Active Artist Network

Firing Raku Pottery

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.

(1) Lynn places her bisqued and glazed pieces into the high temperature fiber lined Raku kiln.

Lynn removes each piece individually from the kiln.

(3) After a visual inspection through special glasses to protect her eyes from the intense light and heat in the kiln, Lynn removes each piece individually from the kiln.

The pieces are rinsed in clean water, washed and allowed to air dry.

(6) Once the pieces are cool enough to handle, they are rinsed in clean water, washed and allowed to air dry.

Lynn uses straw and leaves in the can to create the carbon that is driven into the clay.

(2) During the firing and before the pieces 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.

(4) The can containing the hot pottery is 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.

(5) Each piece is gently removed from the still smoking materials using special high temperature protective gloves and is quickly quenched in water so that it will cool evenly without breaking.