Obvara Raku Firing (Narrated Version) 

My pleasure! Yes, absolutely give it a try! It is such an incredible process. One tip I'd share is that it seems more safe for the pot to ease it into the water (or even expose it to the water in parts) so that it can more gradually cool down. When I submerged a pot completely really quickly they had a higher likelihood of cracking. Hope you have a great time with it! It's really so much fun.

Thanks so much! Love how each of them has their own personality. Was so much fun to make-- thanks for watching!

Absolutely! So glad you liked it and I hope you give it a try! Thanks so much for watching!

Thank you so much! I just can't get enough of it! It is such an incredible process and I am enamored with the individuality of them all. So glad you liked it and thank you so much for watching!

So glad you liked it! Yeah, there are an infinite amount of ways to do it! Depending on the temperature can dictate what color/tone you will get from the solution, and in turn how long it may need to be exposed to it before you cool it down. Thrilled with the results I got that time and can't wait to do it again. Thanks so much for watching!

Hey, there! I’m so happy to know these videos have been helpful to you! I was in the same boat as you trying to find some references as resources and it’s sometimes tough! So I started making some myself combining some of the information I have found. And great question! I have not tried the direct combustibles method of firing Raku yet! But I absolutely will and can’t wait to give it a try! Thanks so much for watching!

That makes sense! I haven't had a lot of experience in this process nor guidance so it is all a learning experience! Will do doing another batch of Raku firing next month and I will keep that in mind-- thank you for the advice and thank you so much for watching!

Hi, Nina! My pleasure, so glad you liked it! Yes, if you gently apply some water the effect should be just fine. The only issue is that the obvara effect will fade when left in direct sunlight over time. I made another video on my page about some fixatives, wax and UV protective coatings that you can apply to raku ware to help bolster their longevity. Hope that helps and thanks so much for watching!

So glad you like it! Yes! I do burnish my pottery before firing. There is so much great information out there about that process. The general notion of it is that by burnishing the leather-hard greenware we are effectively flattening the clay molecules, which is why they have a shine to the surface afterward. That can be done with a polished rock, spoon, lightbulb, plastic bag, etc..Some people also use a solution in addition called terra sigillata which intensifies the shine to a wonderful degree. All that being said once the pieces are bisqued is it important to do so at a slightly lower temperature as to not loose the burnished effect (between cone 07-05 typically). Hope that helps and hope you have fun!

@@dougrubenstein Yes thank you ;-)

So glad you like the unpredictability too! That is my absolute favorite aspect. And yes! You can absolutely do this with sculptural pieces as well. The only thing is to make sure you have a big enough kiln and materials!😂 This would look stunning on a sculpture. Hope you have a chance to try it out!

@@dougrubenstein Doug I did try it out and turned out beautiful masha Allah. Thank you so much for the guidance. Looking forward to more amazing videos from your side. Stay blessed

@@bilal_ahmed1011 Congratulations! Good for you for trusting your instincts and going for it, sometimes that is just what the pots need from us! Thank you so much for your support and see you in the next video!

@@dougrubenstein yes I agree and the pleasure is all mine. Enjoying ceramics alot these days and hoping to expriement with it further.

Hi, there! Great question. You can use a natural gas hook up but the main difference is the orifice for the burner. For a propane set up, the orifice is very small, which yields a very high PSI capacity. For a natural gas set up the orifice opening is much larger, which means it would take longer for the kiln to heat up to temperature. Here is a link to a picture of the differing orifices: images.app.goo.gl/6ykPtKg7znzQj5tJ7

@@dougrubenstein ohhh thank u sm for answering🖤

@@Sabiroahahmed Of course! No problem at all.

As art is inherently subjective there is no way to completely agree on what is "beautiful" or "good." Personally, I find the unpredictability and subtle patterning of this technique wildly interesting, which is why I went through the effort of setting it all up which is, admittedly, a lot of work. But for me it was worth it. But like you said, it is definitely not for everyone. I find that is also the wonderful thing about art, in that there is a place in it for all of us somehow. Anyhow, thank you very much for taking the time to watch my process.

Hello! I have a question! The vases u fire are bisque fired at what temperature and what kind of clay is this, thanks a lot!

Ronald,, me thinks you need to check the size of your shorts. they seem be a bit too small/tight cause there seems to be a lack of blood to you brain thus allowing you to have a way to narrow look at the art of pottery. Loosen up a bit and you may find life is more interesting outside your bubble.

@@dougrubenstein what a gracious response. Thanks for sharing and for being so generous with your knowledge. The right people will find this video, and they will benefit from your knowledge and ability. Kudos to you - this is a new process for me! I’m a winemaker.. and now I want to try this with wine while it’s still fermenting ! Have you ever tried it with a “completed” or stable fermented beverage? Thanks so much! Subscribing now.

Doug R: What an interesting way of finishing your pieces. Obvara, both the word and the process have somehow eluded me for quite some time. Thank you kindly, man, for sharing your work -- which is wonderful -- and also the time consuming techniques that I'm sure, like any worthwhile endeavor that we attempt to master or wrest some sort of control over, were hard-won, and therefore enrichens the act of freely sharing them with those of us lucky enough to stumble upon your videos. That said, I'll do my meager part by liking and subscribing, in hopes that the Algorithmic Gods see fit to shower you with millions of viewers, which will translate to that fake green stuff that allows us to purchase more time and materials in which to further pursue these frivolous acts of creation, like the gentleman in this thread so eloquently tried to convey. I'm sure after he furthers his grasp on the English language, he'll come back and properly elucidate his deep admiration and respect for such works; as will he -- after leaving his hometown and seeing a bit of the world -- gush to you and this here gathering of internet art folk about his new understanding of how, like people, the beauty of art can often be find in the infinitesimal as well as the obvious, and that yes indeed, art is subjective, and is important bc not only does it allow us humans to individually "make meaning" out of an object, but it can also be transcendent, fit in anywhere, and therefore be a good lesson for us humans to look a lil closer at things, at one another, and know that there's a commonality among us, and that we, too, are all beautiful. Apologies, I tend to babble a bit....:)