Author: Gail Nichols
Soda glazing is a relatively new development in ceramic history, with exciting scope for research and experimentation. It is a more popular ceramic practice, particularly in the U.S., where it is widely taught in college ceramics departments and workshops, and has attracted a high number or professional practitioners. Soda glaze surfaces typically include a thin sprayed-on sheen or light flash, some supplementary fluxing of an applied glaze, and attempts to imitate the orange peel texture of salt glaze. Few people have explored the potential for serious engagement of soda vapor with clay bodies, the dynamics of atmosphere during firing and cooling, and the unique aesthetic potential of soda in its own right. Written by Gail Nichols, Soda, Clay and Fire aims to meet the demand for more advanced technical knowledge of materials and process and more innovative approaches to soda glazing.
This book is a marvel. It's going to take a while to digest all the incredible information that Gail Nichols has shared from her years of exploration into soda firing. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in vapor firing.
JuneP Bakersville, North Carolina
Gail Nichols' volume is a welcome compendium of the rather sparse information published to date regarding soda fired clay. And although it is a first, it hits the target nicely. She balances technical information with aesthetic information (in the form of well-shot photographs) so that it will appeal to the soda pyromaniacs as well as the gallery enthusiast. Soda fired clay is a relatively new phenomenon growing out of the tradition of salt glazed ware. However, technically and aesthetically, the two traditions are not twins, nor even siblings. They are more like cousins. Nichols' research on the subject provides a wealth of data from which anyone serious about soda firing clay will benefit. Take her up on her offering. Read this book!
William Buckner Atlanta, Georgia
About the Author
Gail Nichols is an Australian ceramic artist who has been recognized internationally for her innovative approach to soda glazing. Born and educated in the US, she moved to Australia after a stint in the Peace Corps in Malaysia where she met and married her husband. She discovered ceramics in 1980, initially as a hobby. Her interest rapidly led to full-time study and a focus on salt glazing. Gail began her career as professional potter in 1985, after completing a three-year technical college course. Her first experimants with soda glazing began four years later, inher inner-sydney studio. In 1996, sghe began part-time postgraduate study at Monash University, under supervision of Dr. Owne Rye. Gail‘s clay and firinmg research in soda glazing earned her a schooloarship as a full-time research candidaate, and by 2002 she completed a PhD. Gail continues to work from her Sydney studio, as well as her second studio on a rural property near Braidwood, New South Wales.
Gail has exhibited her work in Austalia and the U.S., has published articles in numerous journals and periodicals, and has won numerous awards. She has taught at Canberra School of Art (Australian National University) and the National Art School in Sydney, regularly leads workshops and participates in conferences overseas. Her work is represented in public and private collections in Australia and the U.S.
Price $34.95 |