Artist Biography

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Artist Biography

Kelly and Trent Berning met in graduate school at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Their ceramics is all individually hand made. Berning Clay pottery is glaze fired in a gas kiln to cone 10. They have tested and formulated the majority of their glaze recipes. All functional items are food safe, dishwasher safe and can be used in a microwave. Their pottery has a unique style that combines art and function. Both of them have taught and exhibited in various places around the United States. They moved to Fallbrook, California in 2004 and opened the Berning Clay Gallery out on Olive Hill. They are currently teaching and working as studio artists.

We use a variety of methods: slab, wheel, coil and pinch. These methods may be combined, or used individually. After our work is formed and has dried, it is loaded into an electric kiln for the first of two firings. The first firing, a bisque firing, is fired to approximately 1800 degrees F or cone 08. This hardens the ware making it easier to handle without breaking during the glazing process.

The glaze, a mixture of flint or silica, clays, colorants and water, is applied to the bisque piece by pouring, spraying, brushing, sponging and layering or some combination of these techniques. We then use our gas kiln to fire the work in the second firing, the glaze firing, to a temperature of 2350 degrees F or cone 10.

Our gas kiln allows us to have more options, flexibility and control in the firing process such as reduction and oxidation. The higher temperature makes the final piece stronger and intensifies the visual depth. After reaching 2350 F, the pots are ready to be cooled and unloaded.