Marcia Selsor

I taught primitive pottery during summers in Montana. We used a 2-3' deep pit. half way up the wall was a ledge to support refrigerator shelves. We started a fire with wood to create a bed of hot coals. We preheated the pots along the edge of the pit. When we had a bed of coals, we placed the pots , inverted, on the shelves. Then we added sawdust and dried cow manure , some thin sticks, in a pile up to 2 feet above ground level. Covered it loosely to contain materials. the flame would burn through in 2-3 hours. Then covered it tighter with more pieces of steel to cool. This is a Maria Martinez firing style. We processed the clay and added some grog. Very good success rate. I taught this class for rural teachers with zero budgets. Marcia Selsor

working on a new batch of pots for soluble salts. will be writing 2 articles about discoveries in PMI and Revisita Ceramica International. Workshop schedule filling up for 2020. Marcia

My gallery has many glaze recipe with photos but they go back many years. Thanks for sharing. I think this is a generous group. Marcia

I began firing to ^6 reduction in 1980 after 14 years of firing ^9-10. 6 reduction glazes teaching glaze chemistry to students.I developed many ^6 glazes for functional pottery which looked like ^10 stoneware or porcelain. Several of those glazes have been published in Michael Bailey's Oriental glazes and are the only 6 glazes in his book. After leaving University teaching I began developing glazes for ^6 oxidation. With help from others like Sandy Miller's explanation of holding temps, I worked on glazes for my functional ware and I was satisfied with the results. ^6 Oxidation is a popular method of firing particularly for people with restricted access to other kilns. ^6 clays are available as well. It reduced the carbon footprint by using about 1/2 the fuel to fire to ^10. Pyrotechnic manuals from refractory companies show diagrams of fuel consumption for temperature ranges. It ,makes more sense to me to lower temps. to ^6. Marcia

One of my all time historical favorites is Bernard Pallisey.

or hand building , I'd also include a sur-form good, and a rasp. Marcia

One way to patch soft brick holes was something mentioned on clayart years ago. I used this method when I was teaching at the U of Hawai Manoa. i - Use ITC diluted 50% with water are described on the directions. Soak the ceramic fiber with ITC and push into holes, cracks, glue chunks back together. I repaired several kilns that had been neglected for sometime plus some were damaged during a flood in the previous semester. This worked great and no need for rods. Marcia Selsor

I read ages ago and use this method. Fill a 5 gallon or slightly smaller free ice cream buckets with water around a bag of stiff clay in the bag. Open the bag and put 1/4-1/2 cup water and re-seal the bag. let it sit overnight or for a few days. This really works. I also saw a method for softening pugged clay. Dampen tee shirts. Put the stiff pugs inside the tee shirts and lay them into a shallow plastic storage container (like for under the bed) . Put the lid on and wait 3-4 days. very evenly moisturized. Marcia

Getting ready for my exhibition as one of 3 signature artists for our local Art Center Fundraiser; Art in the Beartooths. I have been firing and doing a few re-firings. Making interesting discoveries , at least for me regarding slight differences in temperature for soluble salts.

Thanks, Chad. It was great to finally put a face to your friendship by meeting you at NCECA. Marcia

I'd include a small section of hacksaw blade. 1.5-2" for scoring and refining edges. Marcia

My next online Alternative Firing Class starts July 1. Early Bird discounts on Registration Ends June 14. This course covers several firing techniques using Raku kilns: Raku, obvara, foil sagger, and ceramic sagger. Also how to make fast terra sig, how to build a small Raku kiln, how to make crackle surfaces with sodium silicate. For more information, go to https://teachinart.com/alternative-firing.html. and for description https://vimeo.com/205317659and here is how I fire large slabs in rakuhttps://vimeo.com/140180499…

I use liquid latex to peel away. I have used both water base and ammonia base. I don't like the ammonia base. Besides using ceramic suppliers I sometimes use liquid latex for facial sculpture. It is brushable. I get it on eBay. I draw on slabs, paint the latex where I don't want glaze. Spray the background glaze. Peel off the latex and apply a thin line of luster. I use this primarily for Raku pieces. Marcia

Get a copy of Mastering ^6 Glazes or Michael bailey's Cone 6 glazes and mix your own. You can adjust a glaze fitting to your clay with an small addition of Silica like 0.5% or an adjustment of kaolin up to 2% but you have to test. Marcia

My favorite suppliers are Brackers, Archie Bray Clay Business, Aardvark, The Ceramics Store in Philly, Bailey for larger equipment, Axner's, U.S. Pigment, Alligator Clay, and Seattle Pottery. Never have had any problems with any of the above. Excellent customer service with Bailey's tech support. Replaced a gear (my fault) on my slab roller, a controller on the rheostat on the foot pedal (has a name but I forget what it is) and the pressure gauge on my vacuum control on my pug ,mill which got broken when I moved to Texas in 2006. . Marcia

Got to meet Chad of Up in Smoke pottery at our panel . And Rebecca in the bar bar at the Hilton. Sorry to miss the rest of you who went. It was a busy NCECA. Marcia

Just back from NCECA. I wanted to say thanks to those who stopped by after our panel to say hello. It is always nice to add a face to a name. I thought it was a good NCECA and I enjoyed seeing so many OLD friends. We are getting older every year and it shows. I had three friends commemorated in the Past Masters sessions. So until next year.... Marcia

when I was a kid the Philadelphia phone book was used for this purpose. It was about 3 inches thick. There are no phone books that thick in Montana. Oxford Dictionary made do.

When NCECA was in Seattle there was a show of the 10 wood kilns of the area. I think , if you must fire it, you should contact one of the owners of these kilns. Marcia

Pres, where is the ceramic Arts Daily reception or is it the same as the ICAN? Marcia