This week we learned a series of different firing
techniques, raku, naked raku and electric firing. Before you fire a piece we
had to dip it into glaze or paint the glaze on with a brush. The ceramics were
then placed in the kiln and fired to the appropriate temperature so that the glaze
fused with the ceramics. The ceramics are then taken out of the kiln still hot
and placed in saw dust to cool, also any area left unglazed will be marked by
the smoke. When the ceramics have cooled enough they are then placed in a
bucket of water to cool further. The ceramics are now able to be handled and we
were then able to clean the ceramics and add any finishing touches.
Below is a selection of my finished pieces. You can see a
sequential development in the form I have been using and you can also see my
use of hybrid forms and textures.
