Raku

Raku means enjoyment and it is a very old technique in ceramics.
Today we had the rare experience to do a Raku workshop with my ceramics class.
In fact we were students of all the years in the George Vavatsis ceramics workshop I have been attending this year.
The workshop took place at Nondas Tsigaros space at Kilkis and we enjoyed the hospitality of Nondas and his wife Zoumboulia. We really liked the place there.
We had the chance to see some of Nondas' work too.

 Very impressive!

 I had left this tealight candle holder for the raku session.

 There were many beautiful pieces ready to be glazed and enter the kiln.

 And at that point my piece was dropped and broke!Sigh!

 While waiting for the pieces to get out of the kiln we had a barbecue!

 It was delicious!

 The kiln was really hot!

 Then each piece was taken out and put in various materials and then in water.

 The results were impressive!

 My piece. I couldn't let it go so I will glue it!

 But I also brought home the rest of my pieces. Wall tiles, sea glass bowls,olive bowl, mushroom,mug.

 And last but not least my dragonfly vase!Isn't it gorgeous?

 It was a great year at the ceramics class. I learnt so much and really want to continue. We will see.
I would like to thank George Vavatsis and his assistants Ifigenia and Georgia for what they have taught me!It has been great fun!

Ceramics

This week's promt in Our Beautiful World is 

ceramics 

and it was chosen by me.

I guess I always loved 

ceramics

 (heart made by Ifigenia, assistant ceramist at the workshop)

as I so often bought ceramic pieces and followed friends around the world in their endeavour with ceramics.

Like for example Paula Valentim of otchipotchi, whose work I adore and have some of her pieces like these lace stones.

Or her Christmas ornaments she so kindly gifted me with this Christmas!

I also love Atelier Stella's work and was so lucky to win a piece of hers some time ago.

I also love Geninne's ceramics. Geninne took classes some years ago and now sells her own pieces. Just follow her instagram feed to know when she sells them.
I also love local ceramists' work like Polytimi's at Nafplion.And I am glad I have two of her candle holders.

So one day I met George Vavatsis and his work at Hakah Ceramics 
Here are his famous tumblers used at bars for cocktails.

Here's an oil,vinegar,salt and pepper set.

He has a lot more work in his workshop.

And you can also find there paintings by his brother painter Nick Vavatsis.

So I decided to take lessons there and see if I can learn something.

It all started with a piece of clay!

You can see all the development of that piece of clay to those two first pieces here.
I am so very proud of those two pieces.

Especially the second one.

I proudly decorated it on my coffee table.

And started my third piece a biscuit jar.

Which had a lot of work.

Because of the inlays.

But in the end

it is gorgeous.

Then it was time for the wheel.

I found it hard to work on.

It didn't really suit me.

And I only managed to make just one piece.

Then I simultaneously made three pieces, one on the wheel, one made by my teacher that I had to decorate and a tray.

I engraved my piece with a simple pattern I made by myself.

And here it is out of the kiln.

The tray was very easy to form

but had a lot of work afterwards. First I printed some feathers and saw how they looked on my tray.

And then I engraved them on it only by looking at them.

Then it was time for my teacher's bowl. I draw my design.

And engraved it.

And here after the kiln.

And all three finished. I was so happy when I took them at home!

I then started a flower. I wanted a poppy.

But it became a peony!

And here after the kiln.Inside my bowl.

Then we were asked to make something with dark clay.

That had a lot of stages too.

It had to be burnished and I used my own semi precious stone.

Don't you love how it looks like chocolate?

I then engraved a pattern, my favourite dragonfly.

And now it is waiting to be put in the kiln!

I then made a couple of tiles!

Hope they will be in the kiln soon!
Till the end of the workshop year in June we will make some more smaller pieces and try various glazes! This has been a great experience for me and am looking forward to one more year in ceramics!
Why don't you join us in Our Beautiful World and link your blogpost with your favourite ceramic pieces or ceramic artists?