Aug 14th, Sept 25th & Oct 23rd

Workshop Fee: $150 per person
Premium members get 20% off

This workshop will consist of multiple parts covering several topics related to the Raku process. By the end of this workshop, you will have a better understanding of what Raku is, how the firing works, why you get the results that you do, and how to make your own raku kiln. You will also have a finished raku pot fired here at Clayscapes Pottery that will be sent back to you after everything is finished.

Preparation: Part of this workshop is the visiting pot program. You will have the chance to make 1 of 3 projects selected from the ClayShare Library of classes:
Harvest Pumpkin
Spooktacular Jack O’Lantern Luminary
Owl Lantern

If you do not have access to Raku clay you can order a small 5-pound block here:
(https://www.clayscapespottery.com/collections/laguna-clay-low-fire/products/250-miller-laguna-clay?variant=39383177461831)

All projects must be bisque fired and returned to Clayscapes Pottery no later than October 9th,

August 14th Part 1: Informational Raku Livestream
This will be a 2+ hour live discussion covering the difference between traditional Japanese Raku and the newer Western Raku that we do today. It will cover a step-by-step overview of the raku process including a chemical analysis of what the glaze goes through to yield the distinct metallic and crackle effects of Raku. This will include a Q&A segment at the end.

September 25th Part 2: How to build your own Raku kiln.
This segment of the workshop will be a 2nd live discussion of how the kilns we use at Clayscapes were built. It will include a list of supplies that you will need to make your own kiln at home. We will be covering how those supplies can be assembled into a kiln like the one that will be used in the firing portion of the workshop. We will also cover different ways to make raku kilns from old used kilns to simpler metal can raku kilns.

October 23rd Part 3: FIRE!!
This final segment of the workshop will be a livestream of the actual Raku firing process from start to finish. All the visiting Raku pots will have arrived by then and we will be firing them all live for your viewing pleasure. We will recap in real time what is happening inside the kiln and reduction barrels, and you will get to see the results of your efforts as they come out of the kiln! This live session will have a rain date of October 30th.

Books about Raku Firing

Mastering Raku, Steven Branfman
If you only have one book on Raku this should be the one! Lots of great color photos of Japanese tea bowls and a nice section on the history of Raku. Also it covers clays, ways of making Raku pottery, glazes, kilns and kiln building, firing, cleaning and a wonderful section on advanced firing techniques. Also there is an inspiring gallery section at the end of the book.

Raku Art & Technique, Hal Riegger
Older book and a bit dated but still lots of valuable info. Look for it in your local library or as a used book since it is long out of print. Includes a few glaze recipes and a section on different kilns with diagrams. Most images are black and white and it’s a great book but only buy it if you can get it used and for a few dollars.

Alternative Kilns and Firing Techniques, James C. Watkins & Paul Andrew Wandless
If you are bitten by the Raku bug and want more alternative firing methods, then this book is for you. In addition to Saggar, Pit and Barrel firing It includes a good section on Raku. Covering the history of Raku, kiln building, firing and alternative Raku reduction techniques.

Books about or influenced by Japanese Pottery
A Potter’s Book, Bernard Leach
The Unkown Craftsman, Soetsu Yanagi
The Japanese Pottery Handbook, Penny Simpson, Lucy Kitto, Kanji Sodeoka
The Ceramic Art of Japan, Hugo Munsterberg
The World of Japanese Ceramics, Herbert H. Sanders