The barrel is filled with a blend of layered combustibles. With the heaviest on top. Small logs sufficient to burn like a roaring fireplace for at least 20 minutes or so. Then let it burn down. You want the pots to be completely covered and contained by hot coals and fire . Let it burn down to ashes and remove when cool enough to handle with leather gloves. You can also smother with horse manure when you have a bed of coals and let it smolder overnight.
Genius! I just watched a documentation on another ceramic artist, she used a pit and very different material for glazing effects. ua-cam.com/video/5OS2Zsw6FgU/v-deo.html
I have to try this. I end up with (almost literally) tons of axe chippings from carving and turning wood. But I always remember doing some pots at school using a sawdust firing (no where near as elegant as these!). This is a good way to kill 2 birds with 1 stone so to speak...I love the unexpected unpredictable and earthy quality of these pot forms and finishes. Good job. Is that a diddley bow I hear somewhere in the mix?
Just learning about this interesting process cannot afford a kiln right now! The pieces need to be bisque fired first before this process? Can that be done in an old oven? Any input would be appreciated. These pieces are gorgeous 😍
True primitive potters do indeed fire from greenware. This has to be done very carefully and slowly. If you have a 'self cleaning" oven it may reach temperatures that will sinter the clay to a degree which will allow you to do a barrel firing without fear of exploding your pots. Another suggestion is to keep the pottery as thin as practical to allow the moisture which is generated in the firing process to work. My first primitive firing was from greenware...it was just stack of 100 bricks in a circle with lots of air holes allowed and filled with sawdust. the pots were layered in with the sawdust and the fire was started on the top and then covered with a trash can lid. I've done this quite a few times and the results are not as wild as some other methods but you can get some great blacks.
I'd say "No". One note...when using terra sig, it is important to fire to a fairly low temperature, like 017 to preserve the burnished finish. Firing to normal bisque temps will remove the gloss and give some pebbly texture. I don't know what clay you are using, so I can't predict how it will respond to your bisque temperature. However it is possible to primitive fire without bisque first, in the true primitive fashion, in which case it is important to be able to raise your temperature in the firing very slowly, and use a clay body which is tolerate of a rapid firing and direct flame. Best wishes.....John J
Pizza oven with fire box below or like a videomi seennhas a rocket stove led him into the stove, we plan on making one n use for kiln to, we plan on using fire clay. We would like to see the pizza oven, too bad for the oven take down it worked out ! :)
I don't measure temp. I just try to plan a firing that takes about two hours to burn down to coals and ashes and reaches a roaring blazing fire at some time in the process. Wood size varies from twigs to small logs. also include straw, sawdust.
Just a loose description. Most people who are not so picky would understand. Using commercial clay is not strictly “primitive”. Nor is using a steel barrel, or sawdust or copper carbonate.
Yes. The unfired pieces are coated with a thin slip called terra sigilatta, buffed with plastic grocery bags or sections of pool noodle, then fired to cone 017. which preserves the finish which comes from the buffing.
@@JohnJensenArtist I'd really like to find videos of pit firing without the bisque step. I've been all over the web with little luck. What temp would you guess, ball park, this barrel method gets up to?? thanks for your reply!!!!!
@@lynnann96 Me too. I'm trying to avoid the use of an electric kiln altogether, but seems _everyone_ bisque fires before their pit/barrel/etc. firings.
@@wadepatton2433 Since I posted my question, I did find a video of Mexican folk "pile" wood firing from bone dry clay vessels. They used them for cooking. My wood fired pieces didn't hold water, I guess they never vitrified. I'm going to keep trying!
Your are right. I think most people who are looking at or for the video would understand the label is used generically for a whole range of techniques . But thanks for noticing.
Thanks for this. You're a genius. Great idea for art camp.
Love the music ! And everything else
Beautiful work!
The barrel is filled with a blend of layered combustibles. With the heaviest on top. Small logs sufficient to burn like a roaring fireplace for at least 20 minutes or so. Then let it burn down. You want the pots to be completely covered and contained by hot coals and fire . Let it burn down to ashes and remove when cool enough to handle with leather gloves. You can also smother with horse manure when you have a bed of coals and let it smolder overnight.
Would smothering with the horse manure produce more of a blackware finish, I'm expecting? The carbon being forced into the ware from the smothering?
Genius! I just watched a documentation on another ceramic artist, she used a pit and very different material for glazing effects.
ua-cam.com/video/5OS2Zsw6FgU/v-deo.html
great film, it has inspired me to have a go here in the Uk, apart from salt what was the blue coloured granules, that you sprinkled in.
I think some of the Americans use Miracle Grow - it's cheap!
Copper sulphate.
Really nice!🌿🌿
Thanks. I appreciate the comment.
Amazing...
I have to try this. I end up with (almost literally) tons of axe chippings from carving and turning wood. But I always remember doing some pots at school using a sawdust firing (no where near as elegant as these!). This is a good way to kill 2 birds with 1 stone so to speak...I love the unexpected unpredictable and earthy quality of these pot forms and finishes. Good job. Is that a diddley bow I hear somewhere in the mix?
Just learning about this interesting process cannot afford a kiln right now! The pieces need to be bisque fired first before this process? Can that be done in an old oven? Any input would be appreciated. These pieces are gorgeous 😍
True primitive potters do indeed fire from greenware. This has to be done very carefully and slowly. If you have a 'self cleaning" oven it may reach temperatures that will sinter the clay to a degree which will allow you to do a barrel firing without fear of exploding your pots. Another suggestion is to keep the pottery as thin as practical to allow the moisture which is generated in the firing process to work. My first primitive firing was from greenware...it was just stack of 100 bricks in a circle with lots of air holes allowed and filled with sawdust. the pots were layered in with the sawdust and the fire was started on the top and then covered with a trash can lid. I've done this quite a few times and the results are not as wild as some other methods but you can get some great blacks.
If I have burnished the pots by hand do I need to use terra sig?
I'd say "No". One note...when using terra sig, it is important to fire to a fairly low temperature, like 017 to preserve the burnished finish. Firing to normal bisque temps will remove the gloss and give some pebbly texture. I don't know what clay you are using, so I can't predict how it will respond to your bisque temperature. However it is possible to primitive fire without bisque first, in the true primitive fashion, in which case it is important to be able to raise your temperature in the firing very slowly, and use a clay body which is tolerate of a rapid firing and direct flame. Best wishes.....John J
@@JohnJensenArtist which clay body would be tolerant to rapid temperatures increase?
I use a white Raku body. Soldate 60 or a Standard body. Tried porcelain once just to see what would happen. Lots of cracking.
These are so good! I'm doing too know what the blue/green fabric wrapped around the pot was?
Salt and copper infused cotton fabrics.
Pizza oven with fire box below or like a videomi seennhas a rocket stove led him into the stove, we plan on making one n use for kiln to, we plan on using fire clay. We would like to see the pizza oven, too bad for the oven take down it worked out ! :)
Awesomeness
Thanks. Best wishes.
Hi, what were the things you poured in?
Copper sulfate (Blue) Copper carbonate (green) and salt. Salt makes the nice brown tones but can erode the clay if you aren't careful
@@JohnJensenArtist John, please, way do you use it, this CuCO3 and CuSO4?
Do you add wood to fire all the time ( 2 hours)? Thank you…nice work 😊
Awesome.
Thanks.Glad you liked it.
How much organic fuel (wood) did you add and how often? How did you measure temp?
I don't measure temp. I just try to plan a firing that takes about two hours to burn down to coals and ashes and reaches a roaring blazing fire at some time in the process. Wood size varies from twigs to small logs. also include straw, sawdust.
Pit firing doesn’t usually get above 1450 f
Is that salt ?
I'd say Yes. Most everyone pit firing throws salt and other granulated substances into the mix.
@@wadepatton2433 why
@@markirish7599 firing creates oxides and oxides can be colorful, marking the pottery. But I'm no potter, better look further than my opinion.
@@wadepatton2433 thank you Wade your opinion is good enough for me.
Just a loose description. Most people who are not so picky would understand. Using commercial clay is not strictly “primitive”. Nor is using a steel barrel, or sawdust or copper carbonate.
And bisque firing, hahah. Anyway, is it possible to use this technique for firing grenware, thus skipping bisque firing in a normal kiln?
Magnifique!
Are pieces bisque first?
Yes. The unfired pieces are coated with a thin slip called terra sigilatta, buffed with plastic grocery bags or sections of pool noodle, then fired to cone 017. which preserves the finish which comes from the buffing.
@@JohnJensenArtist I'd really like to find videos of pit firing without the bisque step. I've been all over the web with little luck. What temp would you guess, ball park, this barrel method gets up to?? thanks for your reply!!!!!
@@lynnann96 Me too. I'm trying to avoid the use of an electric kiln altogether, but seems _everyone_ bisque fires before their pit/barrel/etc. firings.
@@wadepatton2433 Since I posted my question, I did find a video of Mexican folk "pile" wood firing from bone dry clay vessels. They used them for cooking. My wood fired pieces didn't hold water, I guess they never vitrified. I'm going to keep trying!
@@lynnann96 Thanks
It's not primitive firing if the pottery had been bisqued first.
Your are right. I think most people who are looking at or for the video would understand the label is used generically for a whole range of techniques . But thanks for noticing.