MUSKRAT MUDWORKS BY DIANA WITTLIFF 

All of my pottery is original and handmade; each piece is unique.  I create Raku pottery,
Horse Hair pottery, and both functional and decorative stoneware.

Functional pottery is not only useful, but is also used as decorative accents.  I'm drawn to the
bright colors and endless possibilities of the decorated surface.  The pieces are colorful &
contemporary white earthenware pottery.  They are individually airbrushed with underglazes,
making each piece unique.  After bisque firing, they are brushed with a bright clear glaze and
fired again.  Each piece is ready to hang on your wall and they are food safe.

Raku pottery is beautifully unpredictable.  Raku is a centuries-old technique from Japan. 
A raku glaze, metallic or crackle, is applied prior to firing.  Pottery is quickly removed from the
kiln and is still so hot that it is nearly translucent.  Using long metal tongs, the piece is quickly
transferred to a metal container filled with combustible material, such as newspaper or sawdust. 
The hot pottery immediately ignites these materials and starts the chemical reaction that results in
these one-of-a-kind pieces.  Oxygen is removed from the clay and is replaced by carbon, so white
clay now turns black and the unique finish of the glaze is achieved.

Horse Hair pottery is produced with a variation of the raku firing technique.  Each piece begins
its journey on the wheel and is handled between 15 to 20 times before completion.  After shaping
the still moist piece is scraped with a thin metal rib to remove finger marks and insure a smooth
surface.  The pieces are then coated with several coats of "terra sigilatta" (a very fine suspension of
clay particles in water.)  Each coat is allowed to dry before preceding with the next.  Once the final
coat is dry it is then hand burnished to give the pot a glassy sheen.  No glazes are used in this
process.  The pieces are then bisque fired to 1900 F.  Once cooled the piece can be coated with
several coats of ferric chloride to give it the reddish color.  The depth of the color depends on the
number of coats of ferric chloride.  The pieces are then returned to the kiln and fired to 1200F.  At
this temperature they are quickly removed from the hot kiln and horse hair is then applied.  As it
touches the hot surface it sizzles leaving behind a distinctive carbon pattern on the piece. Once
cooled they are washed in soapy water to remove any excess carbon.  When dry it is then waxed
and hand buffed to bring out the beauty of the piece.  These pieces are not suitable for storage of
food or liquids.  Their beauty is their function.