Nate Winter Studios

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Nate Winter Studios I'm a ceramic artist and musician exploring the intersection of fire, creativity, and storytelling. I’m also the creator of the Center Yourself podcast.

I specialize in the Raku firing process through workshops, kiln building, and online courses.

This copper Raku piece is extra special to me.It’s the result of a firing we documented for an independent film I’m work...
10/06/2026

This copper Raku piece is extra special to me.

It’s the result of a firing we documented for an independent film I’m working on, where we wanted to capture the majesty of pulling a large, glowing ten-pound piece from the kiln. The camera angles, lighting, flashover effect, and timing all had to come together perfectly between the crew and myself.

After all the preparation, rehearsals, and coordination, seeing a result like this feels like a culmination of craftsmanship on every level.

This is the epitome of what I’m chasing with copper Raku, especially on a piece of this size. A dramatic crackle network, flashes of copper red and rainbow iridescence across an oxidized aqua-green surface, rich black unglazed areas, and smoke penetrating into the crackle network.

I’ve only managed to achieve this exact glaze aesthetic on a handful of pieces this large over the years, so I was incredibly happy to see this one come out of the kiln.

Although I’ve been working on a recent shop update, I’ve decided to keep this piece for myself. Partly for the memory of what went into creating and documenting it, and partly because a piece of this size and form requires careful handling. I’d hate to see it damaged or broken in someone else’s hands, so I think this beauty is best kept close to home.

That said, I’ve added a lot of amazing new pieces to my online shop, and I’d love for you to check them out. Let me know what you think and if anything speaks to you.

Visit the link in my bio to browse my latest work.

In the words of my good friend CeCile, life is so precious. Happy anniversary love, may our hearts be as full as our bel...
10/03/2026

In the words of my good friend CeCile, life is so precious. Happy anniversary love, may our hearts be as full as our bellies! ❤️

Also big congrats to my dude Sir King 🇯🇲 for opening his new restaurant in Portland, ME this week! Always gotta have that authentic Jamaican food when we celebrating. 🇯🇲

Tonight’s Specialty Platter:

✔️ Ackee & Saltfish w/ White Rice
✔️ Oxtail w/ Rice & Peas
✔️ Jerk Chicken
✔️ Fried Plantain
✔️ Mac ‘N Cheese
✔️ Sir King Sunrise w/ Coconut Rum

Rating: 100 out of 10

This white crackle Raku piece reminds me of an ancient cracked skull, unearthed from the ground after centuries of being...
09/28/2026

This white crackle Raku piece reminds me of an ancient cracked skull, unearthed from the ground after centuries of being buried.

I think what I love most about these crackle patterns and the speckling is that they feel like a perfect representation of the saying “beautifully broken.”

The cracks almost resemble scars, physical evidence of the thermal shock these pieces experienced during rapid cooling. Rather than hiding that history, the surface reveals it.

There’s something metaphorical about that. Much like a scar or the healing of a broken bone, sometimes we come out stronger on the other side of something difficult. Our own experiences as human beings can leave marks on us, but those marks can also become part of what makes us who we are.

If this piece were completely solid white, I don’t think it would be nearly as beautiful. It’s the evidence of the shock it endured, and the fact that it came out the other side, that gives it so much character.

These are just some of the things I find myself pondering when viewing my work in its completion. What does something like this make you think about?

You can find pieces like this and many others in my latest shop update. Visit the link in my bio to see what I’ve been up to lately and browse my most recent body of work, available now.

09/28/2026

A few different ways I load my trash can-style Raku kiln.

Lately, I’ve been experimenting with arranging my glazed pieces on kiln shelves outside of the kiln before loading the entire shelf at once. It helps me visualize the stack, make sure pieces aren’t touching, and prepare the next firing while the previous one is still going.

You can also load each piece individually onto shelves inside the kiln. Both methods work great, and finding the right approach can make your firing workflow much more efficient.

Once loaded, we gradually bring the kiln to around 1,850°F before removing the glowing pieces and continuing with the Raku process.

Want to learn how to build and fire your own Raku kiln? Comment “RAKU” and I’ll help you get started. 🔥

Even after thousands of firings and 14 years of exploring copper-based Raku glazes, I still can’t get enough of the expl...
09/15/2026

Even after thousands of firings and 14 years of exploring copper-based Raku glazes, I still can’t get enough of the explosive, energetic flame patterns that imprint themselves across the glaze surface.

The array of colors that copper carbonate can produce, from golds and reds to orange-peel tones with hints of green, is exactly what I’m chasing with this process. There’s a fluidity to these flame patterns that is so visually captivating to me, and I don’t think I’ll ever grow tired of exploring it.

This piece is a perfect example of when the glaze result and the form coincide in harmony. The movement of the surface complements the shape in a way that makes the entire piece feel complete.

This piece is available in my most recent shop update. Visit the link in my bio to see what I’ve been up to lately and browse some of my latest work.

09/15/2026

How do you create dramatic crackle patterns in Raku? 🤔

It starts with the right combination of clay and glaze, followed by a firing to around 1,850°F. Once the pieces are glowing hot, I use thermal shock and a smoke-filled reduction chamber to develop the crackle patterns.

The smoke darkens the cracks and unglazed areas, creating that beautiful contrast against the white glaze. After cooling, a good scrub reveals the final results.

Every piece comes out a little different, and that’s part of what makes this process so exciting.

Want to learn how to create results like this? Comment “RAKU” and I’ll help you get started. 🔥

09/14/2026

This is what a Raku firing actually feels like. 🥵

I usually share short-form educational voiceovers, but for this video, I wanted to let you experience the environment as it happens. From opening the kiln and removing pieces glowing at 1,850°F to placing them into reduction chambers and creating smoke-fired surfaces with horsehair, there’s a lot happening in a very short amount of time.

It’s a coordinated dance between me and my students, communicating clearly, moving deliberately, and navigating the heat and fire with respect. Safety is always the priority, but there’s also an incredible energy that comes with the process.

For many of these students, this was their first time witnessing a Raku firing in person. Hearing their excitement and seeing their reactions is one of my favorite parts of teaching.

This video is less about the finished pieces and more about the heat of the moment, the teamwork, and the experience of bringing these pots through the fire.

I hope you enjoy getting a little glimpse of what it’s like to be there.

If you’d like to learn how to master this process for yourself, comment “RAKU” and I’ll help you get started. 🔥

09/13/2026

From fresh clay on the wheel to the finished piece. 🌀

Here are some of my latest horsehair and white crackle Raku pieces. Pretty cool to see the before and after and how the firing process transforms each one.

Check out my latest work, available now through the link in bio.

A descent into silliness with SCARLET KEYS | BERKLEE COLLEGE OF MUSIC PROFESSOR 😂I had such an amazing conversation with...
09/10/2026

A descent into silliness with SCARLET KEYS | BERKLEE COLLEGE OF MUSIC PROFESSOR 😂

I had such an amazing conversation with Scarlet for this episode of Center Yourself, talking about her journey as a songwriter, from writing and working in the studio with Chris Stapleton in Nashville to teaching songwriting phenoms like Charlie Puth and Amy Allen at Berklee, where she continues to inspire the next generation of songwriters.

We also talked about a much more personal chapter of her story: battling and surviving cancer, and the lessons in hope that inspired her latest book, What If It All Goes Right? Practicing Hope in the Hardest Times.

This conversation had plenty of depth, but as these photos clearly demonstrate, plenty of ridiculousness too.

I’m already looking forward to hanging out again in a few weeks when Scarlet and I sit down for our first songwriting session together. Thanks for being such a wonderful guest, Scarlet. I can’t wait to see what we create!

Watch the full episode now on YouTube 🌀

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Portland, ME
04101, 04102, 04103, 04104, 04108, 04109, 04112, 04116, 04122, 04123, 04124

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