Pit and Smoke Firing

The advanced ceramics class of Lane Tech High School from Chicago has attended a 2-day workshop during a beautiful fall weekend in October for the last 7 years.  It is a great time and I hope they learned a lot too...Thank-you to the teachers and students of Lane Tech High School for providing me with the great photos from our pit-firing and smoke-firing workshop.  The photos are appreciated.

 Arrival to Khnemu Studio LLC, and touring Fernwood Farm.

 All the farm-girls come out to see who is here.

 Meeting the farm's resident peafowl.

 Unloading the students work to prepare for pit and smoke firing.

  Is this going to be like school?

 Preparing the pottery to receive the best color.

 Preparing the dog food to add to the fire.

 Wrap the pottery in newspaper before...

...it goes into the fire.

 Empty pit..ready to pit fire pottery.

 Preparing the pit.

 You guys look beautiful!

 Loading the pottery.

 Is this breakfast or a pit firing?

 Pile the wood on top of everything.

 Cleaning up before the fire is lite.

 The pots are really under there!

 Someone has to tend the fire while the others take a break.

 Time to take a break under the windmill.

 or pet some chickens...

 even more chickens.

 or take a walk in the soybeans.

 a nice photo opportunity!

  ...playing with Woody Cat

 or taking a rest in the hammock...

 back to the workshop making Terra Sigilatta.

 Demonstrating how to apply Terra Sigilatta

 Preparing to smoke fire.

 A smoke firing in process.

 Still hot from the fire.

 Just finished smoke fired pottery.

 The end of Day 1.

 Removing pots from the pit the next morning.

 Unfortunately day 2 was rainy, but it didn't stop us.

 Scrubbing off all the fire debris.

 It does look better after it is cleaned.

 It really did turn out great

 and I like mine.

 All of our stuff is great also...

 Good bye Khnemu Studio and Fernwood Farm!

 Back in Chicago...hope to see you next year!