I have to agree with TheKozmoBoyz about the faces looking like lost souls. The soot on them makes them look even more tragic. I just LOVE theseand I can just imagine one of them looking out from the bars of body of your old clock. oooooooh - wonderfully creepy.
OK - I should do a better job proof reading. That was supposed to read "I just LOVE these and I can just imagine one of them looking out from the bars of the body of your old clock." I just got so excited that my fingers couldn't perform.
Gary, they came out great... I love the way they look. I can seem some of the broken pieces going on a 3D canvas. I just love the sound of the fire crackling. Thanks for sharing this. J
Excellent pieces!!! My sister has an art degree in pottery and I understand re breakage! All these pieces look like artifacts and I love the method of firing them! Even the broken ones can be sold they are so beautiful. Love it, love it!!!!
Takes some guts to throw your work in a pit fire! I really like how they turned out.........how did you know how much "fuel" to put on top? This is like raku, isn't it?
I did a firing last year using a heavier clay and this being really fine i wasn't sure how things would workout because of the uneven temperatures..but it did! The idea is to start slowly and gradually build up the fire so it gives the clay time to come up to temperature. I just kept the fire going for about 4 hours and then let it die down and it was still hot at 11am the next morning.
Bravo! Such fabulous results. I think you could definitely glue the face back onto that mask with good results but you could use them separately, too. How about stenciling a face onto the "faceless" part of the mask..perhaps the head of a crow, Mona Lisa or one of your eyes? Perhaps something new that relates to that period in history? I'm sure that whatever you do will dazzle us and can't wait to see. Thanks for sharing your journey.
I don't know, i do know u can use a big oil tin or metal drum and use a propane gas burner to do a firing but u must first line the inside with ceramic fiber.
I LOVE the masks!! So much beautiful detail to each one! You say they are going into a garden? Will plants be growing out of their mouths? That would be so cool!
Wow! an open pit fireing and ONLY 2 breakages... excellent! The masks from 5:15 to end seem to be saying, "Ow" "oooh" "HOT!" "ouch" "oowee" etc. (LOL) Overall EXCELLENT idea, EXCELLENT video = yet another FIVE STARS!!
Gary, you must have started the fire slowly and then added to it slowly to keep everything from breaking. How long was the firing in total and how long did you leave the fire burning gently?
BTW, this is no easy feat! The Fire Gods are with you. When I was a full time potter, that's what I called them. Right before each firing, I prayed to the Fire Gods. Or Kiln Gods, either way. lol
I started the firing about 5 oclock yesterday afternoon and then didnt take the clay out unti 11am this morning...so that is 18 hours all up. Yeah the fire got too fast too quick but i was expecting more breakages. I should have wrapped dry seaweed around the pots too instead of throwing it everywhere...but u learn for nest time. I am going to visit a pottery shop and ask lots of questions about building my own brick kiln!
Oh I think you did wonderful, with only 2 breakages! That's fantastic! I used to have a book on how to build brick/stone kilns, but I donated the entire pottery, kiln, books, glazes, clays, wheel...everything to the local high school. (I was going to be traveling and didn't want to keep all that stuff in storage.) I miss it. Anyway, GREAT job Gary, really, seriously, you did fantastic. You are bound to have some breakage with firings like these as you can't control the temp evenly, that's all.
i kept the fire going from 5pm till around 9pm then just let it burnout. It was still really hot taking them out. I am going to do another firing when the weather is good and this time i will prepare better ;) I have also learned a few things since this firing so hopefully next time i will get more colour and a few different effects. ;)
Oh yes. I'd like to see you try different rocks in the pit. Different rocks have different chemical makeup and can make all sorts of pretty colors! (If you try this, you may need to bust the rocks open for better effects.) Have fun. I am having a ball watching your projects. =D
well done.
jmg1957 1 year ago
Very nice. Were the pieces bisque fired prior to pit firing?
wilcarhen 2 years ago
how do you make the fire hot enugh, thnx
clownfishyi1994 2 years ago
Have a click on my page I do a lot of pitfiring now good to see others going for it! Nice Masks!
RakuBlue 3 years ago
Seaweed? Are u by the sea?
pyramiaou 3 years ago
I'm glad most of them turned out ok for you Gary......
rizzin2thetop 3 years ago
I have to agree with TheKozmoBoyz about the faces looking like lost souls. The soot on them makes them look even more tragic. I just LOVE theseand I can just imagine one of them looking out from the bars of body of your old clock. oooooooh - wonderfully creepy.
marybarfield 3 years ago
OK - I should do a better job proof reading. That was supposed to read "I just LOVE these and I can just imagine one of them looking out from the bars of the body of your old clock." I just got so excited that my fingers couldn't perform.
marybarfield 3 years ago
Gary, they came out great... I love the way they look. I can seem some of the broken pieces going on a 3D canvas. I just love the sound of the fire crackling. Thanks for sharing this. J
judysheart 3 years ago
Excellent pieces!!! My sister has an art degree in pottery and I understand re breakage! All these pieces look like artifacts and I love the method of firing them! Even the broken ones can be sold they are so beautiful. Love it, love it!!!!
wildheart5 3 years ago
Thank you :) this style of firing is a gamble because of the uneven temperatures so was happy most of them turned out ok! ;)
CapricornArtist73 3 years ago
Takes some guts to throw your work in a pit fire! I really like how they turned out.........how did you know how much "fuel" to put on top? This is like raku, isn't it?
bunz11 3 years ago
I did a firing last year using a heavier clay and this being really fine i wasn't sure how things would workout because of the uneven temperatures..but it did! The idea is to start slowly and gradually build up the fire so it gives the clay time to come up to temperature. I just kept the fire going for about 4 hours and then let it die down and it was still hot at 11am the next morning.
CapricornArtist73 3 years ago
Bravo! Such fabulous results. I think you could definitely glue the face back onto that mask with good results but you could use them separately, too. How about stenciling a face onto the "faceless" part of the mask..perhaps the head of a crow, Mona Lisa or one of your eyes? Perhaps something new that relates to that period in history? I'm sure that whatever you do will dazzle us and can't wait to see. Thanks for sharing your journey.
artsycalgal 3 years ago
is it possible to use a grill to fire clay?
chivaleader89 3 years ago
I don't know, i do know u can use a big oil tin or metal drum and use a propane gas burner to do a firing but u must first line the inside with ceramic fiber.
CapricornArtist73 3 years ago
thanks for sharing your process....i'm riveted! really enjoy the patina of these pieces-looks like you dug them up in an ancient ruin.
artworkslive 3 years ago
yeah i love that effect too and exactly what i wanted them to look like ;)
CapricornArtist73 3 years ago
I LOVE the masks!! So much beautiful detail to each one! You say they are going into a garden? Will plants be growing out of their mouths? That would be so cool!
starvinartist8 3 years ago
I have to say the Rust gave off a lovely tone to the clay. When are you going to fire again?
Great Results Gary.
UminaTaylor 3 years ago
I do love your masks. They are very cool but a lil creepy :) They remind me of lost souls peeking through another dimension or something. Very cool!
TheKozmoBoyz 3 years ago
Wow! an open pit fireing and ONLY 2 breakages... excellent! The masks from 5:15 to end seem to be saying, "Ow" "oooh" "HOT!" "ouch" "oowee" etc. (LOL) Overall EXCELLENT idea, EXCELLENT video = yet another FIVE STARS!!
GaryGarrett 3 years ago
Gary, you must have started the fire slowly and then added to it slowly to keep everything from breaking. How long was the firing in total and how long did you leave the fire burning gently?
daligoddess2006 3 years ago
BTW, this is no easy feat! The Fire Gods are with you. When I was a full time potter, that's what I called them. Right before each firing, I prayed to the Fire Gods. Or Kiln Gods, either way. lol
daligoddess2006 3 years ago
I started the firing about 5 oclock yesterday afternoon and then didnt take the clay out unti 11am this morning...so that is 18 hours all up. Yeah the fire got too fast too quick but i was expecting more breakages. I should have wrapped dry seaweed around the pots too instead of throwing it everywhere...but u learn for nest time. I am going to visit a pottery shop and ask lots of questions about building my own brick kiln!
CapricornArtist73 3 years ago
Oh I think you did wonderful, with only 2 breakages! That's fantastic! I used to have a book on how to build brick/stone kilns, but I donated the entire pottery, kiln, books, glazes, clays, wheel...everything to the local high school. (I was going to be traveling and didn't want to keep all that stuff in storage.) I miss it. Anyway, GREAT job Gary, really, seriously, you did fantastic. You are bound to have some breakage with firings like these as you can't control the temp evenly, that's all.
daligoddess2006 3 years ago
Did you feed the fire all night long? For how many hours? Then how many hours did it cool? I am just curious. I know it's a long process.
daligoddess2006 3 years ago
i kept the fire going from 5pm till around 9pm then just let it burnout. It was still really hot taking them out. I am going to do another firing when the weather is good and this time i will prepare better ;) I have also learned a few things since this firing so hopefully next time i will get more colour and a few different effects. ;)
CapricornArtist73 3 years ago
Oh yes. I'd like to see you try different rocks in the pit. Different rocks have different chemical makeup and can make all sorts of pretty colors! (If you try this, you may need to bust the rocks open for better effects.) Have fun. I am having a ball watching your projects. =D
daligoddess2006 3 years ago