Woodfiring Workshop
AUG 23-28 + AUG 31 —— PUSLINCH, ON

OVERVIEW

Join me for a firing of my anagama ‘Bob’. Together we will gather for 6 days to glaze, load, and fire the kiln. We will have two rest days before returning to unload.

A BIT ABOUT BOB

Bob is my modified tunnel kiln that I built in 2020 – a cross between a traditional tube kiln, and an anagama. There is no separation between the firebox and the firing chamber. This allows fly ash to settle directly on the pieces, and gives the stack variation from front to back. Work closer to the front is glossier, brighter, and more heavily covered in ash. In the back of the kiln we achieve deep colour, dramatic flashing, and more matte surfaces. I fire Bob in a reduction cooled atmosphere, which results in deeper and richer blacks, purples, reds, and blues.

Participants

A small group of just six participants offers us the opportunity to connect and create a safe container with each other, with lots of room for hands on experience stoking and loading the kiln. Whether you're a beginner maker who is eager to dive into the world of wood-firing, simply a fan of fire, or a seasoned artist looking for deeper mastery and connection to this traditional process, this workshop offers a well rounded firing experience for all, and is guaranteed to be fun too!

sCHEDULE

Aug 23 - Day 1 – Glazing. We will meet mid day to prepare the kiln for loading – unpack our pots, glaze, and have a welcome dinner together to connect before the real work begins. I will provide a shino glaze and give demonstrations on how best to glaze your work for a multi day firing.

Aug 24 - Day 2 – Loading. We will meet at the kiln for 9am to begin loading. All participants will have a chance to place pots in the kiln, and will be instructed on the best way to load a large kiln in order to take advantage of flame path, ash effects, and flashing. We will take breaks to visit the local lake – take a dip, have a picnic lunch, and get back to loading.

Aug 25 - Day 3 – Loading continues and we aim to brick up the door and light the fire at dinner time. Community dinner and shift planning for the firing.

Aug 26 - 28 - Day 4/5/6 – Firing! Each participant will have at least 2 six hour shifts. My firing crew will be helping me so that your shift is always paired with somebody who knows the kiln well. We fire non-stop for ~72 hours. Please be prepared to take turns stoking overnight.

Aug 29/30 - 2 Day Break – While the kiln cools, we rest! If you are local, take a breather and get back to regular life for a bit. If you’re coming from out of town, I’ll give you a list of things to keep you busy in the area.

Aug 31 - Day 7 – We return to the kiln to unload and see our treasures. We will also tidy up the kilnsite and finish with a small critique/debrief before heading home.

For more details and to register, follow the link below.
Questions? Feel free to email me at esceramics@gmail.com