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Monday, July 23, 2007

Pottery Firing

Here are some photos of our Raku firing on Saturday.



Backwards I know, but here are a few of the fired pots.

This is the setup. The kiln is the rusty looking barrel in the middle which is heated with a propane torch which you can see sticking into it. When they are heated enough the pots are put into cans of sawdust or leaves and smoked. Then they are washed and admired.

Ryan is glazing a pot that Marcel gave him.



Ryan's pot coming out of the smoker.


Ryan watching the first washing of the pot. At this stage it's still pretty hot. Soon after the picture he took it and scrubbed it down until it was gleaming.

16 comments:

Toni said...

I dont know much about pottery but I like yours...looks like fun..Toni

dot said...

Very cool. I didn't know you could do this. I learn so much from your blog.

Donna said...

I own a few pieces of Raku, and had a vague idea how it was fired, but its really informative to see your set up. Thanks for sharing Joyce!

Fiona said...

The pots look superb, I also had vague notions of raku being done in the ashes of a camp-fire (forgive me) so it's interesting to see how it's actually done.

meggie said...

Those pots look wonderful! And how lucky is Ryan, to have his pot fired & be able to polish it. And to have the chance to learn it all while so young!

Kate North said...

That looks fun - my mother is a potter and I used to dabble before I became obsessed with fibre, but I never raku fired (she does, sometimes) - always thought it would be fun to have a go, though. I do have a small collection of raku, though...

Lily Mulholland said...

Well it sounded like fun Joyce and it was!! What a great way to fire pottery - haven't heard of it before, but it makes perfect sense and has no doubt been around for millennia!

sewprimitive karen said...

Wow, raku, how marvelous. The whole process looks so artistic.

Judy said...

Lovely pots! What fun!!!
That Ryan is as cute as a button!

KC Quilter said...

Absolutely fascinating, Joyce. Would love to do that some day.

Pam said...

I just love raku. I had no idea that it was "smoked" in leaves or sawdust. I knew it wasn't heated to the same temps as pottery. Thanks for the pictures. It is always great to see new things :))

atet said...

Ooooh -- I love the pottery!

Susan said...

That looks like such fun.

Lynn Dykstra said...

I have a little piece of raku on my dresser. It is such a wonderful artform.
The photograph of the pots is lovely.

Rose Marie said...

Looks like you all had a fun day! I have always wanted to try pottery, so maybe 'one day' it will come true.

Darcie said...

No wonder Raku pottery is so saught after! Quite a process! Thanks for sharing the pics, Joyce.

And Ryan's expressions are priceless!