The Bottom Line
Pros
- Excellent demonstrations of raku firing techniques.
- Gives solid explanations on how to build several types of raku kilns.
- Glaze, slip, and galze recipes from several potters.
Cons
- This is a compolation of articles which have been previously published.
- The freaky clown on the cover makes it hard for me to pick the book up.
Description
- 8.5" x 11" softcover, fully illustrated, published by the American Ceramic Society. Expanded & revised from the 2004 edition.
- Includes over thirty articles, encompassing both technical information and personal experiences of raku artists.
- Contains raku glaze, slip and clay body recipes from several potters. Also includes safety information.
- Articles have been previously published in Ceramics Monthly and Pottery Making Illustrated.
Guide Review - Review of "Raku Firing, Advanced Techniques"
This is a book well worth investing in if you do, or plan to do, western-style raku. It covers a great deal in its 135 pages, from clay bodies, slips, glazes, kilns, safety, and creative expression.
I think the thing that impressed me most was that editor Bill Jones included multiple articles on how to build a number of different types of raku kilns, opening possibilities for an even larger number of potters to work in this dramatic and fun technique. I also found helpful tips on handling large forms and new decorative techniques.
Don't let the subtitle, "Advanced Techniques," scare you. This is a book that I think will benefit newcomers to raku as much as those who are experienced raku practitioners.
Disclosure: A review copy was provided by the publisher. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.