Raku

Raku is an old Japanese way of firing pottery. Compared to modern kilns that take a long time to heat up and cool down, raku does the job almost instantaneously. The whole process takes less than an hour. Bisque-fired ceramics is arranged on the shelf of a raku kiln, covered with a lid and quickly brought up to about 1800 F, more or less depending on a glaze or technique applied.

Afterwards the kiln is opened and the extremely hot, glowing orange and almost translucent pottery is swiftly transferred with long tongs into a reduction chamber - a large metal can or pot filled with torn paper and sawdust. More paper is thrown on top and after it catches fire – it takes mere seconds - the pot is tightly covered with a lid and wrapped with a soaking wet cloth. After 10-15 minutes when the pieces are cool enough to touch, they are taken out and washed to remove the ash.

In Seattle, if you don’t own a raku kiln, you can come to Seattle Pottery Supply (SPS) store on first Saturday of each month and fire your ceramics. There you will find 6 raku kilns and a great big guy named Eric, who operates them.  You can bring your bisque pieces already glazed or glaze them on the premises – SPS provides a bunch of their own glazes and all the tools one may need.

My husband and I have been attending SPS raku firings since September 2012 and absolutely loved it every single time. Fascinating process, beautiful pottery, great company, new acquaintances, learning from each other – this is what raku firing is all about.

Here’re some of my raku pottery. Almost all of them are made on a wheel and carved at a leather hard stage. For these pieces I used SPS white crackle raku glaze and Mayco red raku glaze.

To enhance crackles on ceramics covered with a crackle glaze, don’t put it into a reduction chamber right after the firing. Swing it back and forth with your tongs for about 20-25 seconds, blow on it with a fan or your mouth. Then put in a reduction chamber, throw more paper on top, wait till the fire gets big and close with a lid.

  

Comments

[Olga]

So bright and tasteful... I love what you make.

[Tania]

Thank you, Olga! I know it's not modest of me, but I do myself love these pieces. Raku is such a fun, both the process and results.

[Olga]

what nonsense, to bring modest-not modest in here! ;) it's your blog, your home, your art - this is what you love! it's a joy to watch and to read, I wish there were more blogs like yours, and not "what-to-do-in-garden-in-february" type... I mean, seriously. I even didn't know it's called raku. And now I know and love it. :)

[Tania]

:) It was false modesty. The kind when you say "I hate to brag, but..." and then knock yourself out describing how truly great you are!