Go for it - take a chance!
Wild Alabama Red Clay Mug by Mudtown Pottery - Photo by Danny Smith
My wife is a potter and she owns Mudtown Pottery, LLC. Up until now, she has only used commercial clay from various sources to create her works of art. I have hauled many of those 50 pound boxes of clay to her studio. Beth recently contemplated the idea of using wild Alabama clay from the family farm and timberlands about 95 miles away. So, a few weeks ago, with shovels in hand, we collected samples from clay deposits on various tracts to test her hypothesis. The coffee mug in this photo is her first experience using 100% wild clay. It was a success!
The process involved a lot of labor and research. After excavating the raw clay, it had to be hydrated and sifted to remove undesirable materials and then allowed to dehydrate back into a workable form for the wheel. She was very careful to allow the green ware time to dry before a slow bisque fire. After glazing the bisque ware, the final firing to high temperatures is where many potters have had bad experiences in their kilns. Given that this type of Alabama clay has high concentrations of iron, we had to consider whether we would approach the melting point of the clay body. As a safe-guard, the wild clay pieces were fired within previously fired bowls to protect kiln shelving. Because, Beth and I both respect the proverb “in the abundance of counselors there is wisdom”, she looked to other potters using wild clay around the world for guidance. As with many complex decisions, the advice and experiences of others was not always consistent. Beth finally went with her own approach and anxiously waited overnight as the kiln did its work. I reminded her that Thomas Edison failed 1,000 times before he created a working light-bulb.
Once the kiln cooled, the moment of truth arrived to open the kiln. She was surprised and elated with the results! I am certainly proud of her efforts. Further testing will occur before these Wild Alabama Clay mugs will be priced and offered for sale. Beth has already enjoyed coffee in this mug to celebrate.
The business takeaway is clear: Go for it - take a chance!