How painting with smoke gave former civil servant a new burning ambition
IT sounds and looks like a form of alchemy and the art of “painting with smoke” lives up to its mystique by creating a unique ceramic work every time the intricate process is complete.
The ancient oriental technique also called “naked raku” has been adopted to polished effect by George Thom, 66, of the Glasgow Ceramics Studio.
He only took up the discipline as a hobby in 2004 after a professional career in the civil service and now established in the art form, he has developed the process he said is inspired by the landscape.
He said: “The patterns and decoration are applied not by glaze but by smoke. The work is either thrown or handbuilt, then bisque-fired, initially to 1,000C. It is then rubbed down with diamond pads to make it as smooth as possible.”
Then a “sacrificial” glaze is applied and the work is again fired in an open kiln.
He said: “When it reaches around 900C it is lifted out with tongs and placed into a bucket of sawdust, which bursts into flames.
“A lid is placed over the bin to exclude oxygen and the glaze cools rapidly, crazing the piece in a random fashion.
“This attracts the carbon and smoke on to the surface.
“This is completely random and cannot be controlled, therefore no two pieces will look the same.
“The smoke-painted work is inspired by landscape.
“It is purely ornamental. It should not be used for food or to hold water, as it may still be porous.”
Mr Thom started by taking up evening classes in 2004 at Glasgow School of Art as a hobby and quickly became hooked after making some of his first items from clay.
Last year he went to a workshop by internationallyrenowed ceramicist David Roberts who introduced him to naked raku.
Naked raku gets its name because during the process of firing, the outer shell of slip that was applied falls off and the surface of the pot returns to the original clay exterior.
The pot is then “naked,” without a covering of glaze, whereas in a standard raku firing, a potter applies glaze to the pot and fires it to the desired temperature.
The glaze matures on the pot and becomes part of the pot as a decorative surface.
Mr Thom added: “I really enjoyed the immediacy of the art form, particularly throwing.
“The idea that you can create a useful/beautiful piece from a lump of clay still gives me a kick.
“Ceramics is a wonderfully tactile art form which has been around for thousands of years, dating back to 3000BC in China, where they were making and glazing pots to a very high standard.
“Some of their glazes are still used today.”
His works, which range from £30-£200, can be seen at Mugdock Makkers Gallery, Mugdock Country Park, the Lighthouse Gallery, Port Appin and the Glasgow Ceramics Studio in Dennistoun.