Thom Bissey, Ceramics

Ceramic art By Thom Bissey is all one of a kind. Working from his studios on Long Beach Island in New Jersey and from his rural hideaway in Pennsylvania, Bissey focuses on alternative firing techniques to achieve his unique finishes. Some of the firing methods used are,

American Raku- Post firing reduction technique where the pots are fired to roughly 1800 degrees. The pots are pulled from the kiln while red hot and placed in containers filled with various combustibles. The results produced range from metallic flashing, crazed and crackled glossy, to deep carbon blacks.

Saggar Firing-Pieces are placed inside a ceramic container known as a Saggar. The Saggar is filled with various combustibles and chemicals, then placed inside a large kiln and fired. The heat from the kiln causes the combustibles to burn and the chemicals to vaporize leaving traces of color and smoke on the finished piece.

Sawdust Firing- In this method, pieces are completely buried in sawdust and fired. Sometimes chemicals are mixed in with the sawdust for a flashing of color. Other times they are left with pure sawdust producing dark waves of black. Also with this method, pieces can be covered with a clay slip before firing. The slip cracks during the process causing dark crackled patterns where carbon slips through.

Pit Firing- Pit firing is just that, firing in a pit. Using mainly wood, straw, and sawdust. Sometimes various chemicals are added before and during the firing.

All works produced by these methods described above are intended to stand alone as Art themselves. They are not to be used to hold liquids of any kind and should not come in contact with food.
Bissey also produces work that is functional using traditional oxidation and reduction firing.

To contact Thom: thombissey@msn.com
PA 717 432 1034 NJ 609 494 8644 toll free 888 622 1421
25 Honey Rd Dillsburg Pa 17019