Smoke Firing: Contemporary Artists and Approaches

Description

Smoke firing is an ancient technique, used both to fire raw clay into durable ceramic and also to decorate it with smoke designs. Its technological simplicity not only lends itself to endless interpretations but encourages artistic creativity through improvisation and experimentation. Smoke Firing is a thorough survey of the varied work and approaches of contemporary artists today, showing recent innovative developments. By investigating the ideas of selected ceramicists Jane Perryman reveals the meanings and inspiration behind their work. Clear and colourful images demonstrate the various processes used, showing sequences of artists in action. The book covers smoke firing using bonfires, various containers, earth pits, saggars, and kilns, with a chapter on how smoke firing can be used as an educational tool in groups and workshops. Dynamic illustrations feature the work of the 29 artists represented, from 17 different countries, making it a truly international focus on smoke firing.

Jane Perryman has an international reputation as a ceramicist working within the area of handbuilding and smoke firing. She exhibits worldwide and is the author of Smoke-fired Pottery, 1995 and Traditional Pottery of India, 2000 (both published by A&C Black). She contributes regularly to Ceramic Review and other international ceramics publications.

...fabulous...Perryman explores this wondrous subject by highlighting contemporary artists and approaches to smoke-firing. * www.karenplatt.co.uk (June 2009) *