Modeling & Ceramics

raku course
In a raku firing, ceramic work pieces are made of white chamotte clay and painted with different raku glazes and fired outdoors in a special gas kiln.
When the glaze is red hot, the work piece is taken out of the kiln with tongs and placed in a barrel with sawdust, which is then covered with a lid.
Because of the temperature shock, the glaze will crack, “crackle.” Inside the barrel, however, the workpiece is still hot enough to ignite the sawdust and, because the barrel is covered, the fire does not have enough oxygen (reduce), creating a lot of smoke. The black smoke adheres in the cracks of the glaze and in places where no glaze has been applied.
When the workpiece has cooled, it must be scrubbed clean and then you get to see the result. Because the firing takes place outside and each workpiece has its own look because of the way you worked, no one knows in advance what the end result will be.
The workpieces are made of white chamotte clay (40% chamotte). Preferably in one piece and/or well joined together with clay silt and roughened edges. This is because I heat up the kiln quickly to a temperature of around 1000 degrees and the workpieces must be able to withstand the sudden cooling when the kiln is opened.