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Shield studio pottery

shieldstudiopottery

http://www.shieldstudiopottery.com/

Thinking ahead to summer shows. Come exhibit with

Thinking ahead to summer shows. Come exhibit with me! I’ll be at Handmade Oxford 12-14 June. I know the venue and the organisers (who are lovely) and there are still spaces. It’s a heady mix of engaging with people and a great opportunity to get feedback - 100% worth it. Msg me if you want to know more and want to know how to contact the organisers about a space and if you are even vaguely thinking about it - do it, love to see you there @dangoode_makinggoode #handmadeoxford @handmadebritain

When the balance of glaze combination, heat work,

When the balance of glaze combination, heat work, and form align the results can be stand out 💫

Firing day done. Pots in from @robinwaldenceramics

Firing day done. Pots in from @robinwaldenceramics and @charlespark5151 and @shieldstudiopottery but what a day. Firing 4 with this kiln and the most learnings yet, it’s building on the past 3 plus innovation from inquisitive minds. Good times and temps. Will open in an evening this week. Cross your fingers for us 💫

Almost there with the glaze ideas. Firing next wee

Almost there with the glaze ideas. Firing next weekend and probably the last one before summer exhibitions. The creative vibe is tingling, I will always be a victim of hope 💫✨

Reflecting on the last few firings and where to go

Reflecting on the last few firings and where to go next. Having focused a little more on the clay research and its influence on the glaze outcome I now realise that fine tuning placement in the kiln will also help some combinations reach their full potential 💫

Titanium glaze with ash when on the move renders a

Titanium glaze with ash when on the move renders a whole range of colours, if this clay was high iron the glaze would likely be far more blue. Opening the kiln you never quite know what gift you will be presented with 💫🔥

Wood fire magic. Thanks for the photo and firing p

Wood fire magic. Thanks for the photo and firing partnership @neilhotchin

Results from firing no 3. Not a single refire. Som

Results from firing no 3. Not a single refire. Some real beauties. Excellent melt throughout and some lovely ash melt fluxing the glazes 🔥💫

Firing no 3: Kiln performance was exceptional. It

Firing no 3: Kiln performance was exceptional. It just stuck around 1240-1270 with minimal effort. Cold spot cones even giving up the fight. Good times. With thanks to @neilhotchin for great pots, hard work, and fab company.

Loading today. Building on the learnings from the

Loading today. Building on the learnings from the first 2 firings with this kiln. Firing with @neilhotchin whose pots and ideas move us all on. Very happy with the stack. So looking forward to the fire tomorrow. I’ll always see firing ceramics as a privilege, and treat the time as special. The weather seems to respect it too with breaks in the rain just when you need them. The anticipation of early morning, the quiet of humans, the chorus of owls, the rawness of cold, the honest toil and shared goal of success, the simplicity of good times with sound people. Wood fire magic ✨

Between the wood fire I’ll be sneaking in a few

Between the wood fire I’ll be sneaking in a few #jarrealacorde pots in gas reduction. With thanks to @motylpottery for getting me started. Designed to just fit inside a bisque firing - I’ve got grand glaze plans for these ones 💫

Banana bowls. Love the curvy simple elegance of th

Banana bowls. Love the curvy simple elegance of these. It’s the curve of the large bisque pot I use as a slump mold that delivers asymmetrical interest. See the ash melt in this one! Unglazed underneath - warm and toasty from wood fire 🔥

Morning light on the shino softens the pallet peni

Morning light on the shino softens the pallet penitence. Thinking about the next firing, the pots, the stack, the crackle of wood fire. 🔥

Faceted yunomi with #shinoglaze and fly ash. The h

Faceted yunomi with #shinoglaze and fly ash. The hot and sheltered sides pleasingly different. Hints of golden luster 💫

Each firing has stand out pots for me. These ones

Each firing has stand out pots for me. These ones are not necessarily the ones you thought might be good when making. They aren’t necessarily the ones placed in that ‘perfect’ spot in the kiln or glazed just how you want them to be. There’s something unusual about this one, something ancient, something special for sure, I cant quite put my finger on it. Photos of a subtle luster don’t do it justice. A keeper. #woodfiredceramics #shinoglaze

#kilnopening today. Work within from @shieldstudio

#kilnopening today. Work within from @shieldstudiopottery @toby1duncan @charlespark5151 @kittywardpottery

Ash blower magic! Testing out this new approach. F

Ash blower magic! Testing out this new approach. Flame tinted a noticeable pink during the ashing. Good time firing with @toby1duncan and @charlespark5151

Loading with @toby1duncan today. Fire in the morni

Loading with @toby1duncan today. Fire in the morning. Such a mindful process. Good pots, peaceful location, great company. @toby1duncan @charlespark5151 @robinwaldenceramics

Preparing for first firing of 2026. 9 days to go.

Preparing for first firing of 2026. 9 days to go. Last bisque is on, some glaze decisions made, 1 new glaze to finish off, new wadding batch done, cone packs done, new props drying with batt wash applied, ash sieved for the blower. Enjoying the prep, by the end of the weekend it will be done. This is the way to start the year. #winterwoodfire #woodfiringkiln

#jarrealacorde is an amazing process but there is

#jarrealacorde is an amazing process but there is no side-stepping the time commitment to the technique. This will be one of the last pieces I’ll make in 2025 if not the last. I’ve grand glaze plans for this one and wishing it strength and resilience through the cycle #handmade #bigpot #valentinesclay #v9g

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Iain Shield

Abingdon, Oxfordshire

07818 430173

Iain@ShieldStudioPottery.com

Shield Studio Pottery would love to hear from you! We often attend local art events and Art Weeks when it’s on. You might find us firing local anagama kilns, or sourcing local clay. If you cant find us out and about we are probably on the wheel!

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