The Art of Raku
Inspired by the traditional Japanese raku firing

A two-day workshop delivered in partnership with Cuckoo Farm Studios. Sessions will include a day of instruction to hand build clay objects suitable for raku firing at Colchester Maker Space, then a day of glazing of the objects made and communal raku firings at Cuckoo Farm Studios.

Session One of the Raku Workshop will take place at Colchester Makerspace, where you will learn basic hand-making techniques to produce some clay items which will then be techinican fired to bisque.

Raku is a rapid low-firing process that is inspired by the traditional Japanese raku firing.

Contemporary Western-style raku involves removing pottery from the kiln while at bright red heat around 1000 centigrade and placing it into containers with combustible materials such as sawdust. Once the materials ignite, the containers are closed. This produces an intense reduction atmosphere which affects the colours in glazes and clay bodies. The thermal shock of this also produces cracking and crazing, producing unexpected decorative outcomes.

For makers with more experience, you can just book and attend the second session and bring along biscuit-fired work to glaze and fire in the raku process. Please note that the process has limits in terms of object size and suits objects that are not too big, a size of 200mm height standard vase form is approximately the largest that can be managed safely.

Dates: Saturdays, 1pm - 4pm and 11am - 4pm

Frequency: Quarterly  

Cost: from £60.00 

Workshop Leader: Peter Jones

Restrictions: 18+ 

Notes: All materials are included in the costs.

Refunds: Please review our refunds policy

Member Discounts

Makerspace members receive upto 50% off our classes. Membership includes 24/7 access to the space and all our equipment and starts from £10 a month.

Visit our membership page for details.