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raku - the naked kind - questions on terra sigs

updated sat 20 sep 03

 

Derrick Pottery - owner - Wesley Derrick on mon 15 sep 03


I've never tried terra sigs before nor the Naked Raku Process and have a
few questions...I've managed to confuse myself in researching t.sigs and
englobes. Seems not every thing
people call an englobe is truly a traditional englobe.

Anyway.....
What is the point of using terra sigs on a piece when one can burnish
the piece on the wheel after trimming.?
Does the t.sig offer some other benefit (besides the opportunity to add
color) other than a highly burnished surface?
Is it a different surface than just burnishing the pot itself. Does it
perform differently?

Same question goes for horse hair raku.....can't this be done on a highly
burnished pot from the wheel without t.sigs?....or does the burnish of one
differ from the other......

I'm even more confused having just typed this....having a bad Monday I
think.

wesley

Chris Schafale on mon 15 sep 03


Both naked raku and horsehair raku can be done with
either hand-burnished pots or terrasig polished pots.
The main advantage of terrasig is that you get a lovely
satin surface with MUCH MUCH less work burnishing.
I'm less sure about this part, but I think it is also a less
fragile surface.

Chris


On 15 Sep 2003 at 16:04, Derrick Pottery - owner -
Wes wrote:

I've never tried terra sigs before nor the Naked Raku
Process and have a
few questions...I've managed to confuse myself in
researching t.sigs and
englobes. Seems not every thing
people call an englobe is truly a traditional englobe.

Anyway.....
What is the point of using terra sigs on a piece when
one can burnish
the piece on the wheel after trimming.?
Does the t.sig offer some other benefit (besides the
opportunity to add
color) other than a highly burnished surface?
Is it a different surface than just burnishing the pot
itself. Does it
perform differently?

Same question goes for horse hair raku.....can't this be
done on a highly
burnished pot from the wheel without t.sigs?....or does
the burnish of one
differ from the other......

I'm even more confused having just typed this....having
a bad Monday I
think.

wesley

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Light One Candle Pottery
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(south of Raleigh)
candle@intrex.net
http://www.lightonecandle.com

Carole Fox on mon 15 sep 03


Dear Wesley,
I think the surface of a burnished pot is different from a pot with terra
sig. My sigged pots look like polished eggshells. My burnished pots look
like marble. Now, it easily could be that I still haven't learned to make a
proper sig, but this is my experience. Also, keep in mind that some clays
will be pink at the low temperature used for burnished pots.

You can apply horse hair to either surface. If you "burnish a pot on the
wheel", it will lose the shine as the pot dries. Burnishing must be done on
bone dry ware.

Now engobes I know little about, but they wouldn't figure in to a burnished
or sigged pot.

Good luck!
Carole Fox
Elkton, MD
thesilverfox@dol.net

----- Original Message -----

> I've never tried terra sigs before nor the Naked Raku Process and have a
> few questions...I've managed to confuse myself in researching t.sigs and
> englobes. Seems not every thing
> people call an englobe is truly a traditional englobe.
> Anyway.....
> What is the point of using terra sigs on a piece when one can burnish
> the piece on the wheel after trimming.?
> Does the t.sig offer some other benefit (besides the opportunity to add
> color) other than a highly burnished surface?
> Is it a different surface than just burnishing the pot itself. Does it
> perform differently?
>
> Same question goes for horse hair raku.....can't this be done on a highly
> burnished pot from the wheel without t.sigs
> wesley

Susan Setley on mon 15 sep 03


In a message dated 9/15/03 10:01:48 PM, candle@INTREX.NET writes:

<< Both naked raku and horsehair raku can be done with
either hand-burnished pots or terrasig polished pots.
The main advantage of terrasig is that you get a lovely
satin surface with MUCH MUCH less work burnishing.
I'm less sure about this part, but I think it is also a less
fragile surface.

Chris
>>


I'm certainly no expert at it, but terra sig has such small, fine particles
that it will burnish very well. I have only used it twice but it was sooo easy
to get a lovely polished surface.

I think it's worth it just because it takes less pressure -- greenware is so
fragile. I broke a piece once while burnishing it without terra sig.

Snail Scott on tue 16 sep 03


At 04:04 PM 9/15/03 -0400, you wrote:
>...Seems not every thing
>people call an englobe is truly a traditional englobe.


What the heck is a 'traditional engobe'? (note
spelling, BTW) An engobe, simplistically, is any
liquid mixture that's partly clay that you apply
to clay and fire, which isn't a vitreous glaze.
I've never heard of any one sort being considered
'traditional'.


>Anyway...
>What is the point of using terra sigs on a piece when one can burnish
>the piece on the wheel after trimming...

Burnishing actual clay to a fine gleam is
time-consuming, and takes some work if the
clay is gritty. Terra sig is almost 'self-
burnishing' - put it on, let it dry, swipe
with a soft cloth = done!

-Snail

Kim Peterson on tue 16 sep 03


Derrick,
Maybe this will help a little. Terra sig on a horse hair is put on green
ware to be burnished for a very smooth surface. Make the piece look great
with horse hair applied. Terra sig on naked raku is applied very thick on
bisqued pieces. It will dry and shrink on the piece. Something like the mud
on a drying river bed. The piece is heated and put into heavy reduction
where the smoke will find it's way into the cracks and then into the clay
body. Neat effect!!
Kim


>From: Derrick Pottery - owner - Wesley Derrick
>Reply-To: Clayart
>To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
>Subject: RAKU - The Naked kind - Questions on terra sigs
>Date: Mon, 15 Sep 2003 16:04:59 -0400
>
>I've never tried terra sigs before nor the Naked Raku Process and have a
>few questions...I've managed to confuse myself in researching t.sigs and
>englobes. Seems not every thing
>people call an englobe is truly a traditional englobe.
>
>Anyway.....
>What is the point of using terra sigs on a piece when one can burnish
>the piece on the wheel after trimming.?
>Does the t.sig offer some other benefit (besides the opportunity to add
>color) other than a highly burnished surface?
>Is it a different surface than just burnishing the pot itself. Does it
>perform differently?
>
>Same question goes for horse hair raku.....can't this be done on a highly
>burnished pot from the wheel without t.sigs?....or does the burnish of one
>differ from the other......
>
>I'm even more confused having just typed this....having a bad Monday I
>think.
>
>wesley
>
>______________________________________________________________________________
>Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
>You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
>settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
>Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
>melpots@pclink.com.

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Christena Schafale on tue 16 sep 03


The following is incorrect. Terrasig on naked raku is used to create a
nice smooth, polished surface ON TOP OF WHICH, after bisque-firing, you put
a thick slip that is meant to dry, crack, and come off after raku
firing. The slip that is used for this purpose could not be farther from
terrasig -- very coarse, made of fireclay, and applied extremely thickly.

Chris

At 03:31 AM 09/16/2003 +0000, you wrote:
>Derrick,
>Maybe this will help a little. Terra sig on a horse hair is put on green
>ware to be burnished for a very smooth surface. Make the piece look great
>with horse hair applied. Terra sig on naked raku is applied very thick on
>bisqued pieces. It will dry and shrink on the piece. Something like the mud
>on a drying river bed. The piece is heated and put into heavy reduction
>where the smoke will find it's way into the cracks and then into the clay
>body. Neat effect!!
>Kim

Information Services Manager
Consultation and Referral Specialist
Resources for Seniors
christenas@rfsnc.org
http://www.resourcesforseniors.com
Phone: (919) 713-1537
FAX: (919) 872-9574
1110 Navaho Dr, Suite 400
Raleigh, NC 27609

Susan Setley on tue 16 sep 03


In a message dated 9/16/03 3:58:46 PM, christenas@RFSNC.ORG writes:

<< The following is incorrect. Terrasig on naked raku is used to create a
nice smooth, polished surface ON TOP OF WHICH, after bisque-firing, you put
a thick slip that is meant to dry, crack, and come off after raku
firing. The slip that is used for this purpose could not be farther from
terrasig -- very coarse, made of fireclay, and applied extremely thickly.

Chris >>

Umm... that's if you want a crackle effect.

If you want a smooth surface, for instance to put horsehair on it, you would
not use a slip.

Kim Peterson on wed 17 sep 03


Chris,
I use terra sig slopped on very thick and it works very well. I bunish my
pieces before bisque any way. I would like to know how your slip is made, so
I could try that.
Kim


>From: Christena Schafale
>Reply-To: Clayart
>To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
>Subject: Re: RAKU - The Naked kind - Questions on terra sigs
>Date: Tue, 16 Sep 2003 15:00:00 -0400
>
>The following is incorrect. Terrasig on naked raku is used to create a
>nice smooth, polished surface ON TOP OF WHICH, after bisque-firing, you put
>a thick slip that is meant to dry, crack, and come off after raku
>firing. The slip that is used for this purpose could not be farther from
>terrasig -- very coarse, made of fireclay, and applied extremely thickly.
>
>Chris
>
>At 03:31 AM 09/16/2003 +0000, you wrote:
>>Derrick,
>>Maybe this will help a little. Terra sig on a horse hair is put on green
>>ware to be burnished for a very smooth surface. Make the piece look great
>>with horse hair applied. Terra sig on naked raku is applied very thick on
>>bisqued pieces. It will dry and shrink on the piece. Something like the
>>mud
>>on a drying river bed. The piece is heated and put into heavy reduction
>>where the smoke will find it's way into the cracks and then into the clay
>>body. Neat effect!!
>>Kim
>
>Information Services Manager
>Consultation and Referral Specialist
>Resources for Seniors
>christenas@rfsnc.org
>http://www.resourcesforseniors.com
>Phone: (919) 713-1537
>FAX: (919) 872-9574
>1110 Navaho Dr, Suite 400
>Raleigh, NC 27609
>
>______________________________________________________________________________
>Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
>You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
>settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
>Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
>melpots@pclink.com.

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Chris Schafale on wed 17 sep 03


Maybe "naked raku" (the crackled, peeling-off slip
variety) should be called "stripper raku" or "getting
naked" raku... It's true that horsehair pots are more
truly "naked"....

Chris


On 17 Sep 2003 at 12:34, Susan Setley wrote:

In a message dated 9/17/03 11:30:44 AM,
snail@MINDSPRING.COM writes:

<<

A conflict in definition here, I think. Chris was
using the 'naked raku' term as many people do, to
refer to the technique whereby a slip is applied
to protect the clay from reduction smoking, and
is afterward cracked loose. >>

"Horsehair application, though it might be also
considered a form of 'naked raku', is not usually
described by that term."

Perhaps not, but then it would have cleared up some
confusion some highly
skilled potters I know have had, such as the horsehair
was applied to hot glaze
after the piece was pulled.

The NakedRaku listserv includes horsehair although it
isn't their primary
interest.

____________________________________________
__________________________________
Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org

You may look at the archives for the list or change your
subscription
settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/

Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be
reached at melpots@pclink.com.
Light One Candle Pottery
Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, USA
(south of Raleigh)
candle@intrex.net
http://www.lightonecandle.com

Chris Schafale on wed 17 sep 03


You're kidding! Are we really talking about the same
terrasig here? The kind where you separate out the
very finest clay particles and throw away the rest? All I
can say is, what an amazing waste of terrasig! All that
work refining the stuff, only to slop it on and then peel it
off later? Wow.

The slip we used at Charlie and Linda's naked raku
workshop was something like 50% fireclay, 30% EPK,
and 20% alumina -- though Charlie had been tweaking
the proportions to get it just right. We applied it VERY
thickly by dipping. The stuff was the consistency of
thick pancake batter (thick enough that a spoon stands
up in it), and the slip layer was probably at least 1/4" or
more thick. It peeled off the pots very easily after
firing.

Happy firing.

Chris

On 17 Sep 2003 at 2:44, Kim Peterson wrote:

Chris,
I use terra sig slopped on very thick and it works very
well. I bunish my
pieces before bisque any way. I would like to know how
your slip is made, so
I could try that.
Kim


>From: Christena Schafale

>Reply-To: Clayart

>To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
>Subject: Re: RAKU - The Naked kind - Questions on
terra sigs
>Date: Tue, 16 Sep 2003 15:00:00 -0400
>
>The following is incorrect. Terrasig on naked raku is
used to create a
>nice smooth, polished surface ON TOP OF WHICH,
after bisque-firing, you put
>a thick slip that is meant to dry, crack, and come off
after raku
>firing. The slip that is used for this purpose could not
be farther from
>terrasig -- very coarse, made of fireclay, and applied
extremely thickly.
>
>Chris
>
>At 03:31 AM 09/16/2003 +0000, you wrote:
>>Derrick,
>>Maybe this will help a little. Terra sig on a horse hair
is put on green
>>ware to be burnished for a very smooth surface.
Make the piece look great
>>with horse hair applied. Terra sig on naked raku is
applied very thick on
>>bisqued pieces. It will dry and shrink on the piece.
Something like the
>>mud
>>on a drying river bed. The piece is heated and put
into heavy reduction
>>where the smoke will find it's way into the cracks and
then into the clay
>>body. Neat effect!!
>>Kim
>
>Information Services Manager
>Consultation and Referral Specialist
>Resources for Seniors
>christenas@rfsnc.org
>http://www.resourcesforseniors.com
>Phone: (919) 713-1537
>FAX: (919) 872-9574
>1110 Navaho Dr, Suite 400
>Raleigh, NC 27609
>
>___________________________________________
___________________________________
>Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
>You may look at the archives for the list or change
your subscription
>settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
>Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be
reached at
>melpots@pclink.com.

____________________________________________
_____________________
Get 10MB of e-mail storage! Sign up for Hotmail Extra
Storage.
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____________________________________________
__________________________________
Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org

You may look at the archives for the list or change your
subscription
settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/

Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be
reached at melpots@pclink.com.
Light One Candle Pottery
Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, USA
(south of Raleigh)
candle@intrex.net
http://www.lightonecandle.com

Snail Scott on wed 17 sep 03


At 05:00 PM 9/16/03 EDT, you wrote:
>>Terrasig on naked raku is used to create a
>>nice smooth, polished surface ON TOP OF WHICH, after bisque-firing, you put
>>a thick slip that is meant to dry...

>Chris >>
>Umm... that's if you want a crackle effect.
>If you want a smooth surface, for instance to put horsehair on it, you would
>not use a slip.



A conflict in definition here, I think. Chris was
using the 'naked raku' term as many people do, to
refer to the technique whereby a slip is applied
to protect the clay from reduction smoking, and
is afterward cracked loose.

Horsehair application, though it might be also
considered a form of 'naked raku', is not usually
described by that term.

-Snail

Susan Setley on wed 17 sep 03


In a message dated 9/17/03 11:30:44 AM, snail@MINDSPRING.COM writes:

<<

A conflict in definition here, I think. Chris was
using the 'naked raku' term as many people do, to
refer to the technique whereby a slip is applied
to protect the clay from reduction smoking, and
is afterward cracked loose. >>

"Horsehair application, though it might be also
considered a form of 'naked raku', is not usually
described by that term."

Perhaps not, but then it would have cleared up some confusion some highly
skilled potters I know have had, such as the horsehair was applied to hot glaze
after the piece was pulled.

The NakedRaku listserv includes horsehair although it isn't their primary
interest.

Derrick Pottery - owner - Wesley Derrick on fri 19 sep 03


Wonderful feedback !Thank you...
I'm putting all of y'alls advise and my reading this week to the test this
weekend..despite the hurricane, we are expecting very nice weather here in
central Mississippi.
Should be great cool fall-like weather ...perfect raku day.

You all have been a great help.

Geering up for my first public sale at the Anual Wesson, MS Flea Market -
Saturday October 18, 2003.
I've had 7-8 pieces on display/sale at a local coffee shop here in Raymond
for a month or two and been well received. I love giving new pots a home.

wish me luck !!...happy firing.
Wish we could post pictures here. I think. ;P

wesley