Firebelly clayworks is named for the firebelly newt, representing the four elements: earth, water, air and fire. Ceramic artists use all of these elements, working with clay and water, drying it in the air, and finishing it with fire. The artist too, must be driven to create, they must have a fire in their belly.
Suzan Marczak is the designer and creator of Firebelly clayworks. Working from her eastside Vancouver studio, Suzan uses skill and creativity to animate raw clay and give it colour and life. Firebelly clayworks are fired to 1260 degrees Celsius in a gas kiln. This process, called reduction, deprives the atmosphere inside the kiln of all oxygen, changing the response of the clay and glaze materials and giving the ceramics a characteristic depth of colour, richness, and subtlety. The power of the flame, and the spirit of the artist, give the finished work its unique attributes. Suzan's clay work can be seen on this site here , on the gallery page, as well as on her painting site: https://suzanmarczak.wixsite.com/artist |