Raku Leaf

This is yet another leaf, but it is a Raku Leaf.

Raku originated in Japan. My teacher says it means "gift to the fire" but I can only find that it mean "joy" or "pleasure."

Having said that, it is truly a gift to the fire. The clay, having been previously fired, is covered in a mixture of true chemicals. The Leaf to the right is a mixture of clear glaze and copper. The kiln is much hotter than most kilns and therefore the firing process is quicker. When the piece is taken out it looks like molten glass. At our studio, we put then it in a small metal garbage can filled with shredded newspaper. This is the carbonization step. Keep in mind, I am simplifying this entire process.

The true colours of a piece don't come through until after carbonization AND after cool down, usually with water. Sometimes a piece needs to be scrubbed lightly.

Giving a piece I have worked on over to Raku is sometimes like stepping off a cliff. The colour variations are beautiful, but may not be. The above leaf could have very well been a horrible shade of lime green. And the funniest thing is, one of the best Raku glaziers I know (and my teacher completely agrees with me) is my eight-year-old daughter.