I probably should add that my very empirical understanding is that reduction should be much better. The question is; Is it? and then, why is or is not?
Denser air helps I think oince you can get reduction going. I truly think that cold weather and barometeric low pressure helps the results along. Even though these may seem counterproductive I think different things work to your advantage.
A few of us were talking about this over this weekend and everyone who could look back in logs or remember thought the most pleasing results came out of finings on bitterly cold days or stormy, rainy days, regardless of high fire or raku.
In cold weather with denser air, I think it may be a little more difficult to get into a good reduction period especially at high fire, but because there is more oxygen in the atmosphere, you get more of a chemical reaction once you get it going and so brighter colors which lead to everyone thinking that they get better results.
In raku, I think the faster temperature drop the work is subjected to in being removed from the kiln and put into the pit (or whatever it is you use) in cold weather helps "freeze" the colors so you are getting them at their peak and the glazes are too cool, too fast to re-oxidize.
Now this is just based on my own observation and NOT at all based on any science experiment! The conversation raised my curiosity and I just wanted to see what others had experienced and if amyone knew what was going on - chemically.
It does seem that we all experience something different, (mostly, we think, for the better) my question really is, OK, why? what's happening?
S
(Thanks Marcie, loved the article on your last trip!)
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Susan Giddings
Daytime phone: 860-687-4550
Cell phone: 860-930-8813
"There are painters who transform the sun into a yellow spot, but there are others who, thanks to their art and intelligence, transform a yellow spot into the sun." Pablo Picasso
