Japanese Raku

1. Raku Today
• Raku has been
westernized.
• The process is not the
same process that was
used in Japan
• The process used today
involves a kiln that is fired
until it reaches a certain
temperature then the
pieces are pulled out and
put in reduction mode.

2. Western Raku
• http://www.youtube.co
m/watch?v=YmyXJQfdS
gI&feature=related

3. Paul Soldner
• Developed what is known
today as “American Raku”
• Started out as a pre-med
student but after serving
as a medic in World War
two he came back with an
interest in photography
• He then got a bachelors
degree from Bluffton
College.

4. Paul Soldner
• Paul then went to Univ. of
Colorado in Boulder to
get his Art Administration
• There he was introduced
to ceramics
• He then taught for eight
years before deciding to
become a potter.
• He then earned his MFA
at Los Angeles County Art
Institute and was Peter
Voulkos's first student

5. • After graduating he taught at
Scripps College
• He was also known for the
“low temperature salt firings”
• His raku technique came about
by chance after a
demonstration on Japanese
raku failed. Soldner realized
that he was more interested in
the technique of raku then the
tradition of it.
• He continued to experiment
with this technique which led
to what is known as western
raku today.