BIOGRAPHY OF:
To get in touch with me click on my name. Bob Hayden
I choose RAKU as my method of expressing the artistic urge to do something creative. I have, and still do, study history and art of many cultures around the world. Most of my imagery comes from primitive cultures throughout the world. This includes the American Indian petrographs and pictographs, Australian and New Zealand culture, African influences, Egyptian motifs, the Celts and northern European primitive arts.
Some of my designs are just geometric patterns, based on curves, and straight lines, either intersecting or overlapping areas. Lines separate these areas with no glaze in them, which turn black in the RAKU process. This give "a black line" cohesiveness to my work as a whole, regardless of the images portrayed. I don't use any images that are supposed to be detrimental to the well being of any one. In other words, they do not have any hidden meanings. Any such design that might be so perceived is just accidental, not contrived. My training as a chemist has enabled me to make all of my glazes and to do work on making new glaze formulas with more than a good chance of coming up with a good glaze or color. So far I have not used a computer to give me help in making new glaze formulas. The accidental discovery of a new glaze effect by combining previously used glazes in an overlay or setting them next to each other, or mixing them in different proportions, is very rewarding. I keep good records of all these little trials so I can repeat them.
Combining the various glazes in the different areas of my designs gives my pieces a very colorful and pleasing look. Also, this makes them unique. Repeating the same or similar designs and using different glazes in the small sections gives a very different look and makes each piece an individual piece of art. Even refiring the same piece will give it a different look. The way I do each piece by hand eliminates exact copies of a piece of art. I don't use mechanical devices to duplicate any designs.
As a chemist, I had to work with many chemicals that are considered very hazardous, so making glazes with chemicals such as lead, does not install any fear in me. I do have respect for all the chemicals that I use and I practice safe handling and mixing techniques. RAKU pottery is not to be used for food or as a drinking vessel or container for liquids because it has a porous body. A lot of the glazes used by other potters and me, contain lead or other heavy metal compounds in RAKU.
Saying the above, concerning the non-functionality of the pieces for food, there are some exceptions. I do make lamps, and boxes and RAKU tea ceremony bowls. A white glaze that is non-toxic is used on the inside of these vessels. These can be used to drink or eat out of, remembering that the glaze is a crackle glaze and the bowls are porous. They will leave a ring on what ever they are placed on if liquid is left in them after use for any length of time. I also tell the people that purchase them to use only plastic or wood stirrers in them, never metal. The metal would scratch the glaze, whereas wood or plastic would not be hard enough to scratch the surface.
As an artistic statement, I don't try to use abstract terminology to describe my work. I do what I do because it feels good. It gives me pleasure to look at the pieces when they come from the firing. This is the same feeling that most people feel when they see and buy it. The word "RAKU" means enjoyment, and it is a feeling of enjoyment.
I am now an Internet Web page holder. My e-mail address is "bobhayden@rmci.net" without the quotes and in small letters. My home page is "http://home.rmci.net/bobhayden" again without the quotes.