7-Week Raku Firing Experience

Love dramatic surfaces, metallic lusters, crackles, and smoky finishes? Discover the excitement of Raku firing!

Unlike a traditional weekly pottery class, this course is designed as a guided firing experience. You'll spend the session creating work independently during open studio hours, then come together for hands-on glazing instruction and two exciting Raku firing events led by Delores.

How the Class Works

The class begins with an orientation on Monday, August 31, where we'll cover:

• Raku firing safety and expectations
• Forms and designs that work best for Raku
• Clay and glaze options
• Important dates and firing procedures
• Questions and planning your projects

Students may create work during the first week's Monday ( Aug 31st) and Wednesday ( Sept 2nd) class times and continue making pieces throughout the session during open studio hours.

Delores will provide instruction during:

• Orientation night
• Glazing night
• Both Raku firing days

Firing Schedule

First Raku Firing
Monday, September 21 | 6:00–9:00 PM

Second Raku Firing
Monday, October 19 | 6:00–9:00 PM

We may begin slightly earlier on firing days to prepare glazes and organize the firing. If you can't arrive at the earlier time, that's okay—you can join us when you're able.

What You'll Learn

During glazing instruction, you'll learn how to prepare work for different firing techniques, each producing its own unique surface effects. You'll explore how different glaze combinations, reduction methods, and firing choices create dramatically different results, allowing you to choose the best approach for each piece.

During each firing, you'll participate in the entire Raku process:

• Loading and firing the kiln
• Removing red-hot pottery
• Placing pieces into reduction chambers filled with combustible materials
• Watching smoke transform the glaze and clay surfaces
• Cleaning and revealing the finished pieces

One of the most exciting aspects of Raku is its immediacy. Each firing cycle—from kiln to finished piece—takes less than two hours, making it one of the few ceramic processes where you can experience the transformation almost instantly.

Included with Registration

• Raku clay options
• Terra sigillata
• Raku glazes
• Two Raku firings
• Instruction from Delores during orientation, glazing, and firing days

Best For

This class is ideal for students who:

• Have completed a beginning pottery class or have equivalent clay experience
• Can work independently during open studio hours
• Want to experiment with exciting alternative firing techniques
• Enjoy unique, one-of-a-kind surface effects and are comfortable embracing the unpredictability that makes Raku so exciting

Come experience one of ceramics' most thrilling firing techniques and watch your work transform before your eyes!

Safety!
Since we are working around very high temps, cotton clothing, long sleeves, jeans and closed toe shoes are a must.
After the first “pull” I will demonstrate, on a cooling kiln to any student who is willing to pull pieces from the kiln with me. Any student who wishes to do so must wear a face heat shield and gloves to the elbow. Theses items will be provided.

Make sure to bring water and to wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty or smelling like a camp fire.

The firing may run in light rain. If there is heavy rain or high winds the firing will be rescheduled.