Hoover, AL

Ceramics

I am a recent high school graduate and have been learning raku and stoneware pottery, making mugs, vases and bowls. A clay ball is turned on a potter%u2019s wheel until desired shape is achieved. From this shape, designs such as sgraffito are added to enhance and add value to the piece. Slip and wax are used for that process. An additional method is to begin with a slab and produce bowls and vases. The next step is to trip and paitn with slip or glaze, using Manganese, Cobalt oxide and Black Iron Oxide. One of my favorite Raku finishing methods is to apply a patina or thin matte glaze. After firing in the raku kiln, the piece is placed in a metal can with rubbing alcohol, which creates bright flashy colors on the pottery.