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firing with organic combustibles

updated tue 22 jun 99

 

John Crain on mon 21 jun 99

My area of interest is low temperature sawdust firing
and low temp. wood firing. My questions pertain to what kind of
effects I can expect from firing particular
organic combustibles. I am planning a
firing of a sculpture and I want to experiment with new combustibles
but I want more
information so that I can achieve the surface I have in mind.

Recently I received a batch of seaweed that my sister collected while
visiting the Pacific ocean. In order to prep, I have rinsed and
dried the seaweed. Generally speaking, I am
interested in knowing what kind of effects I can expect from burning
seaweed. What kind of effects can I expect if I wrap the seaweed onto
the sculpture's surface? What kind of effects will occur, if any, if
the seaweed is simply mixed into the sawdust?

Secondly -
Years ago a fellow artist mentioned to me that burning pomegranate
seeds will help achieve a red color. Can anyone pass on info.
regarding burning pomegranate seeds and the effects I can expect?
Also, the harvesting time for pomegranates is fall through December so
obviously I am having difficulty finding the pomegranates. Any ideas
on how to find pomegranates out-of-season? And lastly, I was
brainstorming other fruits and vegetables that might give similar
effects and I was considering
beets (assuming that the key is the =22staining=22 characteristic of the
fruit or vegetable)=3B can anyone share information on beets and/or
other fruits/vegetables
that could help achieve a red color?