THE ART OF SELECTION: WHY GLAZE AND FIRING TECHNIQUE MATTER IN CHOOSING CERAMIC GIFTS
WHY SHOULD AN AVERAGE BUYER BOTHER WITH CERAMIC TECHNIQUES AND FUNNY WORDS
When selecting ceramics as a gift, the consideration of the finishing glaze and firing technique may have never entered your mind. Until now.
Seriously, it is not just a matter of aesthetics. It’s a thoughtful approach that demonstrates appreciation for the craftsmanship and the artistry. In such way a gift is chosen in a much more meaningful way.
By learning a bit about glazing and firing techniques you are expanding your own knowledge which makes the gift giving more enriching and allows you to share your newfound understanding with the recipient. This approach of gift-choosing demonstrates a level of care and consideration that goes beyond the surface, making your gift of any ceramic truly special and memorable.
(You might find it interesting to read more, even if you are not thinking about buying ceramics as gifts at this point, but are merely perusing or even thinking about becoming a potter or taking ceramics as a hobby.)
LET’S TALK ABOUT THE MAKING FIRST
Ceramics are made in many different ways. Robots make them in billions. Potters throw millions of clay calls on potters wheel. Many pour liquid clay into moulds.
In Art Studio Laura Rainbow clay is shaped by a human hand and almost no tools.
Cohesive, visually striking flocks of ceramic Birds of Happiness are born in Art Studio Laura Rainbow only a few times a year. The making process is slow and time consuming making bird figurines even more precious. Meticulously crafted from the lumps of real clay, each Bird of Happiness is hand shaped, hand burnished and hand glazed.
Their shapes and sizes are all different. Some are more voluminous suited for more generous spaces, or as a centrepiece on a dinning room or sitting room table. Some are made small enough to fit into a child’s hand or a women’s handbag. However different each birds may be, the artist is striving to create visually striking, balanced and harmonious flocks. Stylised Birds od Happiness from one flock can be mixed and matched with birds from other flocks according to the buyers wishes and visual preferences.
WHAT IS GLAZING AND WHAT IT DOES?
Glazes are effectively glass-forming liquids. They melt in hight temperatures and fuse with ceramics. As a result a smooth and water resistant finish is created. Glazes are applied in variety of ways. In Art Studio Laura Rainbow we apply glaze to bisque fired Birds of Happiness by pouring and brushing.
Different glazes and finishing touches create varying textures. (You may want to consider sensory as well as visual dimension when choosing a gift for yourself or others.)
A high gloss finish might suit someone with a vibrant outgoing nature, while a more subdued matte glaze or no glaze at all could be perfect for an introspective friend. Understanding these nuances allows you to personalise your gift on a deeper level. It gives you an excellent conversation starter, sparking interesting discussions about ceramic, art and craftsmanship.
17 STEPS
In his book Boy in a China Shop, Keith Brymer Jones listed exactly 15 ceramics making processes that proceed glazing. In this article we are concerned with the very last few steps, the glazing and the very final firing.
HISTORY OF GLAZING AND FIRING
Many glazing and firing techniques have rich cultural histories. Raku, for example, originated in Japan while majolica glazing has roots in renaissance Italy. Selecting a ceramic gift based on these techniques demonstrates cultural appreciation and adds depth to your gift.
Certain firing techniques require more skill and time, potentially making the piece more coveted and valuable.
WHY ARE CERAMICS GLAZED?
Each glazing and firing technique produces unique results of artistic expression and various colours and effects can reflect the recipient’s personality.
Glazing and firing process is crucial in determining the final look of any ceramic piece including Birds of Happiness. There will never be two the same as they are created to become original gifts for special people, special occasions, lovely homes, offices and other places of work. Beware, very often buyers purchase a Birds they love only to realise that they cannot part with it A gift meant for someone else becomes a gift for oneself. (It’s easier to choose two Birds of Happiness immediately. One to give to yourself, the other as an original art present for someone else.)
THE LAST FIRING
Each Birds can be fired multiple times. The last firing of Birds of Happiness can be in several various techniques. We shall talk only about the traditional firing such as it’s used for stoneware and earthenware comparing it with just one alternative firing called RAKU.
TRADITIONAL FIRING- COLD IN AND COLD OUT
Traditional method of firing has been used for centuries and is backbone of industrial, studio and art pottery and ceramics production to this day.
In traditional firing process glazed ceramics cooled to the room temperature are stacked with bare hands into the kiln which also must be of the room temperature. The pieces have to be well spaced and must not touch each other otherwise they might fuse. After slowly getting to it’s peak temperature over night, the kiln is left to cool down slowly.
This is essential. Opening the kiln too soon would inevitably cause explosions and cracks. Which is heartbreaking for the artist and must be avoided at all cost.
Firing overnight and waiting for the kiln to cool down can take anything between 3 and 7 days.
RESULTS OF THE TRADITIONAL CERAMICS FIRING
Results are consistent, fairly predictable and less affected by changes in temperatures which go well above thousand degrees celsius. Hand made and hand glazed Birds of Happiness will emerge unique and will turn into perfect gifts. Gifts that are aesthetically refined, richly coloured with surfaces that range from smooth and polished to ruggedly textured. There is always a level of surprise in ceramic making, excitement and happiness of having made something out of nothing, but traditional methods are less risky and more predictable.
TRADITIONAL VS ALTERNATIVE FIRING
The most obvious difference between a traditional and alternative firing is the range and control of heat used in each process. In traditional firing described above, the heat is carefully controlled with gradual temperature increases and a very slow cooling period.
There are many different so called alternative ceramics firings and one of them is called raku. Raku allows wonderful artistic experimentation and the results are distinctive gifts of otherworldly aesthetics.
RAKU PROCESS
The 1st raku wares were ceramics made for the Japanese tea ceremony. However, raku ceramics are not completely dense therefore porous. They are primarily valued for their artistic and decorative qualities.
In raku firing ceramics plucked from the burning hot kiln with long iron thongs are subjected to a rapid cooling process
Amber hot pieces removed from the hot kiln furnace are placed into nests of highly flammable materials. Incandescent pieces of ceramic will catch fire in the reduction chamber and will acquire effects that are greatly influenced by various factors. Raku with its elements of chance and dramatic results is a constant challenge for the artist who is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with clay and fire. The process is highly interactive and physically demanding. The results are unique as not two pieces are ever the same.
RAKU FIRING
As ceramics are subjected to extreme thermal shock, glaze crackles and sometimes pieces themselves crackle or even crack and explode. Raku firing is amazing, fascinating and totally unpredictable ceramic process.
The essence of a bird captured in earth, is completed by fire, water and smoke.
The ceramic pieces are literally always completely unique and there is never a certainty as to how the final piece will turn out.
However, the experience of many years of experimenting with various shapes, glazes, thickness of clay wall etc allows for a small level of predictability. Thus granting the possibility of birds in the flock of Birds of Happiness being alike and visually harmoniously fitting with each other.
RAKU FIRED BIRDS OF HAPPINESS
Although reading a STORY and checking the short video https://artstudiolaurarainbow.hr/en/our-story/ about Birds of Happiness will in itself give you a good starting point and an interesting story to share with the lucky receivers of your gift, you might want to know more.
Read on if you want to know more about the actual making of the birds and in particular about glazing and the difference between traditional and alternative ceramic firings.
Regardless of whether Birds of Happiness are created in traditional or alternative techniques the results are distinctive unique art gifts. In this article we shall describe the differences to help you understand and appreciate the art of making, the skill and the time that goes into each Bird of Happiness. As someone who is looking to buy a gift for yourself or your nearest and dearest, it will help you understand why some Birds of Happiness although smaller are more expensive than their larger counterparts.
WHY IT’S GOOD TO KNOW
Being familiar with the making process and choosing any piece of ceramics based on its finishing glaze and technique transforms the gift giving process into a thoughtful educational experience. It allows you to chose a piece knowing it’s cultural significance and strong craftsmanship standing behind the artistry.
Whether finished in a traditional way or in one of the alternative firings such as raku, Birds of Happiness are made to enrich homes, personalise work spaces, promote mindfulness, connection to Earth and nature. They are symbolic reminders of the importance of freedom and peace for human happiness.