Raku Firing and Hot Glass at Port Elliot, Cornwall

Resulting Raku fired pot made of crank clay

This workshop took place at Port Elliot in Cornwall, hosted by John Grayson of Plymouth University Contemporary Crafts course, to experience glass blowing, glass sand casting, raku firing and paper kiln building.  Ready prepared pots were glazed on site before being put into the kiln and then into the bucket of sawdust to be surrounded by smoke which gives the blackness to the surface and crackles the glaze.

Kiln used for raku firing

Glazed pots ready for firing

Pots inside the kiln

Detailed surface texture achieved

Resulting Raku fired pot made of crank clay

The glass blowing was enjoyed by some, using a mixture of reclaimed bottles, melted down in the glory hole, producing a slightly  blue tinted glass, which turned darker blue as the quantity of glass in the glory hole lessened.  It was presumed that the blue colour sunk to the bottom.  

Moulton glass was also poured into sand moulds, but these pieces did not spend enough time annealing (cooling down under controlled heat) so all smashed before being cold.

Raku kiln with glory hole behind for hot glass

Plymouth University Student Glass blowing

Glass cast in sand

Paper kiln alight

John Grayson of Plymouth University and students watching the paper kiln float out to sea