Jody Scott

“I have been working with clay on and off since the 1970s. In 1997 we started building a house and studio in Cartney, AR. Now that the house and studio are complete, I have started working full time in clay again. I work primarily in white bodied clays, such as porcelain, which provides a very smooth white canvas on which to grow crystals. I throw or turn each pot at a time. Each piece takes at least two weeks to produce, but some may take more than two months. I work primarily with zins silica crystals with oxides or carbonates of titanium, lithium, cobalt, copper, nickel, manganese, and iron as colorants. All pots are first bisque fired to 1800 degrees f. Crystalline pots are then glazed and fired in a second firing to temps. above 2300 degrees with a controlled cooling cycle over several hours. The shape of the crystal is affected by temp. Fluctuations in temp produce rings and halos within the crystals. Due to the fluidity of the glazes at peak temperature, each piece is places on a pedestal and catch basin prior to firing. After that, the pedestal and catch basin, containing excess glaze, are removed and the bottom of the pot is ground smooth. Some pots go through additional firings to alter color and texture.