"Four elements enter into the making of Raku: the clay, the glaze, the fire, and the artist. Of these the most fallible and least predictable is the artist. Raku is a technique, but far more than this, it is also a philosophy." - Hal Riegger in "Raku: Art and Technique"
The Japanese word "raku" doesn't translate well into English. The closest translations we've seen are "enjoyment" or "happiness in the hazard," with strong overtones of serendipitous discovery. As artists we never know what will come out of the raku kilns and reduction chambers until we see the actual final results. Some of our pieces will break, while others will be spectacular. Here at Georgie's we've often compared raku to chess: we can teach you the moves in an afternoon, but you can spend a lifetime mastering the technique. These sheets offer decorating techniques, glaze tips, and safety notes to help you along the way toward your own personalized mastery of this unique craft. |
