Pam Summers’ Raku firing method is derived from the sixteenth-century Japanese technique developed for the tea ceremony. The pieces are glazed, dried and put directly into a very hot kiln where they remain until the glazes have melted at more than 1800 degrees. Pam then removes the piece from the kiln with tongs and puts it into a nest of natural grasses and covers it, creating a rich reduction atmosphere. The pieces are then quickly quenched with water, producing her wonderful lustrous crackle glazes.

She has also developed a strong signature technique for her contemporary ceramics that has given her both regional and national recognition. Her brightly glazed patterns, which weave in and out of strong geometric shapes, are instantly recognizable. Her ceramic shapes are traditional vessel and bowl motifs that take on somewhat revitalized Art Deco patterns with bold color throughout.