Smoke Firing: Contemporary Artists and Approaches [Hardcover]

Jane Perryman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 23, 2008

"Gathering together the expertise of nearly 30 artists who use the methods of smoke-fired pottery, both with and without recourse to kilns, the author gives us a broad perspective on the possibilities of smoke firing to achieve a multitude of contemporary approaches and results."—from the Foreword, by Janet Mansfield

The ancient technique of smoke firing transforms raw clay into durable ceramics while carbon from burning leaves, sawdust, or paper embeds itself in the clay, mottling it with blues and grays, leaving cloudy forms around resist materials, or blackening the surface completely. Each smoke-fired piece is a unique record of collaboration between heat, chemistry, and creativity. The method has its roots in traditional pottery, but its technological simplicity lends itself to today's artistic improvization and experimentation.

Jane Perryman explores creative possibilities of this time-tested yet liberating method in Smoke Firing: Contemporary Artists and Approaches, a survey of the varied work of contemporary ceramicists from around the world. After a brief introduction to the cultural history of smoke firing, Perryman and leading ceramics practitioners share the latest ideas and innovations in the use of bonfires, containers, earth pits, saggars, and kilns. As artists from 17 countries discuss their work, they reveal the meaning and inspiration behind their creations. Smoke Firing contains dozens of full-color photographs of ceramics and ceramicists in action, plus a special chapter on smoke firing for educational groups and workshops.

Handsomely illustrated, Smoke Firing is an inspirational resource for ceramics and pottery devotees, from seasoned craftspeople to curious collectors.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'...fabulous...Perryman explores this wondrous subject by highlighting contemporary artists and approaches to smoke-firing.' www.karenplatt.co.uk (June 2009) --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

About the Author

Jane Perryman is a Fellow of the Craft Potters Association. She is author of Smoke Fired Pottery, Traditional Pottery of India, and Naked Clay: Ceramics Without Glaze, the latter also available from the University of Pennsylvania Press.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: University of Pennsylvania Press (January 23, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812240898
• ISBN-13: 978-0812240894
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,226,921 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Contemporary Artists and Approaches review, November 23, 2008

By 

Carol L. Gerster (Kingsville, Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Smoke Firing: Contemporary Artists and Approaches (Hardcover)

This was a very good book as far as artistry and technique. However, it was not what I was looking for. I was looking for instructions on how to do all these techniques myself. Had I known there were no instructions, I would not have purchased it.

3 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A seminal, articulate, scholarly, deftly organized and superbly presented descriptive history, April 4, 2008

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Smoke Firing: Contemporary Artists and Approaches (Hardcover)

The practice of firing clay and ceramic pots are as old as human civilization itself. A truly ancient technique which is still carried out today, the use of fire to turn raw clay into durable ceramic and decorating it with smoke designs has been adapted and adopted by present day artists to create truly memorable works of enduring art. "Smoke Firing: Contemporary Artists And Approaches" by internationally recognized ceramicist and smoke firing expert Jane Perryman provides an informative and illustrated survey of smoke firing techniques using bonfires, diverse containers, earth pits, saggars, and kilns. Of special note is the unique chapter on how smoke firing can be employed as an educational tool in group settings such as workshops. Illustratively featuring works by twenty-nine artists drawn from seventeen countries, "Smoke Firing" is a seminal, articulate, scholarly, deftly organized and superbly presented descriptive history and commentary which is especially recommended for personal, professional, academic, art school, and community library reference collections and supplemental reading lists.