materials

Here’s a video made by Mattia Bianco (doubleuwhite) for Ikos Studio of me collecting clay. This material is abundant by the river next to my studio. It’s a low temperature clay, not suitable for making objects, but I use it as a glaze ingredient: mixed with wood ash it gives a deep emerald green when fired at cone 10 in reduction.

Using collected materials is a fundamental aspect of my approach to ceramics. I am looking for different and unique materials, which I can process to my liking. I am intrigued by making glazes with leftovers from clay sieving, with clays I can’t use to make objects, with ashes from different plants.

But, most importantly, I simply like going around with a bucket and a shovel, taking samples of materials, the different feeling each of them gives to the touch, the thrill of opening a kiln full of tests!