I will have now completed my final firing for 2021. This means I have done 2 firings in my catenary arch which go for about 35+ hours each and one in my anagama for 120 hours. This means considerable time collecting and splitting wood, making clay bodies, testing local materials, mixing glazes, washing & sieving ash to make into glazes and of course making the wares.
I am looking forward to showcasing works from both kilns during my Annual Open Studio 4-5 December.
All Welcome.
‘Asha’
Save the date! I will be holding my annual Open Studio Saturday & Sunday 4 & 5 December 2021. New works will be available from my firings throughout the year.
Be sure not to miss this as there are some fabulous woodfired surfaces and wares available.
All welcome.
I have recently completed my annual anagama firing for 2021. This firing went for 5 days a total of 120 hours.
Works from this firing are available direct from me or through @bess_paddington
Anagama showing firebox and front stack
I recently pack and fired my catenary arch kiln bringing the total number of firings in this new kiln to 4! It is always a learning experience when packing and firing a new kiln.
My focus in this firing was to leave clays unglazed on the hot face and let the ash do the work. In this firing though I also introduced a mix of soda ash, bi carb soda and whiting. Where the clay body was unglazed there was some evidence of soda action happening. I will continue to pursue this technique.
New works from this firing have been added to the gallery site. If there is anything that appeals to you please do not hesitate to contact me.
Here is my video of Tent Talk presentation at The Pottery Expo 2021: Warrandyte
What a top event Jane Annois and her team of dedicated helpers coordinate.
There were so many potters present showing their works and the weather really turned it on for one and all.
People came out in droves showing their support for the handmade object.
I was so privileged to be an invited guest and to be able to present at Slow Clay Tent Talks. You can view these presentations on Slow Clay website.
Warrandyte Pottery Expo
Explaining the warmth & beauty to be found in the handmade object.
I will be holding my annual open studio on the above weekend. This year will be a little different due to covid restrictions. I will be allowing 4 people into my main workshop to view at any one time bearing in mind social distancing. There will be room for 2 extra people in my showroom at any one time.
Stay tuned for further details.
I recently took part in the Longest Gallery Artwalk in Port Macquarie 1-8 October. The idea behind this was to find a business to showcase your works for the week. I was fortunate enough to team up with Lucana from Meg and Me Boutique who not only sell beautiful clothing but serve the best coffee available in Port. It was a fabulous exercise where I met some very interested people who purchased their own unique handcrafted items. Thank you to Lucanna and all those who came, viewed, admired and purchased.
I am honoured to be taking part in Fire & Ash - Woodfire Exhibition 2020 at Kerrie Lowe Gallery, Sydney.
Unfortunately there will be no official opening due to Covid restrictions however everyone is most welcome to visit at their leisure. The Gallery can allow 10 people at any one time so long as social distancing is practised. If you are unable to attend Kerrie will be posting through Instagram, Facebook and on their website.
The inaugural firing has taken place!!!!…the build up was a time filled with excitement and anxiety. I am so pleased to report that temperature was reached with cone 12 just about touching its toes and was so even throughout. I started with a very small fire on day 1 and by evening the temperature was reading around 90 degrees C. Throughout the night, every 2 to 3 hours I stoked a little more wood to keep the warmth happen and to thoroughly dry everything out. The following morning the kiln was reading just over 300 deg. C and it was ready to go. The firing finished around 9pm.
Such mixed emotions when unpacking a kiln…excitement to see whats inside and a feeling of being overwhelmed with expectations compared with results on hand. One needs time to digest the results. The kiln has produced some beautiful surfaces with good reduction, glaze melt together with some surfaces which make you questions why and how did that happen?
This is what feeds my curiosity to keep woodfiring…
Over the past couple of weeks many activities have been happening in my workshop. Drying out clay bodies, reclaiming clay, making pots, packing kiln, collecting and splitting wood, sieving glazes, making up glaze and clay tests and putting finishing touches to new kiln.
We appear to be living in a different time at the moment however for me life has not changed much at all.
I was fortunate to travel to Tasmania for 8 weeks from January to March and when I left the mid north coast we were gripped by terrible drought and bushfires throughout the valley. While I was away we received hundreds of millimeters of rain…phew….saved the farmers and many other industries in the area.
I am looking forward to firing my new kiln which I built August/September 2019 and have been unable to fire due to drought, fire restrictions and summer heat.
I am now in a position where I can fire my kilns….so I am busy making in anticipation of doing several firings throughout the cooler months.
If there is anything you would like to add to your collection or something special you would like to acquire please send me a message.
I can also do facetime or zoom you around my workshop and stock on hand. Please send me a message if I can help.
Stay safe out there, thank you for your continued support and warm regards to all.
Jann
I will be taking part in a final exhibition for 2019 at Makers Gallery, Brisbane . If you are in the Brisbane area please do drop by to see this fine display of woodfired works at Makers Gallery https://makersgalleryaustralia.com/
I would like to extend a warm welcome to my Annual Open Studio.
It will be held on Saturday 7 December from 10am-4pm and Sunday 8 December 10am-2pm.
I have just returned from Japan where I have been making and firing. I have a small selection of pieces that I managed to bring home safely with me which will be on show.
Please drop by if you are in the area.
All welcome
Annual Open Studio 2019
During this past week 16-22 September 2019 I have been building a new kiln based on a catenary arch design with the help of Gyan Daniel Wall.
The kiln is constructed with firebricks on the hot face backed up by commons and insulating bricks. The arch is double brick construction with back-up fibre insulation, a covering of chicken wire before an adobe ‘cob’ style mud covering.
A fire grate has been installed so as to keep the hardwood suspended while burning.
My thoughts behind this kiln is that I wish to obtain soft quite glazed surfaces from the back of the kiln while those on the hotface will be subjected to direct flame and ash. I am anticipating on firing for 30+ hours depending on stack and wood.
Completed catenary arch kiln
On the back of the Australian Ceramcis Open Studio I fired up my anagama with the help of my daughter Elise and friend Jae. We fired the kiln 72 hours and my oh my what beautiful surfaces did we receive. Had good temperature and plenty of ash moving throughout the kiln.
My workshop has been established for over 32 years. I have a great interest in using local materials in clay bodies and glazes of which I make on the premises. My main area of focus is the production of tableware as well as one-off signature pieces. Prices ranging $15 upwards. Visitors will be able to view a production workshop in full swing and hear about the processes.
I have two woodfired kilns which produce different results.
Please come along, view the works on hand and have a cuppa and a chat.
Feel welcome to give me a call 0417 678 589 or email jann.kesby@gmail.com for further information.
https://www.australianceramicscommunity.com/listing/jann-kesby-woodfired-ceramics/
Please drop by this Exhibition if you are in Sydney. I will have a couple of pieces on show together with many other woodfiring artists. All welcome.
I am currently in the process of pulling down my bourry box kiln which has been part of my studio life for the past 32 years. It has had many facelifts and produced some beautiful pots with soft subtle surfaces. I initially salt glazed in this kiln and then over the years decreased the amount of salt introduced. Each time the kiln was fired the residue salt would re vaporise and create beautiful flashing. I have found this kiln to be particularly good for tableware as the works were protected from the direct flame which is somewhat different to my anagama. I am now considering my next kiln to build….stay tuned.
I have recently fired my anagama aka ‘Minkie’. I took 4 days to pack the kiln and then fired her for 70 hours. Slow at first on the floor then moving to stoking through the main door into the firebox. The firing progressed well although there was a period when she stalled due to carbon cobwebs….this is caused by heavy reduction or too generous stoking…this problem was eliminated by stopping stoking all together, leaving the door closed, opening secondary air holes and mouse hole under the ember bed.
The kiln will take several days to cool and then the unpacking begins. Stay tuned for new works.
