LunaRayven Dreams Fine Raku Pottery & Gifts

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"Raku" loosely translated means ‘Pure Enjoymennt’

An entire day is set aside for the Raku firing process. The process appeals to my wild heart. The name appeals to my hedonists’ soul.
Water, Fire, Earth, Air and ‘I’ join forces to create whatever the clay/fire gods will. Raku is dangerous, exhilarating, exhausting, breathtakingly beautiful, and unpredictable. No two pieces will ever be the same, nothing else I’ve seen so far creates such results. It’s holding all the elements in your hands. It’s being at the mercy of the same elements as you watch, wait, hold your breath.
The Raku Method of firing is fast paced, and hazardous.

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We use a small propane kiln set up outdoors. Glazed bisque ware is loaded and fired till the glaze is molten. (Anywhere between 30 to 45 minutes)

The kiln is shut down, and while wearing kevlar gloves and masks or goggles, I move the pieces with specially made tongs to reduction chambers containing combustible material. Additional material is added and the chamber is sealed. This must be done quickly and efficiently, so as not to re-oxidize the glaze.

As one batch cools another is loaded.

Anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour passes before the chambers are

unloaded and results assessed. Breakage is high in Raku firing due to rapid, dramatic temperature changes, but the results are impressive and unpredictable.

The pieces are sanded, scrubbed, priced and packaged for shipping.

Standard Disclaimer :)

You will find as many methods of firing as you will potters, nothing here is written in stone except the hazard labeling. Its' fascinating to watch, but please keep yourself, children and pets well out of the way if you're watching. Most of the near disasters I've encountered have been the result of carelessness or curiosity.