It's all about the Soda

Join potter Ron Philbeck for a week long immersive workshop focused on the art of soda firing. Soda firing adds depth and character to the pots through the application of sodium carbonate during the firing process, creating one of a kind results. Students will be asked to bring bisque fired pots to decorate, slip, and glaze prior to loading the Bascom's soda kiln. We will discuss how to prepare the pots for loading into the kiln as well as ways to utilize the soda glazing process to obtain desired results. During the initial firing stages, and later cooling of the kiln, we will make pots in the studio. Throwing on the wheel will be the main focus of making. Ron will demonstrate various functional forms including bowls, mugs, lidded jars, pouring pots, and plates. Handles and feet will be thoroughly covered. Decorative techniques that are useful in soda firing will be demonstrated as well. This will include wax resist, stamping, faceting, thick slip application, slip and glaze pouring, and rope impression. After unloading the kiln Ron and the students will discuss the finished pots and how they were affected by the soda firing. This is always a time of discovery and excitement that leads to the next firing.

Students should bring:

10-20 bisque fired pots. Cylindrical forms such as mugs, tumblers, vases, jars, and pitchers are recommended. Bowls and plates take up a lot of room in the kiln. We will be restricted by how many wide pots we can fit in. All work must be made from a cone 10 stoneware body. Please make sure your clay is rated for high fire to cone 10. Bisque firing should be to cone 06. Recommended cone 10 clays for soda: White stonewares and porcelain will give great responses to slips in the soda kiln. High iron bodies will be darker. Laguna B-mix or B-mix with grog are great choices. Highwater Phoenix and Zellastone are also good. Any high fire porcelain will give bright results with slips and glazes.
Pottery tools for making pots on the wheel. Ribs, sponge, needle tool, trimming tools, fettling knife, cut off wire, calipers. These are the basics. Feel free to bring what you think you’ll need. Sketch book Throwing towels, apron