How To Make Raku’d Balloon Bowls!

I decided for my contribution to the exhibition entitled Fragility at Sheoak Gallery at Fingal to do Raku’d Balloon Bowls and Garden Totems.

So I set about making Balloon Bowls and Garden Totems.

While talking to my bestie, Judith Wagenseller from OKC, Oklahoma, USA, I discovered that I should share my instructions for making these Balloon Bowls as they are quite fun, a good class project and look awesome raku’d.

First of all, I must give credit to Tea Tree Studios, Anna Couper and Angela Walford for the great inspiration and their process photos that I saw on Facebook!

The Balloon Bowls require the acquisition of certain pottery making skills, so would make a great class project:

• rolling a slab
• texturing a slab
• making slip
• applying slip
• making joins of clay edges
• use of oxides

– Quite a lot of stuff in one project, but I encourage you to try it!

Here is a pictorial tutorial of how I made them:

I start by placing an inflated balloon, tie-side down, into a large drinking cup or similar vessel.

Slabs are rolled out and textured with roller stamps, wooden stamps, or any other texturing tool that you might have.

Texturing with Wooden Stamps.

Texturing with Wooden Stamps.

Roller stamps that I have carved designs into.

A bucket of very thick slip.

The thick slip can be applied with brushes.

Score the entire clay strip with a toothbrush and then apply slip with the toothbrush as well.

Place a large roundish piece on the top of the balloon to get started.

Apply the prepared strips of clay, carefully joining the edges of the strips.

Strips can be added to suit your hearts desire! stop with you “feel” it is finished!

Dry the balloons with the tied end placed in the cup – you want the bowls to have a round bottom.

The Final Product

Raku’d Balloon Bowls

Judith and daughter, Hattie, set about making their Balloon Bowls and these are some pics of their process and results – pretty great!!!  I love their cat in the photos – he’s soooo into pottery!!!