Mastering Raku: Making Ware * Glazes * Building Kilns * Firing (A Lark Ceramics Book) [Hardcover]

Steven Branfman (Author)

Book Description

Series: A Lark Ceramics Book | Publication Date: November 3, 2009

From firing to finishing, this is the definitive reference on raku. Ceramists will be informed and inspired by this newly updated, technique-based book with how-to photos and text. It covers such topics as types of clay, forming techniques, firing, glazes, decoration, and kilns and kiln construction. Mastering Raku also includes a gallery of works from around the world along with updated clay and glaze recipes.

 

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Mastering Raku is a hands-on, technique-based guide to making the type of ceramic ware that has come to be known as raku in the West. ... The (first) few chapters of the book guide those who are new to raku through the process. ... For readers with some experience in basic raku firing, Branfman offers chapters on advanced firing techniques, related techniques for use with raku (including slip resist and horsehair raku), and teaching raku in school, workshop, and group firing situations. Where appropriate, these chapters also have photographs that help explain the step-by-step processes. Over 50 artists' works are featured in the book ... a gallery of contemporary raku-fired work by different artists working in both sculptural and vessel oriented traditions is included at the end of the book, while numerous images of both contemporary and historical work can be found in each chapter. There are appendices with clay and glaze recipes, including simple frit and colorant oxide combinations for fuming and a variety of slip recipes for use with naked raku techniques." - Ceramics Monthly

About the Author

Steven Branfman enjoys an international reputation as a potter, writer, teacher, and businessman. In 1977 he founded The Potters Shop and School, which has become a nationally known school, gallery, bookstore, and artist’s workspace. He is the author of Raku: A Practical Approach and The Potter’s Professional Handbook, and writes frequently for craft and pottery magazines.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Lark Books; Revised edition edition (November 3, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1600592953
• ISBN-13: 978-1600592959
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #211,360 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Steven Branfman (born 1953, L.A. California) grew up in N.Y.C. and credits a rich cultural childhood as being the influence that led him to an art career. He was further influenced by a dynamic high school art teacher particularly in the area of sculpture. Branfman studied art at Cortland State University, New York with Gerald Diguisto (sculpture) George Dugan (drawing) and John Jessiman (pottery). He received his graduate degree at Rhode Island School Of Design working under Norm Schulman and Jun Kaneko. He says of RISD, "The time spent at RISD was the most influential and important experience in my development as an artist. The teachers were dedicated, the students were serious, and the atmosphere was exciting and productive."

Branfman has been an independent studio potter since 1975. In 1977 he founded as his studio, The Potters Shop which has become a nationally known studio, school, and artists workspace, and he now enjoys an international reputation as a potter, teacher, and writer. He is the author of four books, Raku: A Practical Approach first and second editions, published by Krause Publications, The Potters Professional Handbook published by The American Ceramic Society, and the forthcoming Mastering Raku: Making Ware-Glazes-Building Kilns-Firing published by Lark Books. Steven has delivered numerous workshops and presentations and his work has been exhibited in many one person and group shows throughout the U.S. Steven has been the subject of, and has authored many articles on clay. Articles about, or by him have appeared in Ceramics Monthly, The Crafts Report, Clay Times, Boston Globe, Studio Potter, and Pottery Making Illustrated, among others. His clayworking techniques, examples of his work, and personal profiles appear in many books on pottery and ceramics as well as Who's Who In American Art and Who's Who Among America's Teachers. Steven's time is spent working in his studio, The Potters Shop and School in Needham, writing, traveling to present workshops and demonstrations, and Thayer Academy in Braintree Massachusetts where he teaches pottery. Steven and his wife Ellen live in Newton Massachusetts.

"My concern is to make good pots, pots that hold up to thousands of years of ceramic history. My work is about vessels and the characteristics that make the vessel come alive: volume, texture, color, and scale. One of my objectives is, through my vessels, to preserve the connection between contemporary ceramic expression and pottery's origins as functional containers, not to transform and abandon it. Though my forms are not functional as in domestic ware, they do suggest function and are certainly containers."

Branfman's work appears in private, corporate, and museum collections and has been exhibited in galleries and museums throughout the U.S. and abroad.

Selected workshop presentations and guest artist appearances include: Raku Ho'olaule'a, Honolulu; Clay Art Center, NY; Appalachian Center For Crafts, TN; El Olvido Ceramica, Mexico City; Burlington Art Center/Fusion, Toronto; Concordia College, MI; California Association of Clay Artists, CA; Long Island Potters Guild, NY; Triangle Potters Guild, NC; Guilford Handcrafts Center, CT; Munson Williams Proctor Institute, NY; El Camino College, CA; Alfred University, NY; Wesleyan Potters Guild, CT;, Oak Ridge Art Center, TN; Walnut Creek Civic Arts Center, CA; Nottingham Center For The Arts CA; Silvermine Guild School Of Art CT; Campus Brookgreen, SC; Raku Rhody-O, Providence; Oregon College Of Art And Craft; National Council On Education For The Ceramic Arts; Kalkspatz: German Potters Association, Munich; Lehmhuus AG, Basel Switzerland; Atelier Cirkel, Brasschaat Belgium; Keramikos, Haarlem Netherlands.

Exhibitions include: Kreft Center For The Arts MI; Esceula De Artesanias Mexico City; Gallery at Keramikos, Netherlands; Dowd Fine Arts Center NY; Fuller Craft Museum MA; Museum Of Art, Rhode Island School Of Design; Fitchburg Art Museum MA; Craftsmans Gallery NY; Society Of Arts And Crafts MA; Susan McLeod Gallery FL; Art Complex Museum MA; Surroundings Gallery NY; Currier Art Center NH; American Museum Of Ceramic Art CA; Qartz Gallery, Belgium.

Collections include: Rhode Island School Of Design Museum Of Art, American Museum Of Ceramic Art, Fuller Craft Museum, Schein-Joseph International Museum Of Ceramic Art, Frederick R. Weisman Art Musem, Concordia College, Canadian Clay And Glass Association, Everson Museum, Crocker Museum.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars HOT stuff!, October 28, 2009

By 

Amber Aguirre "'berrrrr" (Kailua-Kona, Hawaii) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mastering Raku: Making Ware * Glazes * Building Kilns * Firing (A Lark Ceramics Book) (Hardcover)

WOW! This is a GREAT book for the new or even experienced raku fan. It is the most comprehensive book that I know of and is destined to be the new raku "bible". It includes everything you could possibly want to know from basic firing techniques to alternative styles such as Naked Raku. It also has sections on safety and even building your own kiln. I have been doing clay/raku for 35 years and I still found it to have a ton of useful information in it. Oh, and it also has a bunch of recipes for slips, glazes, etc. so with this book in hand you are good to do just about anything!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mastering Raku, November 27, 2009

By 

student potter (NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mastering Raku: Making Ware * Glazes * Building Kilns * Firing (A Lark Ceramics Book) (Hardcover)

Mastering Raku by Steven Branfman is a book written by a true expert in the field of ceramics. More importantly his informal writting style covers the topic of Raku in excellent detail. This technical packed text covers Raku glazes, clay body's, kilns, safety consideration along with supplying clay body and glaze formulas. The photos of Raku pottery are excellent showing many Raku artists pottery in great detail. Other photos reveal the actual firing process and glaze effects. Students new to Raku can read the book and can feel competent when starting to make their own pots. Steven truely is a great teacher and reading this book is almost like being in his class. It is a rare text that will offer useful information to beginning as well as advanced students and professional potters.

The history of Raku was the first time I encounted a complete account of how Raku came into existance. I found this part of the book was worth the price alone. Steven also explains and corrects several myths about Raku that I will let future readers find and enjoy for themselves. While there are other books on Raku this one covers all aspects of this fast firing technique. Steven has written the dfinitive text on this topic.

Jeff Zamek, Ceramics Consulting Services

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Raku Potter's Dream Book, February 3, 2010

By 

L. Riggs (North Carolina) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mastering Raku: Making Ware * Glazes * Building Kilns * Firing (A Lark Ceramics Book) (Hardcover)

The author put together a combination of ideas and photos with the work of raku potters from around to world. Then complemented that with an explanation of how to achieve those results. I thought other raku books were great but this one takes you over the top with it's insight and inspiration. I also like the fact that he included some other low-fire techniques like pit firing and saggar firing. There is a list of glaze recipes and step by step instruction on building a raku kiln. To me this is an awesome book.