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For Steven, raku firing is a labor of love that produces one of a kind treasures in clay.
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These pieces of pottery were first, wheel thrown and allowed to dry to a "leather hard" state. They were bisque
fired and cooled. The final step undergone before a raku firing commences: they were glazed. Each will
be placed into the raku kiln and quickly heated to 1800 degrees F. As the piece warms the glaze liquifies turning
from the light, powdery texture (seen above left) to the dark green glossy finish (above right.) |
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At 1800 degrees, a single piece is carried from the kiln, using metal tongs, and placed into a container full
of dried organic material. The heat of the piece itself ignites the straw in a burst of flames.
The copper in the molten glaze begins to change color. |
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 Within the flaming barrel, the smoke, and flames react with
the glaze producing deep color and copper lusters characteristic of Steven's raku work. Random, swirling, and often
imprinted with the touch of the burning organic
matter--no two are
alike.
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The fired piece is then quenched with water to quickly
cool the molten glaze and lock in the colors.
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Like all raku fired pottery, this piece emerged from the burnt straw ready to
be wiped clean. Even in this state the colors and lusters are evident.
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Just What is Raku?
The photos above show Steven's
version of a centuries old pottery firing technique called "Raku" which originated in Japan. It is the final step of an intricate, multi-step process
he has refined over the last decade to create tiles, vessels, and lamps of striking
beauty and interest. His signature copper-saturated glaze formulation emphasizes form and texture. It also suggests
the illusions of movement or light and it leaves the admirer wondering if the piece is indeed ceramic!
Preparation
Using only a potter's wheel and his imagination,
Steven begins the multi-step process by transforming raw clay into a variety of forms. These
are left to dry to a "leather hard" state. In this state, Steven adds texture to some by incising or carving the surface. Smooth and textured pieces undergo a bisque firing, are
allowed to cool, and are glazed. When
the glaze dries, they are at last ready for the Raku Firing.
The Raku Firing
A single glazed piece is placed into the
kiln where it is rapidly heated to 1800 F. At this temperature, the form glows red-hot and is ready
to be removed. It
is plucked glowing from the kiln and quickly transfered to a nest of dried organic material such as leaves or straw. The resulting explosion
of flame and smoke chemically alters the
copper in the glaze creating an amazing array of lustrous colors and patterns.
Although the process can be reproduced,
the highly variable elements of
heat, flames, and smoke create vessels that are one-of-a-kind treasures.
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