Hand-Made Raku Ceramic Teapots Raku Pottery Art Sculptural Raku
Hand-made, visionary, mysteriously glazed, evocatively formed.
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Most of Colleen's designs come from nature or science fiction. The designs are first sketched, and then templates are developed for each element of a pot. The templates are used to cut shapes from slabs of clay. These pieces are texturized, bent, folded and draped to create handles, feet, spouts, bodies and finials. As many as 20 pieces may be joined together to complete a pot. Her hands do all the work.
The work is bisque fired and then hand painted with three coats of glaze, which she has developed. The pieces are placed into a small gas kiln, that can accommodate three pots. It is quickly brought to temperature, around 1700 degrees. The kiln is opened and the pots are quickly removed and placed into cans filled with combustibles. The combustibles immediately ignite causing the glazes to reduce and crackle. Many pieces may be lost during the firing process, but the unique results make it worthwhile.