Playing with Fire

I love to raku fire.  For those of you who are not familiar with the term - it is a method of surface finish for fireable clays in which you heat the specialized glazes on the pieces to glowing hot temps, and then move them into containers with combustible materials.  The combustibles burst into flame and a lid is put on the container, preventing more oxygen from entering. The reduction in the atmosphere inside the container interacts with the glaze chemicals, creating amazing effects - bright metallic gloss, dusky dry surfaces. black smoky finishes --- all manner of effects depending on what variations are employed and what glazes are used.  That's the simple explanation from a quasi-scientific viewpoint.  Here's my take:  Raku is MAGIC!!  You employ the alchemy of chemistry and fire and throw out pleas to the kiln spirits.  You don't always get what you expect, but it's very often a wonderful surprise - AND it's fairly immediate for clay processes.

The workshop- prepped for raku.  The trash cans are my reduction containers. Photo: Josh Parker Photography.

Raku is generally done using gas-fired kilns.  I, however, raku using an electric test kiln.  I'm certainly not the first to do so.  I read an article about the process several years back and that's all it took.  I was off into raku heaven! (You DO need to remember to unplug the kiln before taking the pieces out with your tongs, so you do not touch active kiln elements!)  I thought you might enjoy seeing a few pictures from a recent firing.   After work is made from wet stoneware clays ( in my case, mostly hand-built, not thrown) and then dried, it is bisque fired. This is a firing to a low temperature which is followed by glazing.  I do all my glazing using brushes, rather than dipping pieces in glaze or pouring glaze over the pieces.  This may take longer, but it gives me more control of the glaze application.  The pieces are then ready for the raku firing.  Enjoy!  I certainly do!!  Thanks to Josh at Josh Parker Photography for the process pictures.

A red hot piece coming out of the kiln ready to go into the reduction container. Photo: Josh Parker Photography

Combustibles catching fire from the hot piece. Photo: Josh Parker Photography

Inside the still hot kiln after the pieces are removed. The glowing supports kept the pieces from bumping into each other. Photo: Josh Parker Photography

Cat Masks after reduction. Photo: Josh Parker Photography

Sometimes heating the piece with a torch can enhance the glaze effects. Photo: Josh Parker Photography

Cat Mask, removed from reduction and cooling on the ground. Photo: Josh Parker Photography 

Shelf Cat from a later load.  This glaze got VERY interesting!