© Jeff Lomas 2011
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The Raku technique uses both fire and smoke to create unique designs. The pottery piece is first bisque fired to harden the clay. It is left to cool and then glazed in whatever colours and patterns are desired.
The glazed piece is put into a kiln and the temperature of the kiln quickly raised to about 1000 degrees Centigrade.
The piece is then removed from the kiln and, still glowing red hot, is put immediately into a container of combustible materials such as wood shavings.
The heat from the piece causes the wood shavings to burst into flame. A lid is quickly placed over the container sealing the piece inside.
As the fire consumes the available oxygen it also draws the oxygen from the pottery piece and its glaze. It is this ‘post fire reduction’ phase that creates the unique look of Raku pottery via processes of rapid heating and cooling. As the process relies upon a multiple variables, the final patterns in the pottery are quite unpredictable.
The Raku piece remains in the sealed container for about 15 minutes, is removed and placed quickly into water. This part of the process freezes the patterns and colours created in the previous, ‘post fire reduction’ phase.
The finished Raku pottery piece is removed from the water when it has cooled sufficiently to be handled and is cleaned and polished ready to reveal the bright colours, metallic effects and crackle finish typical of the Raku process.
