Raku Baby Polar Bear

Raku is a visually striking and somewhat unpredictable method of firing ceramics, often described as a performance-like process.

Unlike conventional firing, where pieces cool slowly inside the kiln, in raku the work is removed while still glowing red hot. It is then placed into a container filled with combustible materials such as sawdust, paper, or leaves. These materials ignite, creating a smoky, low-oxygen environment.

This rapid change produces two key effects:

• The glaze develops fine crackles in organic, unpredictable patterns

• Carbon from the smoke penetrates the surface, darkening the clay and accentuating those crackles

The piece is then cooled—often in water—which sets these effects permanently.

In essence, raku is a process shaped by heat, rapid change, and atmosphere, where the artist guides the outcome, but chance and natural forces play an essential role.