Raku was originally developed in 16th century Japan. Fired ceramics were pulled from the kiln and rapidly cooled in water. The aesthetics was prized for use in tea ceremonies.

In the 1960's as raku was being demonstrated in the United States, a reduction process was introduced. Fired ceramics were pulled from the kiln and placed in combustible materials causing flames producing a reduction atmosphere. Effects were then "frozen" by rapid cooling in water. The cracking, smoking and glaze effects produced is the version of raku that is widely sought after today.

In my ceramics, I mainly use a clear glaze with copper carbonate and iron oxide as colorants. I kiln the ceramics to about 1200-1500 degrees F° to where the glaze melts. I then pull the pieces out of the kiln red hot and put them into a metal container filled with eucalyptus leaves. I let them flame up and then cover the container to smoke for a few minutes before dousing with water to cool.