Raku Firing at Mary Baldwin 1

August 8, 2010.

A three day workshop led by Nancy Ross culminated with the firing on Sunday. Here we see the kiln being lifted after the temperature reaches 1800. The pots are then placed inside trash cans filled with shredded paper. We allow the paper to flare up before smothering the fire to allow the pots to reduce. The fire is deprived of oxygen and pulls it out of the glazes. This process produces several interesting and unpredictable glaze reactions. Thicker glazes crackle after being removed from the kiln and sprayed with water before reduction. Other glazes show copper flashing where they were licked by the flames. The white clay body is saturated with smoke which turns it black.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Raku
• Staunton
• Mary
• Baldwin
• Mary Baldwin
• Nancy
• Ross
• Nancy Ross