This page is meant to provide just the necessary information to properly throw your raku pot. Your teacher will answer more in depth questions on the day of raku. Clay To begin your raku journey you’ll need to start with picking the right clay. I’m sure you’ve heard instructors say, “Pick a groggy clay.” So what does that mean? For the purpose of explaining this for raku, grog & sand make the clay stronger. Thermal shock is an issue when removing your red hot pot from the raku kiln. The possibility of your pot cracking increases when using a clay without grog. These are groggy clays we stock:
High Fire Clay Sonora Rod’s Bod HBCA Dark Brown Sculpture 412
The color of your clay does matter. The color of your clay in the bisqueware stage is what your final piece will look like. The cone your clay glaze fires to does not matter.
Burnishing & Terra Sig This technique can be applied to your pots to give it a more finished look. Highly recommended if you plan to Sagger, Raku, or apply Mica/Horsehair to your pots. Terra sigillata is a special clay slip that will give a soft sheen when applied to greenware pots and, if burnished, a high gloss finished look. This application will give your Mica or Horse Hair Raku pot a more refined look.
Shape Take some time to sketch out some shapes before you sit down to create your raku piece. You’ll want to choose a shape pleasing to the eye as well as easy to pick up with tongs. Vases with a flared neck are perfect for first time raku students because you can pick them up easily. Shapes to avoid are bowls and flat pots like platters since they are harder to pick up.
Size For your first raku keep the weight of your pot low - 4 lbs or less. Pottery too big or heavy can be challenging to pick up.
Practice To avoid breakages or unhappy mishaps, practice in advance by picking up your bisqued pot with tongs. The tongs are stored by the raku kiln. It sounds easy but moving a hot pot without dropping it can take some practice. Adjusting the way you grab your pot with the tongs is best worked out beforehand. If you have issues switching to a different pot can sometimes be the best solution. When done, please return the tongs to the storage can.
SCHEDULE Prior to Raku Day 2-4 weeks before raku make a small pot out of groggy clay
You don’t want it to be heavy so use 4lbs of clay or less.
Make a shape easy to grab with the kiln tongs.
** You can practice picking up your bisqued pot with the tongs prior to glazing it.
Day of Raku Clothing Requirements
Wear natural fibers. Nothing synthetic, it will melt if it gets too hot.
Preferably long pants and long sleeves
Closed Toes Shoes (no Crocs)
Hat - a ball cap to cover hair and hold it back
Hair tied back (Very Important)
The class will be broken up into two or three groups
Each firing takes about 30-45 minutes. There will be short breaks between each firing to load the next round of pots.
There will be a lot of downtime during this workshop. We do not want you to leave the kiln yard and work on other projects in the studio. So wear layers and maybe bring food to share to pass the time.
