Crow-Kin Day at the Gallery!

Raku fire of the BIG pumpkin!

Pulling the piece from the kiln @ 1600F

Transporting the red hot piece to the reduction chamber

The combustibles light up from the heat

About ready to cut off the supply of oxygen

The finished result (after a bit of scrubbing).  I'll paint the heads with a matt varnish to prevent color lightening.

10...9...8....7.....LIFTOFF coming SOON!

Decided to play with the idea of rocket ships.  I can see lots of ways to go with these.  Anyway...early stages and all.....

Stormy day -- PERFECT for a Raku session...

The kiln in fire.

Two of the raku jack-o-lanterns

Pulling the jack-o-lanterns from the kiln and leaving to sit for a minute to break the crackle glaze

And into the reduction chamber (filled with cedar shavings and newspaper)

Just about......

.....ready for bisque.  Wheel-thrown pumpkins cluster atop the heated kiln....

Raku fire!

Playing with glazes to see what looks best.  So far, I'm happy with the results.

This Week........

Large pumpkin with crows - roughly 15" tall x 12" diameter.  Build 2.

Large pumpkin build 1 with attendant jack-o-lanterns

......it's MORE pumpkins....this is a taste of what's cooking on the burners.  The large pumpkins are hand-built via coil and balloon.  The smaller ones are thrown on the wheel.  And oh yes, there are even more.....tis nearly the season, eh?