Advice for wood-firing clay?

[captZuzu_]

I'm experimenting with clay and some organic materials to add texture to my little sculptures. I've been really drawn to the idea of using a large wood-fired kiln to hopefully achieve some distinct and beautiful effects that you just can't get otherwise. However, I have absolutely zero experience with this wood-firing and how this might interact with unconventional clay mixes. Has anyone here done something similar? I'd love to get tips, especially on clay preparation, drying and other things I should be aware of.

 

[Perry.Michaels]

I haven't done wood firing myself, but I've heard it can really bring out amazing textures and colors, especially with organic materials mixed in, you have to ensure your clay mix is strong enough to handle the thermal shock and long firing times, if you're experimenting, maybe try small test pieces first to see how your clay and materials react before going full scale

 

[Jellybean]

Speaking of textures, have you ever tried pressing natural objects like leaves or bark into your clay? It can create stunning impressions, especially when paired with wood firing's unpredictable surface effects

 

[Glasingvasing]

I haven't done wood firing myself, but I've heard it can really bring out amazing textures and colors, especially with organic materials mixed in, you have to ensure your clay mix is strong enough to handle the thermal shock and long firing times, if you're experimenting, maybe try small test pieces first to see how your clay and materials react before going full scale

This is more or less the summary of what you'll need to do and in addition to that, you'll need to make sure you you're drying it slow and evenly. Any kind of shock will cause cracks. If you notice the sculpture drying too fast you'll probably need to up the moisture to slow the process down.