The firing is the heart and soul of the Raku technique. No one can predict exactly what the results will look like when finished. Glazes crackle in fascinating patterns and metallic oxides change colors. Different colors appear in different areas of one piece from a single glaze depending upon the amount of oxygen during the firing and in the can during the post firing reduction.
Photos below.
Lynn places her bisqued and glazed pieces
into the high temperature fiber lined Raku kiln.
During the firing and before thepieces are removed from the kiln;
the can is readied to receive the
1700-1800 degree Fahrenheit
pieces for the post firing reduction.
Lynn uses straw and leaves in the
can to create the carbon that is
driven into the clay.
After a visual inspection through specialglasses to protect her eyes from the intense
light and heat in the kiln, Lynn removes
each piece individually from the kiln.
The can containing the hot potteryis quickly covered. The straw and
leaves smoke and carbon is driven
into the clay anywhere there is no
glaze. Sometimes interesting
impressions appear in the smoky
unglazed areas. Carbon is also
driven into the crackle patterns of
the glazes created during cooling
in the can.
Each piece is gently removed fromthe still smoking materials using
special high temperature protective
gloves and is quickly quenched in
water so that it will cool evenly
without breaking.
Once the pieces are cool enough to handle,they are rinsed in clean water, washed and
allowed to air dry.
View the finished raku pieces.
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