Ornate Ceramic Pitchers

Scott Drake remembers the first time he ever laid eyes on clay--it was as a child, when his father was digging up the water line on their property. He's certainly come a long way since then, crafting beautifully ornate, Raku-fired ceramic pitchers and vessels. He makes all of his glazes from raw materials, and the copper crackle finish is signature to many of his pieces.

To make one of his ornate pitchers, Scott starts by cutting off the appropriate amount of clay, wedging (kneeding) it, and then placing it on the potter's wheel to form the base. After that, he adds handles and fashions a spout. The piece is set aside to dry completely. It is then bisque-fired, hand-glazed, and placed into a special kiln for Raku firing. The pieces are pulled out red hot and placed in a metal chamber--a galvanized trash can--that has a layer of newspaper covering the bottom. Scott carefully places the piece into the trashcan and, with the lid tightly secured, the papers ignite with the vase inside. Partly by intuition and partly through timing, Scott knows when to cool off the piece by adding water into the trashcan. Once the piece is completely cooled off, it is scrubbed, dried, and sprayed with acrylic so the copper doesn't oxidize in the glaze.

Guests
Scott Drake
Artist
Placentia, CA
Phone: 714-993-1794
Also in this Episode

Carol Duvall Show : Episode CDS-1425
•	Magnet Clock
•	Ornate Ceramic Pitchers
•	How to Emboss a Leather Photo Frame