Raku

If you do not know what raku is, I did not before today either or atleast did not fully appreciate the process! It is a clay firing technique that produces unknown and absolutely stunning color effects on the finished pieces. After putting on a special glaze and fired a second time, the glowing piece is carefully lifted out and placed in a dugged out pit in the ground that has debris of leaves, pine needles, etc in the bottom ... and a lid quickly put on it to block out the oxygen. Of course everything in the pit immediately ignites and the hot smoke breaks down or the chemicals in the debris alter the glaze colors... not sure which and sure Tammy will give a better description. Spent the day with Tammy and helped her out a bit while she explained and demonstrated the ins and outs of raku.... hard work! Watch Tammy's blog for a photo in the next day or so and be prepared for a real visual treat! I would think she will have a hard time parting with that torso!!!

While I was at Tammy's I dropped off my pieces to be fired and will get them back on Saturday... then the fun begins and the pieces come alive with paints, metallics, and stains! My greenwoman was finished last night with the sculpting so it should be ready to be fired in a couple of weeks as it is fairly thick. She will go in one of the galleries I am participating in along with her greenman just in time for the beginning of the holiday seasons.... just hope she behaves herself and comes out in one piece.