In April, we managed to secure the services to Jan Hite, and experienced sculptor and ceramicist, to run a two day raku workshop.  The first day saw us producing up to three small sculptures in clay at our barn studio.  A gap of three weeks between workshop days allowed the clay to dry out and a bisque firing to be made.  This was followed by a day at Jan’s studio in Haslemere for glazing and the raku firing.

Raku is a Japanese style of pottery dating back to the 1580s; the practice is characterised by the removal of a clay object from the kiln at the height of the firing, putting it into a reducing atmosphere and causing it to cool very rapidly and the glaze to shrink: this can result in dramatic and often unexpected effects. Originally created for the tea ceremony, Raku ware is most commonly found in the form of tea bowls, but equally well, it can be used to enhance the surface of sculptures with exciting effects.

Illustrated are just two of the sculptures produced by Wessex Sculptor member John Layzell.  They show quite different effects – an ethereal figure making use of a crackled white glaze against dark grey features and a vibrant piece with contrasting bright colours.