by the Barefoot Potter Excerpt: Raku is an ancient Japanese way of firing. It was introduced for tea ceremonies it the 16th Century. The word Raku has many different meanings. The one that I use in my workshops is "HAPPINESS THROUGH CHANCE".
Excerpt: "Like most great ideas, Mobile Raku was born out of necessity. While teaching classes at schools and institutions, I had a following of students, “regulars”, who were eager to fire at every chance they got. They would bribe me to do extra firings before or after class. Eventually the class became non-stop firings. I had to take some of the firings out of class so that there was still studio time. I’m not one to disappoint my students so I developed “Mobile Raku”...
Excerpt: Here is a short introduction to the kind of ceramics I make Raku firing today bears little resemblance to the original Japanese Raku method. Each person finds the way that suits them best. For myself I find that the best results I get are from multi firing each piece as this seems to give the glaze more depth.This also means that by overlaying glazes you get some surprising and exciting results. If you like to experiment with your glazes and don't mind the odd disaster, you will enjoy
Raku. Happy Firing.
Ceramics Today Article - Raku - Compiled 5/31/96 by Steven Branfman Author of Raku: A Practical Approach, Second Edition and The Potters Professional Handbook.
Excerpt: Wada Tozan is the third generation of Wada family ceramists. His career began in 1972 when he started apprenticing under Haruo Wada, his father, at the family-owned Kotoura Kiln. As present day owner of the kiln, he has upheld its longstanding reputation as a maker of the finest tea ceremony utensils.
The Raku Museum is situated immediately next door to the Raku family home and workshop. It was established in 1978 by the 14th generation Kakunyű (1918~1980) and has a collection consisting primarily of ceramics made by successive heads of the Raku family, related documents and tea utensils passed down over the generations.
Excerpt: Recently, I developed a new, unique surface, which I call a “halo/opal” glaze. Wherever light strikes this reticulated surface, it seems to radiate from a point, creating a halo. Glaze expert, Robin Hopper, suggested that I was creating “simulated opal”, hence the name “halo/opal” was adopted. I found that I could duplicate this effect only if I raku fired the ware multiple times and at different temperatures.
Lakeside Pottery is a ceramic school and studio in CT. Through the years, we have documented our pottery and ceramic knowledge to share with all. Please visit and enjoy. We also try to answer as many questions as possible. See below a small subset of our tips:
Thought about starting a pottery or ceramic studio
The value of pottery and ceramic classes in school
Electric Kiln Firing
Raku Guide
Mixing and Using Glazes
Successful Glazing At Lakeside Pottery
Cone 6 Glaze Recipes
Firing , Melting and Fusing Glass on Pottery
Can matt glazes be used with food?
Throwing a Pot Tutorial
Surface Texture Tools Use and Tricks With Potter's Wheel
Hand-building Methods
Making Ceramic Tiles and Flat Forms
Fix Broken Pottery
Making Wedging Table Clay Recycling Slab
Simple Way Preventing Clay Clogging Sink
What is Magic Water, Magic Mud / Paper Clay and Recipe...
