Let’s Fire it Up!!!

In this five day, hands-on, making and firing workshop, our goal is to compare results from cone 10 gas reduction, cone 10 soda, and cone 6 electric firings. We will cover practical and aesthetic aspects of loading and firing each of the kilns. Students will need to bring at least 10-20 bisque pieces for each type of firing, making sure to match the firing temp with the clay body, ie cone 6 firing needs cone 6 clay. We will also use test tiles (provided) to test studio glazes and new glaze recipes. While the kilns are firing and cooling, students will explore techniques demonstrated by Frank Vickery and Gay Smith. Frank will show methods for throwing large and small bulbous shapes. Gay will demonstrate altering surfaces and forms of freshly thrown pots including like squaring, ovaling, faceting and fluting. And on offer will be improving foundational throwing techniques. Frank will provide information on cone 6 and cone 10 gas firings, Gay will share information about soda firing and single fire techniques.

Supply List:

For spraying soda into kiln and checking cones
Work Gloves: Heavy duty, for spraying soda into kiln. Leather fingers and palms, no synthetic.
Kiln glasses or protective eye wear for looking into peeps and spraying. The type glass blowers use. Eye protection gear for cleaning shelves. Respirators, dust masks. Scarf or other non-flammable face protection such as a woolen neck gaiter. Cotton or wool or silk hat or scarf to cover head and hair.

Generally around the kiln:
Non-flammable clothing to wear around the kiln: cotton, wool, silk, no synthetic fabrics. Long sleeved shirts, long pants. Leather shoes or work boots with closed toes, not open toed shoes.

For Studio Work: ordinary throwing tools: sponges, ribs, pin tool, etc. (whatever you ordinarily use) wire tools, twisted wire (Gay will have materials to make twisted wires) wooden ribs, or other straight edged tools such as rulers, old credit cards, stamps, or tools for impressing into clay surfaces batts, batt pins, if not supplied by the studio sketchbook or notebook, pencils, pens, fettling knife, calipers, favorite quotes, favorite books, imagery of your own work, please bring on a memory stick. Source material: pictures, Xerox copies, etc. of what appeals to you, what you would like to incorporate in your work in some way.