Nick has built an anagama kiln (or cave-kiln) for firing his pots. A firebox is at one end and a flue at the other. Nick says “wood ash settles on the pieces during the firing, and the complex interaction between flame, ash, and the minerals of the clay body forms a natural ash glaze. This glaze may show great variation in color, texture, and thickness, ranging from smooth and glossy to rough and sharp. The placement of pieces within the kiln distinctly affects the pottery’s appearance, as pieces closer to the firebox may receive heavy coats of ash, or even be immersed in embers, while others deeper in the kiln may only be softly touched by ash effects.” The kiln is fired for up to twelve days with wood being added around the clock–so it is always a group effort.