Raku Firing

                             

                             Living the Raku Experience

The Raku Collection

Welcome to my new blog page where I will be discussing the development of my ceramic experiences in detail. Today I want to present my raku firing extravaganza. In a group of around eight people from an arts centre in North Holland we booked a course of raku firing techniques given by a well known Dutch ceramicist living in Amsterdam. We prepared several pieces of work previously and biscuit fired them then laid them all out on the table ready for glazing :-

Biscuit Fired Ready for Glazing!

The term raku is derived from the Japanese expression meaning enjoyment or happiness and this form of decorating pots and sculptures is for me is one of the most enjoyable ceramic experiences I have ever had. As long as you use clay that is strong enough with 30-40% grog your masterpieces shouldn't break from the intense thermal shocks because of the violent and rapid changes of heat.

Great balls of fire !

We are given a variety of raku glazes to use : transparent, blue, turquoise, red, raspberry, violet, orange, celedon and a copper glaze mix. The important thing to remember is that what you leave unglazed will become black due to the technique of using sawdust and newspaper to set off a blazing fire that will tarnish the pot, and when the lid is closed, the unglazed sections of the pot will become smouldered and smoked.

All smoked out...

The great beauty of raku glazing is achieving those wonderful black cracks all across the glazed surface. How do you go about achieving this effect ? When the kiln reaches a temperature of around 1000oC the glazes have melted and the red hot pots are removed with tongs still glowing brightly from the heat. A cool breeze should now blow over larger pots so that the quick change of heat can produce a thermal shock and the clay contracts forcing the glaze to begin crackling. The wonderful "ting" sound resonates from the relaxing fired pot. Now is the exciting bit... 

Glazes melted ready for the smoking...

Tongs in heavily gloved hand I pluck my glowing creations from their heated bed. Swing to cool a bit and get some thermal shocking. Then newspaper is placed before my glowing piece is settled into the container - flames shoot up and sawdust is thrown over to produce smoke, more newspaper for more fire, then sawdust and so it continues till my piece is singed to blackness then the tightly fitted lid is placed on top. Wet towels are draped over any cracks so no smoke can escape and after the nervous commotion of speedy actions to produce the dramatic raku effects all is calm....and we wait for the results....

Cooling Down.

 Smoke and sawdust cinders must be removed with vigorous scrubbing and new colours emerge :-

Altogether now.

Taking it easy after a good smoke !

The Deco Look

Japan Style.

The Raku experience is something I recommend to every passionate ceramicist. Although due to my own personal excitement and uncontrollable enthusiasm it can be physically exhausting....But you decide and have a go.....