These are small decorative birds. The pieces are made of ceramic and decorated and Raku fired to 950 degrees. Once the glaze reaches its maturing temperature the red hot work is lifted straight from the kiln with tongs and placed in a carbonizing chamber where it is covered in sawdust and wood shavings. This mixture instantly ignites under the high temperature creating lots of smoke. When the lid is placed over the chamber the oxygen is restricted and the flames starved. The wood continues to smoulder however and the carbon is allowed to soak into the body of the work. When I am happy that the carbon is sufficiently dark in tone I remove the piece using the tongs once again and quickly submerse it in water where it is allowed to cool.

The real fun begins now, for the whole work is black with carbon and it is only by rubbing away with a scouring pad that the carbon lifts from the glazed areas revealing the colours beneath. These can vary from subtle tones of white through blue and turquoise and on to wild and exotic reds and greens. Some pieces even emerge with rich lustre adorning them. Anything not glazed is left matt black by the process even the crackle in the glaze caused by the thermal shocks can be perfectly picked out by the smoke. I can try and plan the outcome but the truth is that the kiln always has the last say.

Being the potter I have the delightful task of giving names to my little creations.

I hope you enjoy them.