Last week my mother and I visited Wassi Art pottery studio located in Ocho Rios. We got a tour and talked at length with the artists about the process.
Local clay is dug from the Blue Mountains.
Wassi pottery brings the clay back to their manufacturing studio in Ocho Rios. There it is processed. First it is washed to remove impurities.
Then it is poured into canvas lined troughs.
Once it is firmer it is scooped out onto plaster to further dry. When it is still soft enough to work it is wedged so that all air is worked out.
The master potter makes all of the wheel thrown vessels.
Then the artists are passed the pots to alter, paint with slip and do sgraffito. Each pot is unique.
Once they are dry they are bisque fired to about 2000ºF.
Then they are dipped in clear glaze and fired again to 2000ºF.
Each unique piece has the signature of the artist.
