Welcome -

 

For the last 15 years I have been using Western Raku and Pit Fire techniques to finish my decorative pots. With Western Raku I rely on the metal oxides in the glazes for bright metallic finishes whilst the fumes produced by the 1000C heat create the crackle patterns and smoky markings on the work.

 

In the Pit Firing technique I combine organic matter (wood, seaweed, salt, etc.) with the pots and usually leave 24 hours for the pit to heat up and cool. The pots will have blackened in some areas from the wood smoke and there will be a wide range of lighter smoky colours that also appear. The resulting smoke and fume marks are uniquely organic and often tell a story of the firing.

 

At each firing I point my pots in a direction with strong expectations regarding final results, but ..., I've also learned to enjoy the alchemy of the unexpected!