Raku

Hey everyone! I got the opportunity last night to do a little Raku.

Raku is a quick-fire process. You pick out a bisque piece (thrown on the wheel and fired in the kiln one time). You paint it with Rake glaze and put it in the kiln for 1 hour. Once it gets to the right temperature, you take the red hot piece out of the kiln immediately and put it in a metal trash can filled with torn paper, put the lid on and let it burn and smoke for 10 minutes or so. Next it needs to be dipped in cold water. When you reach in, it's cool enough to touch. Wash off the soot and VUALLA!

I painted this one with "Peacock Blue." This particular glaze has copper in it, so you can see where that shined through. On the inside of the bowl I left some clay unglazed, the smoke is what causes it to turn black.

 What do you think?!?!