Raku Mask of Golds, Greens, Coppers, and Blues

Raku Mask by Marty Kiser

Just out of the Raku kiln in mid-August, 2011.  This amazing mask shimmers with golds, coppers, greens, blues, even translucent violet colors.  The pictures show it from different angles and in both sunlight and indoor light.

The photographs do not do the piece justice, as in reality it appears different according to angle, lighting, or distance.  The actual mask is even more beautiful than we could show you here. Those areas in the photographs that appear flat or matted are actually layers of glossy glaze colors.

The nature of Raku is such that the unglazed clay body is black and the glazed areas contrast dramatically with the naked clay body.  It is fired quickly, allowed to smoulder in a combustion chamber containing sawdust, then plunged into a vat of water to stop the firing process and allow the piece to be handled.

The colors change for about three hours as the piece cools.  Raku is a traumatic and risky method of firing, so a piece such as this that survives is both unique and rare.

Buying information in our Gallery Shoppe will appear shortly.  It is for sale now in our Sculpture Gallery on Yessy. This sculpture has been sold!

Feel free to Contact Marty for more information about this piece, and other Kiser Art.

More images ow:

Raku Mask Slideshow

This is a six week class, with two sessions per week:  Saturday and Sunday, 2-4pm.  This allows you to complete a project each week.

During the class you will:

• Learn basic hand-building techniques, or (continuing students) learn advanced techniques.
• Work with different glazes and learn about different types of firing.
• Participate in the culmination of the class — a Raku firing (ancient Japanese technique).

Registration is now open — please register by June 10.   Contact us here or on Facebook.

Since the summer class is not sponsored by WLAAC, we’ll need at least 4  students minimum — 8 is the maximum

The cost is $60 — only $5.00 per session, and that includes the lessons, clay, glazes, and firing!

Sessions are held on Saturdays and Sundays, 2-4pm.

Class begins June 19, 2010

As in the first class, students will have the opportunity to create a beautiful Ugly Mug to sell during the Farmers Market and WLAAC’s Summer Music in the Park.  Proceeds benefit WLAAC.

The class consisted of building clay using various methods of hand building.

The class culminated in an outdoor Raku firing.  Raku is a centuries-old dramatic method of firing the clay body using rapid heating and cooling of the clay.  In between the heating and cooling is a period of time in a reduction chamber with organic material.

That was the short version.  Here are a few more details.

The Raku Kiln gets fired up using weed burners inserted into the sides at the bottom.  The pottery (also called Raku) has been glazed (with Raku glazes) and bisqued (fired to harden it and ready it to accept glazes).

The kiln is loaded with clay and the burners are lit.  Nothing to do now but wait for it to reach temperature.

After waiting for a sufficient length of time, Marty checks to see that top layer is getting some heat.

“We think we should check the Kiln, too, because it might be hotter by  now.”

After what seems like a very long time (20-30 minutes) the pottery is red-hot.

Marty removes each piece with a long pair of tongs.  He’s also wearing welders’ gloves to protect his hands from the heat.

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