How will experimenting with homemade surface treatments, glazes, clays and raku firing, make my artistic voice stronger? In the beginning I wanted to test if colors and texture would change from using organic materials such as crushed leaves, strawberrys, and turmeric powder. From there, I mixed the organic materials with clear raku glaze, applying different pieces with different layers and applications to see a texture change from the new glaze. Next, I decided I wanted to try to make my own clay to raku fire. I dug clay from the local lake mixed with sand, dirt, and rocks and mixed them with water and massaged it into a clay like texture. After firing, the pieces were a beautiful color and texture and did not need glaze, but after a few weeks they disintegrated into literal dust. I decided to mix my clay with raku clay to keep it bonded better. The pieces stayed together longer but eventually turned to dust as well. I also added different iron oxides and copper oxides onto my clay mixed with raku clay. The color from the clay I had made changed the oxides reaction compared to regular raku clay and oxides. Later my subject shifted from vessels to female forms and body image.