Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Raku Firing


Earlier this summer Rich joined a Raku workshop at The Center. Artists first made their clay pieces, bisque fired and glazed with crackle or metallic glazes, then put them in the outdoor kiln to 1800 degrees, glowing hot. They took the pieces out with tongs, put them in cans with sawdust and straw to burn, then covered to cut off the oxygen. Next into water to cool and clean. Unglazed clay turns black. The results are not food safe and don't hold water, but they are beautiful to look at.

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