Firing pottery In The Raku Style with Bob and Denise Park

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.

Video of course results in October 2023 HERE

Morning session: 9.45am - 12.30pm

Afternoon session 1.45pm - 4.30pm

Morning or afternoon sessions 2027

Sun 11 April ~ Wed 14 April ~ Sun 15 Aug ~ Wed 18 Aug

Typically this course runs with around 8 students. Suitable for Beginners