Oxfordshire Arts is introducing a Summer series of outdoor firing workshops. In three weeks of August we have Barrel firing, Smoke firing, Raku (both naked and conventional), Obvara (Baltic Raku) and Eco-Dying. As all these firings benefit from greenware pots prepared with Terra Sigillata, we also offer a half-day workshop to learn how to make and apply terra sigillata slip. There will be plenty of time for these terra sigillata pots to be bisque fired (cost of this is included in the Terra Sigillata workshop).

This is a 1 ¹/₂ day course to create unique, interesting, one-off barrel fired ceramics.

Sunday August 2^nd morning: Preparation of pieces for bisque firing. Preparing leather hard clay pieces to slip & burnish. Learn to make terra sigillata slip and how to apply.
Max. 12 students.

Thursday August 6^th day: Barrel Fire your bisque fired pieces. Be involved in firing your wares. Get hands on, wrap your pots up in foil blankets known as saggars. Add oxides/salt/sawdust and organic matter to create unusual effects. Expect to be amazed at the results with this exciting and often unexpected, fire, smoke and flames adventure.
Max. 10 students.

Friday August 7^th morning: Pieces can be collected on Friday morning after the Barrel kiln has cooled down.

All materials are provided including refreshments (teas, coffees and biscuits).

Please note: lunch is not provided, so please bring your own packed lunch.

Please contact Bookings & Enquiries to book and for information about courses.

Download information on Barrel Safety

This is a one day workshop to prepare and smoke fire your pots. Add combustibles to your pots in foil blankets known as saggars.

Sunday August 2^nd morning: Preparation of pieces for bisque firing. Preparing leather hard clay pieces to slip & burnish. Learn to make terra sigillata slip and how to apply.
Max. 12 students.

Monday August 10^th day: Smoke Fire your bisque fired pieces. Be involved in firing your wares. Get hands on, wrap your pots up in foil blankets known as saggars. Add oxides/salt/sawdust and organic matter to create unusual effects.
Max. 10 students.

Tuesday August 11^th morning: Pieces can be collected on Tuesday morning after the Smoke kiln has cooled down.

All materials are provided including refreshments (teas, coffees and biscuits).

Please note: lunch is not provided, so please bring your own packed lunch.

Please contact Bookings & Enquiries to book and for information about courses.

This is a workshop to try two raku techniques in one day. Get hands on to be part of the whole Raku firing process.

Sunday August 2^nd morning: Preparation of pieces for bisque firing. Preparing leather hard clay pieces to slip & burnish. Learn to make terra sigillata slip and how to apply.
Max. 12 students.

Friday August 14^th day: Talk on Obvara and the firing cycle. Select two pots for Obvara firing. Hands-on fire your Obvara pieces. Discuss Raku glazing. Decorate your chosen bisque fired pots. Get hands-on Raku firing you own pots. Finally clean up your pots prior to taking them home at the end of the workshop.
Max. 10 students.

All materials are provided including refreshments (teas, coffees and biscuits).

Please note: lunch is not provided, so please bring your own packed lunch.

Please contact Bookings & Enquiries to book and for information about courses.

Download information on Raku Safety

Come and explore the potential for using plants to colour and decorate ceramic surfaces. This is an experimental technique with only a few potters world-wide working in it.

Eco-dying and botanical printing have been used for colouring textiles for millennia. Using knowledge and techniques borrowed and adapted from Textiles, we will experiment using various plants to decorate pots.

Monday August 17^th day: The Tutor will guide you in using a selection of plants. Some will be applied to the ceramic surface and then hard simmered, and some will form a dye bath to immerse the pots. You will start the day foraging for some plants and also prepare a dye bath. The Tutor will demonstrate how to apply the plant material to the pot’s surface, how to make up a mordant bath and a dye bath. Plant material will be provided, however you are very welcome to bring along some of your own foliage to test their potential.
Max. 8 students.

Tuesday August 18^th morning: Pieces can be collected on Tuesday morning once the water baths have been cooled down.

For best results pots need to be of a pale clay body, with a terra sigillata slip application. Maximum size of pots is 15cms x 15cms

All materials are provided including refreshments (teas, coffees and biscuits).

Please note: lunch is not provided, so please bring your own packed lunch.

Please contact Bookings & Enquiries to book and for information about courses.

This is a workshop to try Naked Raku as well as conventional Raku. Get hands on to be part of the whole Raku firing process.

Sunday August 2^nd morning: Preparation of pieces for Naked Raku firing. Preparing leather hard clay pieces to slip & burnish. Learn to make terra sigillata slip and how to apply.
Max. 12 students.

Friday August 21^st day: Discuss the Naked Raku process. Prepare you bisque-ware pots for Naked Raku firing. Decorate your chosen bisque fired pots for conventional Raku firing. Get hands-on Raku firing you own pots. Finally clean up your pots prior to taking them home at the end of the workshop.
Max. 10 students.

All materials are provided including refreshments (teas, coffees and biscuits).

Please note: lunch is not provided, so please bring your own packed lunch.

Please contact Bookings & Enquiries to book and for information about courses.

Download information on Raku Safety