Thursday, October 11, 2012

Supah Stah

 I read a blog the other day that referred to Raku as the black velvet of ceramics. While this is sort of true, I happen to have a tacky side that likes black velvet painting, especially black velvet Elvis. I do have a degree in interior design and I do know what good taste is, but I also lean towards tacky from time to time. And I love raku. I love the experience of it, the instant gratification, the unknown, the risk, it's fun. And I love the results of my last firing. I did a quick batch of stars the other day, and all of them came out fantastic. For the first time I didn't break any, although I continue to make them thinner and thinner, they survived and they are really pretty. They are a mother to photograph though.
 They won't last long, no matter how many I make, they sell quickly around this time of year. Raku might be the black velvet of ceramics but there are plenty of people out there that are attracted to a shiny penny. Thank goodness we all have different tastes! No these aren't the wood fired and shino surfaces I love from other potters, but they are still very pretty and appropriate for the sparkly holiday season.
Check out the three here on top. Same glaze, same firing, reduced in the same can, but all totally different. I have never had this glaze turn such a cobalt blue as the top right one. It's the only one that came out that way, and its so nice. I will never be able to duplicate this color, but that's what I love about Raku, if you have no expectations, you can't be disappointed as easily :)

15 comments:

Anna M. Branner said...

Damn. That blue is to die for. I'd love 5 or 6 to hang in my house year round! Gorgeous.

Tracey Broome said...

Hey Anna, these are even better in person, they are soooo hard to photograph! I hung one up yesterday, I never keep one for myself, so this year I grabbed one early :)

Melissa Rohrer said...

Those are pretty. I bet you get people asking if you have more of a certain color all the time not knowing it's all about the happenstance of the firing.

Dennis Allen said...

Sooo pretty. So shiny.... So blue..
They have it all.

smartcat said...

OOOOOH Shiny! Perfect ornaments...good that you kept one!

Michèle Hastings said...

your stars are beautiful, not surprised they sell quickly. I too read the "velvet painting" reference, and had to laugh. I tried to not take it personally :-)

did you make a plaster mold for your stars so that you can replicate them quicker?

Laura Farrow said...

gorgeous! I know what I want for xmas! xo

Tracey Broome said...

Hey Melissa, yeah last year I had to laugh at the people that tried to pick out "matching" stars. Just not going to happen with raku!
Yes, oooh shiny and pretty haha! very happy with them!

Michele, I have heard those kind of comments about raku for so long now, I just don't pay attention because the non potter public loves raku and some potters even love it, like me and you! So what, it's shiny, people like shiny :) I did make a plaster mold but it didn't turn out so great so I just use the old mold I have, so but efficient....

Laura, I will put your name on Santa's list :)

Kevin Carter said...

I love all forms of raku; it is like anything else, with some discretion, thought, and taste, it is just another expressive technique, and can produce unique results that can be obtained no other way. I think those who look down on it are snobs - f*ck 'em if they can't take a joke.

Tracey Broome said...

Kevin, I totally agree. I can be a huge pottery snob, but I still love raku in all of its forms:)

Amy said...

gosh, gorgeous. I wonder if any of them will stay in your home, like the blue one in the last photo.

Tracey Broome said...

Hi Amy, I did keep one, I usually sell them all and then wish I had one, so I took one early!

Vicki said...

Oooooh, nice. So pretty!

Unknown said...

You are Rockin' the Raku!! They look great, way better than an Elvis painting ;)

yolande clark said...

I love raku, and (YAY!) I *LOVE* my Tracey Broome raku stars. Oh wait. They're not mine! Well, they will be mine-ish until my three little superstars move out. And Melissa: Lee and I often have people asking us if we can please produce a woodfired cup just like that...but in black or..blue! Um, probably not.
Lee has some funny ideas about Raku, but he secretly loves it, too. AND he has promised to help facilitate my building of a wood-fired raku kiln this spring. I'm so excited!