Escape the hustle and bustle of city life and immerse yourself in the slower pace of Sangre de Cristo Mountains in South west CO.(All meals plus lodging in the beautiful Wet Mountain Valley)
Raku is an ancient oriental pottery process, which started in roughly the 16th century. It is different than firing a piece in a regular kiln. This process is done outdoors, using a large gas kiln. The pieces are then heated to 1,850 degrees Fahrenheit and once that temperature is reached the kiln is lifted open and using special metal tongs the pieces are then carefully removed from the kiln.
The workshop begins Friday evening:
Getting settled in either at Karen LaBlonds wonderful house (Where the workshop takes place or at Mary Mackey’s cabin about 10 minutes away). We will glaze our already bisque pots, with rake glazes. Then have a welcoming dinner at Karin house. Saturday after breakfast, we will all get back to the studio for the first firing. You will learn how to take your pots out of the kiln with long tongs, user an airbrush to get the crackle effect you want. Then you place your very hot pot in a container with combustable material. Once this has cooled off you can take your pot out and scrub off the charred material, and discover all the wonderful markings from the firing. That evening we will either all go out for dinner or have another meal with Karen. Sunday is much the same but a shorter day.
What you will experience
