Black By Design
Fine Art and Ceramics with a 'Black Theme'
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Traditional ArtKarisma - Giclee Prints -
Contemporary ArtKarisma - Giclee Prints -
Coloured RakuRaku Ceramics -
White RakuRaku Ceramics
What is this site about?
Hello
The Raku pottery technique, which originates in Japan.
Pieces can be thrown or hand built. Ours are hand built.
Once the hand built pieces are dry enough, they are biscuit fired in an electric kiln. The cooled pieces are then glazed and placed in a gas fired Raku kiln.
Pieces are taken from the Raku kiln while they are still glowing red and are placed in metal container lined with combustible material. A lid is placed on the container which starves the pieces of oxygen and creates a reduced atmosphere around them.
The reduction in oxygen is what gives the Raku glazes their huge variety (and unpredictability) of colour. Any unglazed areas on the clay are turned black/charcoal grey in this process.
In addition, during the extreme temperature change from the kiln to metal container, crazing of the glaze very often occurs. This, along with the black clay are often seen as the instantly recognisable features of Raku ware.
Black by design aims to make 'black' a major characteristic in all the art collections featured on this website.
The two dimensional art works shown in the 'Traditional' and 'Contemporary' Art Galleries can be commissioned as a quality Giclee Prints.
Browse this artwork in the GALLERIES menu option at the top of the page and select from the dropdown menu.
The three dimensional ceramic pieces pictured on this site however, are all unique and cannot be replicated.
The hand building and Raku processes used to construct these pieces mean that it is impossible to recreate a piece exactly. This is one of the major attractions of hand built Raku ceramics, that they are distinct from one another and therefore unique.
If any of the Raku pieces featured on this site are unavailable however, you may commission something very similar and we will do our best to meet your design needs.
Browse 'White' and 'Coloured' glazed Raku works in the GALLERIES menu option at the top of the page and select from the dropdown menu.
