From start to finish, the wood-firing process is very labor and time intensive resulting in truly awe-inspiring and unique pieces. This vase, handmade by Mark Lester, went into the kiln with no glaze on it. All of the glaze and surface variation you see is a result of the wood-firing process. Over a period of several days, a team prepares and fires the kiln non-stop until it’s done. The flame paints patterns and melts the wood ash into glass, resulting in the surface you see here. Measures 6.5"x14". 

About Mark Lester:

Mark is a native of Northeast Florida, and graduated with a Bachelors of Fine Arts from the University of North Florida. Finding value in the quiet spaces within nature from an early age, he created art of various sorts with differing media before settling on ceramics as a base medium for making. Since then he has experimented with glass, metal, and wood, frequently incorporating these materials into the work to add visual breath and suggest an interplay between differing contexts. The work itself draws influence from the quiet spaces that are created when activity ceases, often inspired by abandoned architecture and the interstices of natural formations. Mark currently lives in Atlantic Beach, and works and teaches around Florida and the East Coast. Visit Mark's website here, https://www.marklestersculpture.com/