Saturday Sept. 14 & Sunday Sept. 15 - 8:30 am -4:30/5:00pm
Max Participants 7 Fee - $600 per person Bring 13 - 35 pieces to fire
Location: My Simsbury, CT Studio
2 FULL DAYS of glazing and firing. Focus will be on Smoke, Fuming Saggar and Raku. The 2 days will allow for thorough immersion in each individual process.
Friday 6:00 pm**Meet and greet over Pizza, drop off and unpack work *
Saturday 6 - 18 pieces
8:30 - 9:00 am – continue to unpack and intro for participants that did not make the evening before.
9:00 - 9:20 go over all the workshop processes that will be covered.
1st Firing, Smoke – We will be using feathers, hair, pine-needles, foil smoke saggar etc... For this firing, pieces can be stacked up so you can fire 1- 4 pieces each. 2nd Firing, Smoke + Ghost Feathers, leaves, shapes…on colored pieces. Up to 2 - 8 pieces each. We will be using washes for a gas/raku and an overnight electric firing for smoke firing on Saturday. 1 - 4 for (Saturday Smoke) 1- 4 for Sunday
12/12:30 - Lunch
3rd Firing, Fuming. 1-2 Pieces
4th Firing, Slip Saggar firing 1-2 Pieces
If time permits, we will fire a 5th Firing or prepare pieces for Sunday morning 1-2 pieces.
Sunday 7-17 pieces each.
1st & 2nd Firing, Fire pieces prepared Saturday afternoon and Smoke Electric fired colored pieces using feathers, hair, pine-needles, foil smoke saggar etc... For this firing, pieces can be stacked up so you can fire 2-8 pieces each 3rd Firing Slab Saggar 1 piece.
12/12:30 - Lunch
4th Firing Raku firing process. 2 - 4 pieces each. 5th Firing Raku firing process. 2 - 4 pieces each
Last kiln load will be loaded at 3:00 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 20-35 pieces person. Pieces need to be kept to 15” in height or lower and 6” wide in-order to fire the estimated numbers.
20 pieces will allow you to have the minimum aount in every firing. I say work on bringing 35 pieces, “better to take unfired pieces home than not have enough”.
***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! 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 have a harder time surviving the thermal shock but that has never prevented us from exploring these finishes, we just expect a higher loss.
All aspects of materials, application, and firing techniques will be covered and all necessary materials will be provided. Feel free to bring any of your own Raku or other low-fire glazes to use.
*Bring your feathers, hair. If you are driving, bring glossy magazines for the reduction process if you have them.
Propper 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, stay from synthetic material. I have the jackets and eye protection but if you have your own, you are welcomed to bring it.
I am at:
10 Crescent Way
Simsbury, CT 06070
