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No Kiln Ceramics; Atmospheric ways for contemporary clay

Take unfired clay to low-fire ceramic art with charcoal, a Weber grill and a few simple organic materials, the small-scale firing method I developed at home.

Why this course exists

Firing clay isn't only for people with a kiln. It takes heat, smoke, airflow, and a method you can repeat.

In 2025, I came back home to Sweden after several years in the US. I brought ceramic experience but left my kiln behind. Unable to set up a new studio immediately, I researched atmospheric firing, but found that most pit-firing approaches I came across depended on the pieces being bisque-fired in a conventional kiln first. After a year of experimentation, I developed a small-scale method using charcoal, a Weber grill, and simple organic materials. This course shares that method with you.

01 Build Shape and burnish unfired clay so it survives the fire.
02 Pack Layer a saggar with organic materials for atmospheric marks.
03 Fire Run the full firing in a Weber grill, step by step.
04 Seal Read the results, seal your work, and try again.
Diana holding a smoke-fired bead in her studio
Your teacher

Hi, I'm Diana

I'm a ceramic artist. When I moved home to Sweden, I left my studio equipment behind (electric kiln included). So I started researching atmospheric firing, and kept experimenting until I had something I could use consistently.

Before Several years as a ceramic artist in the US, with a conventional studio and an electric kiln.
2025 Back home in Sweden. No kiln, no studio (and a lot of contradictory advice online).
One year Of experiments, until charcoal, a Weber grill and simple organic materials gave me a firing I could repeat.
Now The same principles, carried over to larger barrel firings and more complex sculptural work.

Those principles are what I want to share with you. Working small makes this practice feel possible (you don't need a ceramic studio to start exploring what fire can do to clay).

Do you have questions?

Please fill out the form below and I will get back to you as soon as I can.