Raku

At pottery this evening, the first proper outing for our new Raku kiln.  Much excitement on a chilly evening!   I was a minor helper but mostly an observer having chosen not to prepare something for this run.   It will be used regularly as there is a lot of interest in this process where items previously bisque fired are rapidly brought up to red hot and then rapidly cooled.   This can be with or without glaze, in the latter option the hot clay is brought into contact with different materials that burn against the surface creating interesting effects.  The pic above is of a glazed piece, these are immediately plunged into a barrel of wood chippings whose lid is quickly replaced denying oxygen as the woodchip burns against the pottery.   It may change in appearance over time as the oxygen in the air reacts with it.  

It's been a full and varied day.  A morning walk in glorious sunshine with C and the Megs followed by a visit to Sue which evolved into a couple of hours singing some new songs with M & C who are visiting family in Tywyn for Easter.   It was approaching tea time by the time I got home.

The evening ended with an unwanted problem as the car was completely dead after having stood for a few hours at pottery.   It might be a dead battery but I suspect an electrical fault as it had not been cold long and I had a hint of a problem brewing a few months ago but nothing showed up when the car was serviced.  Hey ho.   This was the story on Maundy Thursday last year - seems lightning has struck twice!