The Fiery Beacon Gallery

Contemporary art and crafts in the Cotswolds

Smoked fired ceramics

 

 

Bridget Arnold

Bridget’s inspiration comes from nature, from animal markings, and the marks of our fingerprints.

She hand builds her pieces  from white stoneware and “T” material. Each piece is lovingly burnished with a silver spoon  to create a smooth tactile surface. The pieces are smoke fired allowing the still porous clay to absorb the smoke. Resists are used to stop smoke entering certain parts and so create the pattern.
The smoke firing with wood shavings breathes life into the finished work giving an effect reminiscent of cloud forms in outer space, also swirling water and flames in a fire, resulting in a unique organic sensation.

Each piece is unique because of the random nature of the process.