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Old 05-29-2017, 07:13 AM   #2
Snakeadelic
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Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 660
Too bad the blog that links to hasn't updated since 2014...

I love the one with the iguana down in the far right lower corner. That copper color means the pot was glazed using the raku technique, which is NOT easy. Typically raku produces 2 things: crackle pattern in some glazes and metallic color in others. The lizard vase looks to have a white crackle top and copper metallic body. I have no idea how the green was applied to the lizard; my experience with raku in college was limited if fascinating. I do know the black bands on its tail are probably unglazed & unstained, because here's how you raku:

1. Take your super-delicate unfired clay piece and put whatever color on it the piece needs. Many potters mix their own colors from powdered mineral and chemical bases.

2. Place in kiln and heat until the ceramic is glowing.

3. Using tongs, try to grab your glowing-hot fragile piece without breaking it.

4. Using tongs, drop said piece into a container (we used metal garbage cans) full of highly flammable materials (we used a mix of newspapers and dry pine needles), then slam the lid on the container down and wait until it stops making weird noises, deforming the container, and smoking like all hell.

5. When the smoke clears, use tongs to remove the now-fired but still screamin' hot piece and hope you got the right amount of glaze and smoke and heat to bring up the colors and the crackles.

The cats also appear to be raku-fired. I love the Dias de los Muertes style cat, and of course the snake with the snake-handling minister, and the steampunk shark.
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