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Raku Firing Pottery Workshop

Discover this fast-paced and captivating firing process with dazzling results

Jack Latti
(Studio Nioka)

5.0 (15)

ClassBento donates with every booking to

6.5 hours

1 to 8 guests

$250 (Afterpay available)

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Overview

Reviews

Teacher

What you'll do

Join this Raku pottery firing process in Melbourne with Jack Latti!

Arrive and check out the studio gallery for inspiration and grab a cup of tea to settle in.

Next, a variety of glazing techniques will be shown, and a generous selection of over eight glazes will be available for decorating your pot. You will then dive into glazing the pots that you have brought with you or ones purchased as an add-on to the workshop, with the guidance of Tania and Jack.

Next, the group will help carry the pots to the kiln and watch Jack expertly load the first pots into the Raku kiln. As the kiln climbs in temperature until it reaches over 800 degrees, we will wait and enjoy some morning tea. Once the kiln has reached temperature, everyone will gather around and watch the red-hot pots get removed from the kiln and plunged into coffee grounds in reduction bins.

After about an hour, the pots will cool, and it will be time to scratch around in the coffee grinds searching for treasures. The pots will be covered in carbon, which adds a lovely layer of drama as they will require a gentle scrub to reveal the jewel-like glazes beneath.

There will be multiple firings throughout the day, and the pace will fluctuate from intense, high-pressure moments of excitement to a slower-paced waiting game. This will leave opportunities for both a group lunch and conversations about the firing technique and glaze chemistry.

By the end, you will leave this workshop re-energised and inspired by the Raku firing process, as well as taking with you some glistening handmade ceramic pieces fresh from the kiln. And of course, creating connections amongst like-minded people.

Most importantly, those who are looking to further their pottery/ceramic practice will leave armed with more knowledge for their pottery toolkit.

What you'll get

A wide variety of Raku glazes
Learn glazing and firing techniques
Firing of between three and six small to medium pots (the making of the pots is not part of the workshop; they must be pre-made ahead of the workshop and brought along in a bisque-fired state)
Tea and coffee
Firing safety equipment

Gift or Buy

Knowledge required

This workshop is beginner-friendly but also caters to the potter who has been around the block.

What to bring

A plate of food for a picnic-style share lunch
Non-flammable clothing
No loose or dangling clothing
Closed-toe shoes
Bisque-fired pots

Note: Beginners, you will need to purchase the add-on of pre-made pots as this is solely a glazing and firing day, NOT a clay-making day.

Intermediate and expert potters - bring your own bisque-fired forms. You will be allocated a combined maximum space in the kiln of 250mm x 250mm. Make enough pots to fill this space. (If you have extra pots, bring them along and you may get lucky with a little extra room).

Pots will need to fit the following requirements:

Decorative and sculptural forms only - no bowls or plates.
Closed forms with thick, robust rims are best (bottles, eggs, animals, ovoids, vases, cylinders, etc.).
Made with a highly grogged clay - White Raku is best.

Add-on available for this class

Pre Made Custom Pot for Raku Decoration ($25)

You can add this when you book (optional).

Suitable for

This class is great for individuals and couples as well as for a date idea, team building activity, Christmas party, birthday or hens party.

This experience would also be a unique gift for her, gift for mum or gift for couples.

Location

Studio Nioka - 105 Gumtree Road, Research VIC and The Kiln Room, Boileau Street, Keysborough VIC (varies by date; click the date selector to see details)

Verified reviews

Your teacher

Jack Latti
(Studio Nioka)

5.0 (15)

Jack has professionally worked in the ceramic industry since the mid 1990s. Wood firing became a passion in recent years. He focuses on three main ranges of work from sculptural pieces, functional table ware and his iconic vessels for plants.

After a decade of working between his studio and within the studios of esteemed wood fire potters. Jack officially joined the woodfire community when he built his Anagama kiln at studio Nioka in Research VIC.

Studio Nioka is situated on a hilltop 5 acre property with breathtaking views of the Kinglake ranges. The essence of this creative space is the passing on of knowledge, sharing ideas and connecting with likeminded people.