Current Work

Ardine Spitters is specialized in pit firing. Using metallic sulphates, she combines fire and smoke to produce spectacular colours and finishes, which work beautifully on the simple but strong forms.

Norbert Nuwenhoud makes fine thrown pots in glazed stoneware. He decorates the pieces with sgraffitio technique.

Work generally available from:
Galerie de Test, Mariastraat 36 4505 A.V Zuidzaude, Holland.
Galerie Mebius, Tonenshaat 24, 9804 P.V. Noordhorn, Holland.
Montpellier Gallery, 8 Chapel Street, Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire CV37 3EP.
West End Gallery, 4 West End, Winksworth, Derbyshire De4 4EG.

Technical Information

Norbert Nuwenhoud: Jugs, bowls and platters are all gas fired to 1250°c scrafitto technique.

Ardine Spitters: The pots are finished and polished. If the work is completely dry, it is fired at 1050°C. After that it is treated with sulphates. The kiln is filled for 1/3 with wood- and sawdust. The pots are placed on this layer of sawdust. Then there comes another layer of sawdust and again more pots. Afterwards the whole kiln is filled with sawdust. Then it is lit on the top, and it burns slowly down. It is very important to control the oxygen supply. The firingprocess lasts about 48 hours. The result is partly unpredictable because it is influenced by several factors, such as the way of stacking in the kiln, the draft, more or less wind, what kind of sawdust, etc. To become a good result, the pots sometimes are fired two or three times. While the pots are not glazed, they stay porous.

History

Ardine Spitters
In 1973 I started my own workshop with my husband Norbert Nuwehoud.I made stoneware and porcelain in the Hamada and Leach tradition, the work was fired in a gaskiln on 1260 C in a reduction atmosphere. The glazes used were mostly ashglazes.

About 15 years ago I saw for the first time work that had been pitfired.I was caught immediately by it and I started experimenting.

During the years I develloped my tchnique ofpitfiring and it still is my favourite way of making pottery. I like the touch of the unglazed claybody and the richness of colours. As for the pots I prefer strong but simple forms which are almost always closed with a lid. I try to create a unity in form and decoration. The colours and decorations on the pots give an impression of natural textures, landscapes and cloudy skies.

I throw my work on a wheel and I use stoneware clay and porcelain mixed with stoneware. I add a large amount ofpowdergrog to make the clay more resistant to the thermal shock in the pit. Than the work is turned and burnished. After the biscuit firing on 1060 C the pots are treated with sulphates. I make solutions of sulphates and water which can vary from weak to very strong, sometimes almost saturated. Different layers of sulphates and salts are used to create interesting effects. There is almost an endless range of possibilities. Then the pots are stacked in the pitkiln, which is a large box build out of breezeblocks or other porous bricks. On a bed of about 20 cm of sawdust and woodshavings the first layer of pots is placed. Then another layer of shavings and more pots.The toplayer is made of sawdust shavings and wood. The kiln is closed with a lid and the firing starts on top and bums slowly down to the bottem of the kiln. It is important to control the draft to obtain an even firing.
Sometimes the pots are fired twice to reach a better effect.
After the firing the pots are washed, dried and waxed.

Biography
1953 - Born in 's-Hertogenbosch
1971-1972 - Education at atelier "Ronding Keramiek" - Joop Beekwilder.
1973 - Start own studio, together with Norbert Nuwenhoud: Pottery "de Ringeloor".
1986 - Honourable mention Potters Festival Gouda.
1991 - Second prize Potters Festival Gouda.
1992 - Third prize Potters Festival Gouda.
1994 - Third prize for ceramics of the town of Maaseik, Belgium.
1995 - Second prize Potters Festival Gouda.
1996 - Third prize Potters Festival Gouda.
1996 - Participation at the "Fletcher Challange Award" exhibition.
1996 - Auckland-New Zealand.
1996 - Third prize "Euregio-Keramiekpreis" Raeren-Belgium.
1996 - Arts du feu - Rennes-France.
1997 - Exhibition Potters Museum Raeren-Belgium.
1997 - Ceramic fair - Rufford - UK.
1997 - Exhibition: Contemporary European Ceramics - Plymouth.
1997 - Workshop Plymouth Arts Centre.
1997 - Arts du feu - Rennes-France.
1998 - Le printemps des potters - Bandol - France.
1998 - Exhibition Global Ceramics 1. Naked Clay. Babel-Amsterdam/Landsmeer.
1998 - Third price Ceramic market Gierle-Belgium.
1998 - Ceramic Fair Rufford - U.K.
1998 - Arts du Feu Rennes - France.
1999 - Tout Feu-Tout Flame. Saint Leu la Foret-France.
1999 - Ceramic Fair Rufford-UK.
1999 - Ceramic Fair Penrrth-UK.
1999 - Keramisto Milsbeek-the Netherlands.
1999 - December: moved to France.
2000 - First Price: Potters Festival Gouda.
2000 - Keramisto Milsbeek.
2001 - Member of the jury: Potters Festival Gouda.
2001 - Ceramic Fair Rufford-UK.
2001 - Keramisto Milsbeek.
2002 - Cermiac fair, Ginousseus, France.
2002 - Exhibition "Ceramica", Cornwall.
2002 - Earth and Fire, Rufford, Notts.
2002 - Exhibition; Gallery Pi-Kwadbaal.
2003 - Ceramic Fair, Ginousseus, France.
2003 - Earth and Fire, Rufford, Notts.
2003 - Potfest in the Park, Penrith.
2003 - Art in Clay, Hatfield.
2003 - Keramisto, Milsbeek, Holland.
2003 - Les Arts de Feu, Rennes, France.
2004 - Exhibition "Rooksignalen".
2004 - Tegelen, Holland.
2004 - Earth and Fire, Rufford, Notts.
2004 - Ceramic Fair, Swalmen, Holland.
2004 - Keramisto, Milsbeek, Holland.
2004 - Opening Galerie, "Terre et Feu", Auray, France. (now closed)

Exhibitions

Different galleries: Eindhoven, Utrecht, Bilthoven, Putten, Kampen, Harskamp, Lexmond, Nieuwegein, Amhem, Apeldoom, Den Haag, a.o.
Group exhibition town museum Schiedam.
Group exhibition town museum Maassluis.