Latest Naked Raku Work

For the pieces below, I applied a slip resist to the bisque-fired porcelain bottles. On top of the slip resist, I put a thick coat of crackle glaze. The crackle glaze shrinks over the piece and in the cracks carbon from the reduced atmosphere impregnates the clay. Then, I scraped off all the glaze and slip resist revealing the surfaces...no glaze remains...hence, naked raku.

91% Alcohol Reduction

So here's what's happening....

I fire the piece to around 1750 degrees Farenheit in a raku kiln...remove it (Katie's being awesome and giving me a hand in the first video) ...place it on a banding wheel and spray the still red hot piece with 91% alchohol on it. This does a few things.... creates variations of pattern and serves as a combustible.... displacing the amount of oxygen present.

Once I finish spraying it with alcohol I move it to a clear chamber... this lets me view what's happening inside so I can manipulate the colors with slightly more control.





Results....