Welcome to Deb's ~ RAKU WEBSITE  ~

My  undercover RAKU AREA and Raku Kiln See what my wonderful husband built me :)

Markets Where we'll be next and some things for sale

A few Raku glaze recipes

Some fantastic effects

Hello :) I've been playing with clay for more than 15 years and about a year ago I discovered the magic of Raku. I have to admit I've become a bit obsessed with it.  In fact I have changed my studio completely and now all I do is Raku. It has been a huge learning curve and most of what I have learnt has been through trial and error.  I love being so completely 'hands on'  with the clay, from first opening a bag of clay and deciding what to make with it to the final dramatic Raku firing which is so unpredictable and spontaneous and so I never know exactly how a piece will turn out. Even though there have been disappointments and disasters along the way most times I am truly delighted and surprised at what I have created. Deborah Bridle Raku Artist Western Australia

Fire and smoke help create wonderful and unique effects.  We LOVE Raku !!!

I completely hand build everything I make. I never use molds. There is a bit more about my work on the 'Where we'll be next' page.

About my RAKU....

Raku is an exciting, spontaneous and unusual method of firing pottery that uses fire and smoke to create unique art. It's also very hot, smoky, fast and slightly scary.  I love it! Firstly I completely hand make all my work using a special Raku clay. ( I never use molds)  After each piece has dried, it is bisque fired in a normal kiln and then glazed and decorated with beautiful metallic, lustre and crackle Raku glazes.

Raku is fired outdoors in a specially built Raku kiln. The kiln is fired very quickly, (sometimes it takes only 30 minutes)  and when the temperature reaches nearly 1000C, the glaze starts to melt. No temperature probe or cones are used and it's only by carefully looking into the red-hot kiln do I know when the kiln is ready to be opened. My kiln is on a 'hang man' type pulley system and when the kiln is ready I lift it up and expose the extremely hot pottery.

At this stage the pottery is still glowing red and is shiny with melted glaze. Using long Raku tongs I quickly and carefully transfer each piece into a metal can filled with sawdust and leaves. The heat from the pottery immediately ignites the combustable material. The whole lot catches on fire and I close the can lid and seal in the smoke and fire.

This is when the 'Magic of Raku' really happens and where the results of a Raku firing differ so much from ordinary pottery firings ! The fire quickly uses all the oxygen in the can. Oxygen is then drawn from the chemical compounds in the glazes. This is called 'Reduction'  and this atmosphere, together with fire and smoke, reacts with the glazes and causes the beautiful and spontaneous colours, crackle and metallic effects.  During this process the heavy smoke turns any unglazed areas of the normally white clay a rich black. The pottery is left sealed for at least 20 minutes and then comes the bit I love the best...opening the can!  Each firing is completely different and I never know exactly how each piece will turn out. The Raku is then scrubbed clean of encrusted carbon and smoke to the reveal the unique results.

My beautiful Leaf Platter is a perfect example of the results of a Raku firing. The leaves are glazed with a stunning and colourful copper glaze and the black areas are unglazed clay that has been heavily smoked during the firing process. The contrast between the glazed and unglazed areas is very unique and eye-catching.

We live on a secluded and peaceful small rural  block in the South west of Western Australia.  My studio is an original single mens quarters from the Noggerup mill and was built in the early 1900's.  The barn, which I use as a kiln and extra work area, was built in 1939 and is just gorgeous.

The view of the garden from my studio.

My new undercover Raku work area. Click HERE to see more pics and read about how wonderful and clever my husband is :)

Check out our Kombi site :)

Click here to go to Deb's Dichroic Glass Website

Feel free to email me