JoAnne fires her pieces in wood kilns for many reasons. The fired pots look and feel exceptional.  Wood ash and salt land on them during firing and the result is that some pots are smooth while others are sharp or prickly; some show the trail of the flame while others show the drips and spots of melted ash; some are immediately beautiful while others take some time to be appreciated. The surface of each pot reflects the impact of many elements including fire, ash, wood type, temperature, and the kiln itself, just to name a few.

No two wood fired pots are the same…

Her pieces are mostly wood or gas fired in small batches, sometimes with salt or soda introduced into the kiln near the end of the firing.

Firing this way creates the opportunity to control parts of the creative process, primarily the forms of the pots and their clay bodies, but also frees the potter to allow the fire, ash, and salt to leave their particular marks on the pots in their final expression.  This in turn lends a serendipitous or "happy chance" element to the process that makes each firing a fresh experience and each pot a new canvas.

JoAnne enjoys experimenting with a variety of clay bodies including porcelain and stoneware clays. Each clay invites its own set of different textures, markings, and colors during firing, and each pot is its own exploration in texture.  

As unique creations, JoAnne’s pots find treasured places in homes throughout the region.