Raku

Raku using glazes

What is most attractive, especially at the beginning of the path of alternative firings, is firing with glaze in a gas kiln*. Ceramics are glazed with ready-made glaze or made in the privacy of the studio.

The firing process itself is quite short, spectacular and full of fire. The ceramics are removed from the kiln* with special tongs with spikes* or wheels* at a temperature of about 1000 degrees, and are reduced or not in special containers with sawdust, needles, leaves, etc. As a result of thermal shock, the glazes become rough and the smoke penetrating the cracks "draws" beautiful, unique stories on the body or blushes metallically. The clay used for firing contains fireclay, which makes the ceramics less susceptible to cracking. Each work is one of a kind, unique and unrepeatable. Before firing, drawings can be made on the glaze, which add additional decorative values. After cleaning, cooling in water, the works are waxed, e.g. with a mixture of beeswax and linseed oil.