ClayFox Pottery

ArtStyle NW Gallery
901 W Garland Ave
Spokane, WA 99205

www.artstylenw.com

ArtStyle NW, a gallery and design studio, is the Spokane outlet for the ClayFox Pottery of potter Jill Smith.

I grew up making mud pies. As a child I was constantly creating masterpieces in my sandbox by day and coloring "out side the lines" in my color books at night. Still "mud-minded" I studied ceramics at the University of Puget Sound, graduated and established the Clay Fox Pottery in 1972. I have happily been  a studio potter with my hands in mud ever since!

Raku fired pottery has been my current love for the last 8 years. Rooted in the Zen philosophy of simplicity and a harmonious interaction between all things, raku to me is a coming together of clay, fire and soul. The process involves brushing a clay pot or slab with a metallic glaze, placing it in a small kiln and firing it to about 1800 degrees. This is a "low fire" temperature compared to most pottery and leaves the clay itself still very porous. The pot is then removed with tongs while it is red hot and placed in a garbage can full of newspaper that instantly ignites. Raku is the sport of pyromaniacs! The flame and smoke bring out the lusters in the glaze and turn the exposed porous clay permanently black. Depending on the dancing flame, each piece is uniquely different. I like the interaction that happens between my work in clay and the spontaneity of the flame... a true spiritual merging of potter, clay and fire.

Come see my work at my gallery, ArtStyle NW, just north of downtown Spokane. Wholesale and consignment inquiries are welcome and you can contact me at jillsmith4@earthlink.net.

Thank you!