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Come and enjoy an exciting workshop experimenting in this ancient Japanese RAKU technique of glazing and firing pottery.
Exciting and fast moving, using heat, sawdust, fire and smoky bins, this stunning firing technique is irresistible and very much in vogue.
Raku firing is unique and one of the most dramatic and exciting ways to fire pottery. It was developed in Japan in the 16th century for the Japanese tea ceremony. The pieces are glazed with copper based glazes, dried and put directly into a hot kiln outside for half an hour at a temperature of approximately 1000°c. They are then put into a reduction chamber – a nest of sawdust covered with a metal cover - and this atmosphere and temperature changes ‘reduce the oxygen content in the glazes and clay’ producing the wonderfully colourful, lustrous copper, blue and green finishes associated with Raku Pottery.
Every result is different, nothing is predictable and happy accidents are frequent. In fact, Raku literally translates into 'Happiness in the accident!' You will be using raku glazes combined with colouring oxides.
Bob and Denise will arrive with a selection of bisque fired pots in varying styles, that he has made and fired in the weeks prior to the course - providing 3 pots for each student. It is this preparedness that enables such a course to be run in a morning or afternoon. The materials charge of £25 (payable directly to the tutor) covers the cost of making these pots, as well as the glazing and firing costs during your session. Bob and Denise will distribute pots so each student has a similar selection of shapes at the start of each class.
£45 inc fresh coffee/home made biscuits
Material Charges : £25 on the day
Typically this course runs with around 8 students. Suitable for Beginners
Please bring: Your £25 materials money as detailed above. The tutor will provide a number of biscuit fired pieces ready to be decorated in the Raku style. Please bring some bubble wrap & bag to take home your pots home and wear old clothes that do not contain nylon. A cotton apron will be useful, but we can lend you one. Please tie any long hair back. Wear layers if cold weather as we will be working outside (under cover as necessary) to clean off pots after firing. You may become hot if you spend time near the kiln.
Video of the latest course results in October 2023 HERE
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