Pottery
endures great stressors in which magnificent outcomes occur. Raku is no
exception. As the piece glows within the
burning
hot kiln during it's final firing at 1830° Fahrenheit it is
abruptly pulled out by tongs and placed into a fire proof
container with organic combustible substances. Often
these substances are paper, saw dust, leaves and straw. The
red hot piece ignites the flammable material then a lid is tightly
placed on top in order to choke out the oxygen. The fire becomes
starved for oxygen and begins to take it from the glazed pottery. As
the fire dances around the piece a myriad of intense metallic color
takes place creating a unique fire kissed design.
Displaying your raku art in
direct or indirect light can enhance it. If the light
shines from above or below the piece, from the right or left
a variety of colors can appear. It is interesting to
see the changes that natural daylight can make. You
will have an evolving piece of art.
