Horsehair raku shell. Organic rustic style. Ceramic fine art. Sculpture

My strongest inspiration comes from Mother Nature and its weathering influences on the shape of trees, rocks, plants and animals both on land and underwater. This is my new experimental raku technique. It took many days and tests to finally nail down this process and make me happy with the results. This horsehair raku vessel is created using a unique firing process. The piece is hand built from coils. The terra sigillata mixed with minerals applied in a few coats to bone dry clay and then burnished creating very smooth surface. The vessel is bisque fired and then fired again in raku kiln. Horsehair were placed on the surface, igniting and leaving black carbon designs on the surface. The minerals give a luster and subtle sheen that emanates from within the clay. The smoke initiates a chemical process pulling vibrant iridescent gold, blue and purple luster to the surface. No two pieces of Raku will ever be alike.