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Jeff Knighton
I started making pottery in 1992. Before that, my artwork had always been two dimensional - drawing, pen and ink, and printmaking. I was required to take a 3-D class before finishing my BFA and chose ceramics. After making my first pinch-pot, I was hooked - actually obsessed. I couldn't stop thinking about making pots. I changed my major to ceramics and never looked back. Today I still feel an incredible level of excitement and anticipation when I sit down with a lump of clay.
My best work seems to evolve on its own. My inspiration comes from many different sources - God, family and friends, my students, music, nature, my travels in the Navy...everything in my environment can become an idea for my art. Once while visiting a museum, a small and simple vase caught my eye. Something about its form and surface gave it a powerful presence. There were many larger, more ornate and colorful vessels in the exhibit, but I kept returning to study this vase which was made by an unknown Chinese artist over 2000 years ago. I made a variation of it, and that variation hatched more ideas that I'm still exploring. It's fascinating that an artist from two thousand years ago made a connection with me. I hope that my work will inspire someone in a similar way.
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| Currently, my focus is on raku. Raku involves the rapid firing and cooling of ware. After the glazed surface has matured, around 1800°F., the pots are carefully removed from the kiln with tongs or special gloves, and then placed in a container of combustible materials. I use shredded paper in metal containers, but wood chips, pine straw, leaves or the like may be used. Post-firing reduction is what separates raku from other types of firing. When the red-hot pot is placed in the combustibles, they ignite immediately and I carefully tip the container upside down in soft dirt to seal out the oxygen. The pots are allowed to smoke for several minutes while the glaze and clay react with the carbon created in the atmosphere of the container. This results in the unique qualities associated with raku. The final process is to scrub off the ash and soot residue. Since raku pots are fired at a lower range they will not hold water and should not be used to hold food. |
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