Raku firing with potters group

last weekend I took part in a Raku firing day with friends from the Port Hacking Potters Group.

I shared a ride with two others and met at the property of Master Potter, Steve Harrison and his partner, Janine.

Steve Harrison getting his raku kilns fired up

The glazes were provided as a part of the workshop price and we each took around 6 pots to fire.

my friend Joe glazing his pots

We all helped stoke his natty little wood firing kilns, move the hot pots to the sawdust for the post reduction and at the end of the day, pack it all away.

in the firebox

Sally and Helen moving the sawdust over the pots while Rhonda and Dorothy watch for the next load.

A mixed result for me but when you don't use this technique very often it can be tricky...

Here are some of the better ones:

this is probably the best result although it wasn't put in the sawdust so no post firing reduction

this glaze is likely to crackle more in days to come

some very subtle colours with this one and it has a bit of a landscape affect

my pears look a bit stressed...

the weather was great... the early cold wind died off and it was perfect for firing outdoors.  I'd say we all slept well that night.