Tuesday, July 21, 2009

more raku

Here are a couple of flower pots that I really liked. I can just see a red amaryllis planted in one for the holidays, or a small poinsettia.

odd camera angle, but I like the inside of this pot. It's wider at the bottom than it appears
I made these baskets for the pendants and ornaments. Holes in the bottoms to get reduction. I'm not sure the handles will survive in a raku, but I made strong attachments reinforced with coils so we'll see. I'll just use wire for the handles if these break.
a basket that will get wire handles and a tile holder. The tile holders you can buy are very heavy. We have some at Claymakers and there is no way I could lift one filled with tiles with my tongs. I will attach wire on the ends so it can be lifted easily. If this works, I'll make more. Again I want to see if the construction is going to hold up. Raku is rough on hand built work and seams come undone sometimes.

8 comments:

Laura Farrow said...

beautiful work Tracey and great results!! i am taking over Caroly's wed night class at claymakers, starting tomorrow.. you ever around on weds? i wouldn't mind picking your brain about teaching. xo

Tracey Broome said...

I can be around. I need to go to CM and pay for some clay and I put those baskets in the kiln, I could pick them up. You want to meet tomorrow? Time?

Anonymous said...

beautiful flower pots... there's a whole lotta cracking goin' on.

Linda Starr said...

Your flower pots are just beautiful. I am loving learning all about your techniques on baskets and tile trays for your raku, those are so creative. I hope the trays and baskets work out.

Anonymous said...

I am almost a constant reader of your blog and I would be like to know what mean "raku".

Tracey Broome said...

Vlad, here is a definition from about.com that will explain Raku easier than I can. I find it a hot, stinky, labor intensive process with most results unknown and sometimes hard to replicate, I love it! Glad to hear from you.

Definition: Raku (noun) generally refers to a type of low-firing process that was inspired by traditional Japanese raku firing. Western-style raku usually involves removing pottery from the kiln while at bright red heat and placing it into containers with combustible materials. Once the materials ignite, the containers are closed. This produces an intense reduction atmosphere which effects the colors in glazes and clay bodies. The drastic thermal shock also produces cracking (known as crackling since it is deliberate).

The original Japanese style of raku is an outgrowth from Buddhist influences in life and especially in the tea ceremony

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the explanation. I do not think that this word means so much. This is very surprising indeed. And thanks to separately for about.com.

Mike said...

Tracey - thanks for your comments on my blog. I, too, thought about building a kiln but didn't have the right space for it. I looked at buying a Geil (or similar) kiln, but didn't want to spend $20,000. The Olympic was small and affordable. I recently spoke with a potter at an art festival in Gainesville. He also has an Olympic Torchbearer. He puts posts over the flame hole as well. I'm going to try that when I fire next weekend (which is also the first firing of the kiln!).

I see your daughter plays guitar. So do I. Tell her last month I bought a 2003 Les Paul Supreme. It sounds amazing!

Thanks for the tips and let's keep in touch.