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Things to do in a raku kiln!'Alternative' because we don't use glazes in the usual raku way. The finished work is usually burnished naked clay, perhaps with a terra sigilatta surface, and marked using smoke or other chemical fumes. Techniques covered include naked raku (one-step and two-step); ferric fuming in tin foil saggars; horsehair and feather raku; and paper-slip saggars.
25/03/2025
Copper Matt, Obvara, Flash Firing, Naked Raku - 8 June 2025 - Worthing UK. One place now available on this workshop following a cancellation.
Details and booking -
https://jevceramics.co.uk/workshop/details.php?Workshop=Workshop114
Alternative firing workshop 2025 dates just released for Worthing, UK-
May 10/11 Introduction to Naked Clay - naked Raku (two techniques); 'mummy' saggar; horsehair/feather Raku. Make Terra Sig and practice burnishing
May 17/18 - naked Clay Intensive - Naked Raku (one and two step); ferric chloride in tinfoil saggars; 'mummy' saggar.
June 7th - Copper Matt, Obvara, One-step Naked Raku, Flash firing
June 8th - Ferric Chloride in tin foil saggars intensive one day
All details and booking at Https://jevceramics.co.uk/workshops
25/05/2024
Paul Edmund Soldner (1921-2011) was an American ceramic artist and educator noted for his experimentation with the Japanese technique of Raku. He introduced new methods of firing and post firing, which became known as “American Raku,” and developed a type of low-temperature salt firing. Along with Voulkos, Soldner has been credited with creating the "California School" of ceramic arts by combining Western materials and technology with Japanese techniques and aesthetics.
Returning to the United States after serving in the Army, Soldner began a career in art. He turned to ceramics and initially focused on functional pottery. In 1954, Soldner became Peter Voulkos' student at the Los Angeles County Art Institute (now Otis College of Art and Design). As Soldner helped establish the program, he made changes to the studio pottery equipment, which led to him founding Soldner Pottery Equipment Corporation in 1955 to market his inventions. He eventually held 7 patents related to pottery equipment.
After receiving his MFA degree in Ceramics in 1956, Soldner began teaching at Scripps College. In 1966, he founded Anderson Ranch Arts Center in Snowmass Village, CO. He was also involved in starting the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts and was the initial organizer of the Scripps Ceramic Annual, a nationally recognized ceramic exhibition which celebrated its 79th year in 2024.
"In the spirit of raku: make no demands, expect nothing, follow no absolute plan, be secure in change, learn to accept another solution and, finally, prefer to gamble on your own intuition. Raku offers us deep understanding of those qualities in pottery which are of a more spiritual nature, of pots by men willing to create objects that have meaning as well as function." - Paul Soldner, 1973
Paul Soldner (American, 1921-2011)
untitled (sculpture), 2004
ceramic
Gift of Lynn Ballantyne and Randy Welty
Photo: Allesandro Gentile
07/05/2024
SE at Glynde, Sussex - 10-12 May
Janet Branscombe and I will be there on Stand 73. Weather looking good. Should be a brilliant show. 100 potters. Something for everybody
25/03/2024
Introduction to Naked Clay Workshop - 25/26 April - Worthing, UK. One place now available following cancellation. Learn about and experience raku kilns, burnishing, making terra sig, one and two step naked Raku, Saggar firing, horsehair raku. Full information and booking at Https://www.jevceramics.co.uk/workshops
John Evans - jev ceramics The website of John Evans - jev ceramics. High Level Expertise in all naked clay ceramic techniques.
24/12/2023
Happy Christmas lovely people. The only tree or decorations in the vicinity of Asala. A very chilled place to be escaping to