CASI Raku Workshops

Raku: adults playing with fire.  It is very fast paced, a bit unpredictable, and always exciting.  Over the years I have participated in a few Raku workshops. the Most recent were in Newhall, California at Ceramic Artist Studio, Inc. (CASI).

Raku is an ancient process of creating ware traditionally used for Japanese tea ceremonies.  However by today’s standards Raku ware is not food safe or water tight. It can be used for plants or flowers only if the pot has a plastic or glass insert.

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One of the current Western raku processes starts with low fired (bisqued) clay pots or objects that are painted with special glazes designed to change colors during the cooling process. After the wet glaze is dry, the pieces are heated to about 1750F. 

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When the glaze is melted on the pots, the kiln is opened. using fire resistant gloves and long tongs, each pot is quickly removed from the kiln, placed in a small metal can with newspaper, and sealed tightly with a metal lid.

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As the hot pot is placed in the can, the paper ignites, and when the lid is secured the combustion reduces the oxygen around the pot.  This change in atmosphere creates a wide variety of colors and lusters in the glaze.  The amount of time the piece is left in the can with the lid closed also impacts the results. When removed from the can, the piece either cools naturally in the air or is quenched in a container of water (no picture, sorry). The cooling process also impacts the final colors.

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Here are a few of the classes’ beautiful raku pieces.  Please see my Gallery’s Raku page to enjoy my work.