Earth Center Pottery Monthy Raku Firings

Once monthly, we take special advantage of our location in beautiful Tyler State Park where we fire our gas Raku kiln. Students, instructors and outside potters join for a day of unpredictable and exiting results, good food (its pot-luck),and an exchange of creative knowledge and ideas.

Raku pots go through an extreme Japanese firing technique that produces unique and unusual results.Temperature differemces make it much more likely for the pots to crack in a Raku firing than in more a common firing process.The risks are part of the fun when every result is one of a kind. As a potter, one lets go of control and expectation to welcome the freedom and inspiration of this ancient, primal firing.


The pots are prepped using wax and special glazes	The pots are heated on the kiln top	The flame of a gas fired kiln heats the pots until they are an orange glow.	At about 1800 degress they are removed from the kiln with tongs and allowed to “breath”.

Pots are placed in a pit containing dry organic material and newspaper. The heat of the pot touching the material starts a fire.	The pit is covered to create a reduction atmosphere. The fire is suffocated, creating smoke.	After 15-20 minutes the pots are removed from the pit.	Crackle Raku - The outdoor air encourages the glaze to crackle.

Finished Raku Pots