jeremy ellul: ceramic

....later, and I am still waiting for the results of my first smoke firing. As I type the kiln is cooling down and I'm thinking back at what attracted me to try this method of firing. It must be the seemingly easy method, the ease of obtaining combustibles, (sawdust and also seaweed in this case) and the simplicity of the kiln itself. Secondly it is striving to make an attractive piece without glazing the ceramic. So what should I expect? The literature mentions shades of black, grey and brown predominantly. I just hope that the piece inside will come out intact. Here s a close up of the ware in the kiln before closing.