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$650 for 2 days - non refundable deposit of $200 reserves your spot
Select Studio Pickup on Cart to avoid Shipping Charges
Saturday May 30th & Sunday May 31st - 8:30 am – 4:30/5:00pm
Location: My Simsbury CT. Studio
7 participants maximum
Each Participants Brings 13 - 30 bisque fired pieces.
Thorough and detailed instruction will be provided. All aspects of materials, application, and firing techniques will be covered, and all necessary materials will be provided.
2-Day Workshop - May 30th & 31st 2026 SMOKE - OBVARA - FUMED - SAGGAR – RAKU
$450 Balance with your payment of choice to be paid at the workshop or before if you like.
Select Pickup at the Studio on your cart to avoid a shipping charge.
Saturday May 30th & Sunday May 31st - 8:30 am – 4:30/5:00pm
Max Participants 7
Fee - $650 per person
Bring 13 – 30 bisque fired pieces
Location: My Simsbury, CT Studio
10 Crescent Way, Simsbury, CT 06070
My cell is 860-985-1389, feel free to call 0r text with questions.
2 FULL DAYS of glazing and firing.
This workshop will consist of Smoke, Obvara, Fumed, Saggar and Raku firing techniques. Participants will work with basic and advanced techniques in a hands-on workshop designed to help develop skills in the application and firing processes I use. Thorough and detailed instruction will be provided. All aspects of materials, application, and firing techniques will be covered, and all necessary materials will be provided except those listed for you to bring below.
Friday, 6:00pm
****** Meet and greet over Pizza, drop off and unpack work**********
Saturday: Fire 7 – 18 Pieces Each
8:30 - 9:00 am – continue to unpack and intro for participants that did not make the evening before.
9:00 - 9:15 go over all the workshop processes for the Day.
1st & 2nd Firing, Smoke & Obvara - We will be using feathers, hair, pine-needles, foil smoke etc... For these firings, pieces can be stacked up so you can fire 2 - 6 pieces each.
3rd Firing, Smoke + Ghost Feathers, leaves, shapes…on colored pieces. Up to 2 - 6 pieces each. We will be using washes for a gas/raku and an overnight electric firing for smoke firing on Saturday. 1 - 3 for (Saturday Smoke) 1 - 3 for Sunday
12/12:30 - Lunch
4th Firing, Fuming. 1-2 piece each.
5th Firing, Slip Saggar firing 1-2 piece each. If time permits, we will fire a 6th Firing or prepare pieces for Sunday morning 1-2 pieces.
Sunday Fire 6-12 Pieces each including the 1 - 3 from the Saturday electric kiln firing.
1st & 2nd Firing, Fire 1-3 pieces prepared Saturday for the Electric fired colored pieces using Ghost feathers, images…. + 1- 4 additional pieces for the hair, pine-needles, foil smoke saggar obvara etc..
3rd Firing Slab Saggar 1-2 piece.
12/12:30 - Lunch
4th Firing Raku firing process. 2 - 3 pieces each.
5th Firing Raku firing process. 2 - 3 pieces each Last kiln load will be loaded at 3:30 pm.
Late Sunday, discuss/troubleshoot work produced and talk about adjustments needed.
What to bring:
The work: I have 2 Raku kilns, and we can fit up to 5 kiln firings in a day. That represent about 13 - 30 pieces person. Pieces need to be kept to 15” in height or lower and 6” maximum width (PLEASE RESPECT THIS) in-order to fire the estimated numbers. 13 pieces will allow you to have the minimum amount in every firing. I say work on bringing 30 pieces, “better to take un-fired pieces home than not have enough”. ***Pieces need to be kept to 15” in height or lower and 6” wide in-order to fire the estimated numbers***
***Bring or ship pieces made of stoneware, porcelain, or raku cone 10 clay bodies bisque fired to cone 06/05 (lower gets better blacks). Dark and light clay bodies do make a difference so bring both if you can. If possible, bring burnished vessels for the smoke firings using hair, feathers, hay and pine needles. These Burnished vessels are also great for the saggar firings. If you prepare your pieces with Terra Sig, bring them. They also look beautiful but be sure to Bisque fire to a regular 06/05 if you want to use them for the saggar firings. Non-burnished vessels do have a different look so it’s good to try them as well. Preferred forms are wheel thrown vases with consistent wall thickness. Hand-built sculpture, open forms and flat forms work to but have a harder time surviving the thermal shock. That has never prevented us from using hand-built forms with these finishes, we just expect a higher loss. (be sure to keep flat and open forms to 6” or less in width).
What to bring for the Smoke firing:
Bring your hair, horsehair and feathers. I will have sugar, pine needles and other materials to use.
What to bring for the Fuming firing and Obvara firings:
I have everything.
What to bring for the Saggar firing:
I will provide all the materials needed. Bring Newspaper for the reduction if you have it.
What to bring for the Raku firing:
I will provide all the materials needed. You are welcomed to bring your own glaze/glazes.Bring Glossy Magazines if you can. We normally use one magazine for every piece.
Proper Attire:
It is important to wear protective clothing such as jeans, long-sleeve cotton shirt and shoes/boots that cover your feet well. Leather is recommended, NO synthetic material. I have the jackets and eye protection but if you have your own, you are welcomed to bring it. We work outside but if you like a respirator, bring it.
I am at:
10 Crescent Way
Simsbury, CT 06070
Mornings - We will have coffee, tea and morning snacks for you when you arrive between 8:30 and 9:00 am each day.
Lunch - You can bring your lunches or, you can participate in lunch orders. If you wish to do so, I will add the cost of your lunch order to your final workshop invoice.
For ideas for on-your-own evening meals, log onto:
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g33918-Simsbury_Connecticut.html
