Earth Wood and Fire is Laura and Jim McCaul.
Laura is an artist who loves to carve.After receiving her B.F.A. in printmaking, she did hand-rubbed woodcuts of her ancestors. When she began working in clay, she went further back in time, on an archaeological dig of sorts,unearthing same-soul tribal images and patterns.The subjects of her carvings are the human figure, animals, birds, plants and abstract designs.

Each of her pieces is one of a kind, handbuilt and carved. She often uses her own version of a Native American firing process called blackware. She finishes her work with terra sigillata, a refined slip that is rubbed to a sheen. After a bisque firing to make the pieces functional and washable, she fires them with wood outdoors in a three barrel kiln. When the fire is hot enough, the space between the middle and inner barrels is filled with sawdust and covered. The trapped carbon is permanently absorbed into the clay producing unique earthy tones and flashings.

Laura's work is a part of the Minnesota Historical Society's permanent collection and was featured on the Autumn Woods series of the PBS program Hometime. Her tiles "Nuthatch" and "Blackbird in Reeds" were awarded first place in the 2002 National 21st Century Tile Exhibit, and "Two Blackbirds in Reeds" is part of the permanent collection of the Leigh Yawkee Woodson Museum.

Jim designs and hand builds finely crafted furniture and accessories featuring Laura's blackwared tiles. Jim and Laura live and work at their home on a lake in the woods of northwestern Wisconsin. Their work is available through galleries, art fairs and private commissions.