fluxes. My standard red clays pick up a rich leathery sheen. I hope to do more of this kind of firing in the future and collaborate with some other potters in Oregon who participate in collaborative wood kiln firings as well.