Raku

Raku, originally from Japan, is a firing technique that rapidly heats and cools pieces. Usually, when glaze firing, we slowly bring the kiln up to temperature, then slowly cool it, allowing the glaze to melt and move over the piece. This slow process gives finished pieces their strength and helps prevent cracking. In Raku, we throw all that to the wayside, and a process that usually takes days can take less than 2 hours. I typically remove a piece from the kiln at 1877 degrees Fahrenheit, then place it in a steel can with paper, allowing all the oxygen to burn out. The reduction (burning the oxygen out) gives me coppery flashes and unpredictable colors in my glazes. At the same time, staining all the naked clay with smoke. It is one of my favorite ways to play with clay.