I make handmade ceramics in CA.  My home studio is very small with wheel and electric kiln. I hybernate listening audiobooks chasing next firing.

I grew up in showa era in Japan surrended by mingei crafts including ceramics. That might be something to do with how much I like the idea and feel of handmade ceramics especialy from traditional wood kiln. It is a small Japan.  Atomospher of woodfired ceramics resonate me. Clay is old. Firing method goes way back. Timeless ancient surface comfort me nothing like others. I want to have wood fired ceramics in my living space.

I don’t have wood kiln I have to rely on kind kiln owners to fire. I mostly fire at Cobb Mountain Art and Ecology in CA owned by Scott Parady.
Firing anagama takes a lot. Phsicaly and mentaly. Smaller wood train kiln is fired for 4 days, larger anagama kiln is fired for 8 plus days. Localy harvested soft and hard wood as land management is used as fuel. Preparing wood, stoking wood for day and night for 8 days with little sleep and look after each other takes a lot in a good way.

Inside kiln fire moves around each piece like water move through rocks in river depositing wood ash. Days of layers of ash melt at high temperature. Some gets deep, some gets light ash. Each piece come out differently from others. Type of clay used, wood used, how placements were done, how fired, all brings different outcome. Each firing has new thrill. I value the process.  I learn from each firing. All good.

When I fire in electric kiln I formulate my own glaze.

My ceramic is due to many skills, whom prepared clay and materials, build kiln, kiln owner, co firing clay friends, my husband who is supportive, for this I don’t sign my name.

Thank you for visiting my site. 

Peace

Akemi