Ritual object making and pit firing.

$10

Saskia Martin

I was born and raised in Barcelona, Spain, in an environment steeped in art, and moved to the States as a teenager. My formal study of ceramics began with a very traditional apprenticeship in the town of Mashiko, Japan. I continued to learn in California via apprenticeships with celebrated studio potter Otto Heino and ceramic sculptor Paul Soldner. I then began participating in week-long firings of Japanese style wood burning kilns throughout northern California, and assisting in workshops there and in North Carolina and Maine.

My passion lies in throwing functional pieces, as well as hand building sculptural and ritual objects. I am most pleased by a somewhat muted palette and rustic, textural quality that beckons to be touched. I am also fascinated by the effects obtained in the wood-burning kilns. These firings require community effort to complete the many days and nights of continuous stoking. The reward are one-of a kind pieces that reflect the magical alchemy of fire and flying ash traveling freely throughout the kiln, then landing on the pieces as a natural ash.

My home and studio are down a dirt road and up on a hill on the outskirts of Grass Valley. Here, I make all my work, mix all my glazes, and fire my electric and gas kilns. Over the years I have also taught wheel throwing to adults and children, and hosted workshops with visiting artists. Several artist residencies have served to augment my artistic vocabulary and work closely with other artists. Clay and fire are what feed my passion, and being able to share that passion with friends and strangers, is exceedingly gratifying.