What's RAKU?
Raku is an ancient Japanese rapid firing technique that was initially used to decorate ceramics used in traditional Japanese tea ceremonies. The western world has now adapted this technique to incorporate the addition of placing the red hot ware into combustibles creating reduction to create the distinctive crackle effect and sometimes beautiful flashes of copper in the finished piece.
Once cooled, a layer of black soot must be removed using wire wool. For me this is the most exciting part, as its when the soot is removed the beautiful Raku effects beneath are discovered.
No two pieces ever turn out the same!
