Raku, pit and barrel firing are three of the most popular firing techniques in ceramics. Accessible to anyone involved in this expressive medium, the unifying theme of these three techniques is the ability to work directly with the fire to achieve both quick and unique results not available with more conventional firing techniques.
In Raku, Pit & Barrel: Firing Techniques you’ll discover some of the most beautiful alternatively-fired work, as well as extensive how-to techniques and step-by-step instructions to help you duplicate the processes in your own studio. Explore dozens of techniques and discover the many special effects available using these ancient firing methods. You’ll love the experience of working with glowing red-hot pieces in a raku kiln, uncovering pots from a pit fire or peeling the aluminum foil off your latest saggar experiment.
Where There’s Smoke
Frank James Fisher knew that the most common reducing materials used for post-firing reduction were paper and sawdust. He wondered what would happen if you tried other materials, so he tested a few. See the results of his test and maybe you’ll want to experiment with a few yourself.
Pit Firing in North Carolina
There are probably as many variations in pit-firing technique as there are potters, which makes every piece unique. The thrill of discovery exists each time the cooled ashes are pushed aside. Take a look at the technique used by Edge Barnes and Zoie Holtzknecht, two potters from North Carolina.
Porta-Kiln Barrel Firing
Martha Puckett’s house looks like the others in a tree-lined older neighborhood in Louisville, Kentucky, but if you get into the house and work your way to the sun-room, you see the dusty footprints that reveal a pottery. After attending a workshop on smoke firing, she began to experiment and loved the technique. She developed a technique for firing in a small barrel she can pull out whenever a pot is ready for her firing touch. |