Raku Firing

 

Raku means comfort, enjoyment and ease.

 

Western Raku was inspired by the Japenese 16th century process.The first Japanese-style kiln in the west was built by Tsuronosuke Matsubayashi at Leach Pottery, St Ives in 1922 and the process has developed since throughout the west.

 

I use an electric kiln and rapidly heat the work up to 950º then transfer it to a metal bin of combustibles. I try to manipulate the sawdust, paper and other material to create different intensities of colour but a lot is left to serendipity.

 

Raku is an exciting,energetic process with an element of danger where you are fully involved in the firing process.