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Ramon has spent the last 32 years developing his skills and refining his
techniques in the art of raku and pit-fired vessels. His unique method of throwing a 25-pound bag of clay, in a single wheel session, into a pot
that defies the typical limitations of clay in size and thickness is one of Ramon’s trademarks. These forms can reach as high as 32”
and the walls can be as thin as 1/8”. It is quite a surprise to pick up one of these beautiful artforms, as they are always surprisingly lightweight.
A challenge for Ramon is not just the size of the pot, but the shape too. His intentions at the beginning of a wheel session
can take a different course if the clay dictates it. “The shape of the pot comes to life during my ‘exchange’ with the
clay as I work with it,” he explains, “but no size or shape can make the pot special if the finishing touch of the glaze is not a complement to the form.”
Ramon spontaneously expresses his imagination through the glazing process, using a variety of slips and glazes. The pots are then fired at low-temperatures (1600-1800°) in a raku kiln until red-hot,
then transferred to a bin or ground-pit with combustible material in it, such as paper, leaves, wood or sawdust. The fire and smoke produce unexpected results such as luster,
crackled, smokey and swirling finishes in a variety of textures and colors. The limitless possibilities are, for Ramon,
the primary joy of raku.
Depending on how the fire and smoke interact with the glazes, the spontaneous and unanticipated results create surfaces and textures that are irreproducible and one-of-a-kind.
