While working as an art educator in the public school system in Winnipeg, Manitoba Linda developed a fascination with clay and began exploring a variety of wheel throwing techniques as well as firing processes.
One of her favourite methods of firing came to be raku. Since moving to Vancouver Island she has had the opportunity to be fully engaged in exploring this technique.
Raku firing takes place outdoors in a portable kiln where one to two pieces are fired at a time so as to take the necessary care for each piece according to the glazing requirements. This method of firing and the subsequent exposure of the clay to extreme temperature changes, a reduction atmosphere (reduced oxygen) and using different combustible materials evolve into a very intuitive process prone to desirable and undesirable effects. The immediacy of this process creates surprises in numerous ways resulting in unique and distinct pieces providing a great deal of satisfaction not only to the artist but hopefully to an appreciative audience/collector as well.
The raku vessels in this display are another form of raku called Naked Raku. This requires several intricate steps, of coatings, and firing, including a bisque firing, and culminating in the finished vessel to be coated in soft beeswax, and buffed to create the smooth marble like surface
