Wood firing is a labor-intensive process that produces complex, earthy surfaces. I make a limited number of special pieces for wood fire, each uniquely one-of-a-kind. Stoking the kiln with oak at Cobb Mountain Art and Ecology This 16 ft. long anagama wood fire kiln takes two days to load and 9 days to fire. It holds from 500-700 pieces of varying size made by 15-20 artists working together and taking shifts to stoke day and night. The fire starts slowly to warm and dry the work, and the temperature is raised gradually to reach a high temperature between 2200 and 2300 degrees. The kiln is then held at this high temperature for several days to melt the ash, creating the natural ash glaze. Most pieces are left unglazed and the resulting surfaces are a narrative of the firing process. Temperature, draft, type of wood burned, and position in the kiln will determine the outcome. One firing uses about 10 cords of wood, sourced from down wood and thinned forest. This Cobb kiln is located near Middletown, about 2 hours northeast of the Bay Area.
