Form and Fire: A Handbuilding and Soda Firing Workshop

In this workshop students will be guided through two main topics of focus - forming clay using basic, accessible handbuilding techniques, and the opportunity to load, fire and finish their own work in the Bascom's soda glaze kiln. Hands-on studio time and instruction will focus on exploring handbuilding techniques including slab, coil and bisque molded functional forms in stoneware clay. Also, students are invited to bring pieces made with cone ten stoneware or porcelain that are already bisque fired  to decorate, help load and fire in the gas-fueled, soda glaze kiln with an unloading on the final day of the class. 

Plan to bring 10-20 small (4”-6”h) and medium (9”-12”h) bisque ware pots made for soda/salt firing bring. No plates unless you plan to make a stack of them with sea shells 3 high maximum. Bowls up to 8” diameter are fine. The workshop begins with glazing and options for enhancing effects from the soda firing. Flashing slips for accents and brushwork will be offered along with traditional glazes. A spray booth will be available to apply flashing slips to the bisque ware. Plan to pre-wad the pots before any spraying. Other pieces will be glazed and then wadded afterwards. I’ll go over all the steps when we begin the workshop. We will have test tiles of the glazes and slips in the firing to document some of results. Plan to photograph them for your own records and research. Once the soda kiln is loaded, we will preheat overnight and complete firing the next day. Discussion on the firing process with participants opportunity to help with adjusting the kiln firing along with adding soda at the end of the firing with be vital to the workshop. We will document the firing process to share with everyone. We can also have some time to discuss kiln design with some of you that may be interested in building a soda/salt kiln.

Participant Needs/Tool List

Respirator, eye protection, ear protection, leather/heat resistant gloves, various rib shapes and hardnesses, fettling knife, fork or scoring tool, wire tool, various loop trimming tools, needle tool, various brushes, wooden paddle

Dormitory-Style Lodging

As part of our commitment to supporting access to the arts, we are pleased to share information about a Dormitory-Style Lodging opportunity offered by our community partner, the Highlands Biological Station for registrants of select workshops. Please visit our Lodging Information page or see your registration confirmation email for more information.