Jodie Milroy Pottery
I work in traditional clay and wild clay. I also have a lot of pieces that are wood fired at a local kiln. That’s what makes my work different. That’s what makes it unique.
Instagram @jmilroypottery
Wood Fired Pottery
I have a lot of wood fired work and that is where my passion lies. I’m lucky enough to have incredible mentors and friends in this space. Wood firing (as with digging my own clay) lends itself to connection in every way. As an artist, connection is an integral part of the creative process. The majority of my wood fired work is not glazed, instead I apply a shino slip to the bisqued work. This is a flashing slip that allows the effects of the wood fire to be showcased in the pieces. My husband wrote a beautiful article about his experience on shift at a recent firing. If you are curious about wood firing, you can also watch this video .
Wild Clay
I have traditionally worked with mid-high fire commercial clay bodies. This spring, I had the opportunity to dig and process some wild clay on a friend’s property. Working with wild or native clay is not for the faint of heart. I am still trying to find the right firing temp for this clay and am super excited to explore the possibilities. The clay is sourced on a property along the Elk River in Sherburne County. I hope to have some meaningful pieces to share in the spring. Stay tuned.
Finding my Groove
In addition to the wild clay, I’m also hitting on some design ideas that I love. In particular, I’m working on birch bark designs in much of my work.