I live near the city that saw the birth of St. Teresa of Jesus, Alba De Tormes, cradle of potters.
This work commemorates the V Centenary of his birth.
Ceramic Mural in Raku on Wood
The pieces are taken to a small oven at 900 degrees Celsius approx. (Depends on the enamel or luster used, there are lower temperatures and others for greater than 1000 degrees). When the results are reached, the cooking point is removed, the state of incandescence and the deposit are limited, with the help of the iron sheets, in a container full of wood shavings. The contact with this medium burns the chip, the leaves or the paper and the genres a huge amount of smoke that penetrates the piece and becomes part of it. The enamels (oxides) with which the pieces have been painted for the manufacture of this piece, becoming pure metal, which gives the appearance to this ceramic. After several minutes, the chemical process is fixed by abruptly lowering the temperature with water. In the end, tonalities, textures, nuances and fascinating colors are obtained, never the same from one piece to another, which can be metallic reds to crackle, nacreous and iridescent characteristics of this technique.
The Raku is, then, a complex alchemy involving the four elements (earth, fire, water and air) of quality and unique pieces, always wonderful.
