Smoke Fire Technique

Smoke firing is a outdoor firing technique that utilizes natural fuels and yields stunningly beautiful surfaces. After gently laying the pottery urns in an outdoor fire pit, I strategically place locally found mango leaves, macadamia wood, and various bark around them paying great attention to how its stacked and balanced.  After I’ve finished adding all the materials, I light the fire and let the pit erupt with flames.  Then, after a short while, when the timing is right, I’ll cover the entire pit and let it cool slowly over the next couple days.

Working with the volcanic red earth allows me to achieve all natural brilliant shades of reds and oranges, further enhanced with the beautiful smoke patterns and markings from the fire.

This firing is considered a low-fire process, hence it is not as durable as a glazed urn.  However, I do apply a hard durable finish to each piece making it adequate for a beautiful urn for an in-home display.

*Only seal this style urn if you do not plan to ever reopen due to possible damage to the surface.