About the raku firing process:
….…I think raku firing intrigues many a potter because of the drama involved in the process.
Raku is immediate, exciting, often unpredictable, and beyond fun.
How cool it is to take a red-hot piece out of the kiln, see the molten glaze and hear the pings from the thermal shock. Oh, and then there’s the flames! Who can resist the flames?
Raku, as practiced in the West, is a low-fire method in which we quickly heat the already bisque fired ware, remove it from the kiln when the glaze has melted, and perform any number of variations of a post-firing process to the piece.
The post-firing phase is usually an immersion in an organic combustible material to affect the final outcome or visual effect on the glaze and the raw clay. Deciding when the glaze has melted takes practice and is best done by observation.
The Raku process is very immediate – your pottery will cycle to and from the kiln in hourly batches.
What to bring
Bisqued pots – The pots you choose to bring must be bisque fired, – or you can purchase pots on the day.
- You are welcome to bring 3 pots – must be bisque fired pots (not terracotta).
- Alternatively there will be a variety of bisque ware pots for selection on the day.
- Bring a take home receptacle/ container for your pingingly / too hot to touch wares.
Clothing
- Clothing must be cotton or wool, close fitting – no synthetic fibres ( we are dealing with fire/ heat and raw flames)
- Long trousers and long sleeved shirts and jumpers.
- Definitely closed in shoes.
- One pair of leather (riggers/gardening) gloves.
What to expect: ( besides a ton of fun and rosy cheeks)
- Raku Firing of 3 pots – ( maximum per piece size approximately up to 1 litre glass milk bottle ).
- Hands on 6 hour workshop, includes Glazes and firing equipment
- Take home pinging hot wares – made by you – instant gratification – a rarity in the ceramic process.
- yummy light lunch and refreshments
Please Note:
The rapid firing, removal of the ware, and subsequent post-firing phase all contribute to fragility and, porosity. Not all materials used in raku glazes are toxic. In fact, most are not. … Be safe, and think of your raku ware as decorative and not functional…..
Date: Sunday 23rd February
Time: 10.00 am to 3.00pm
Address: 15 Holyrood Avenue Newtown ( Geelong – Victoria )
Cost: $350
Yours in pottery: Dr Darren McGinn
StudioMade is dedicated to keeping classes small and intimate – everyone gets space to learn and participate.
*** If you have a ready made group of your own we are happy to discuss class options, dates and pricing tailored to suit your group’s requirements.
