Raku Ceramics Workshop! A Japanese style of firing to create unique glazes. Discover alternative Raku Experiences in the workshop session with Yvon Dockter Raku is a 450+ year-old process of ceramic firing. Raku was initially used for creating tea bowls used for traditional tea ceremonies centuries ago. Today, Raku is used for creating modern finishes to clay pottery and sculptures as well as functional ware. Join us for this fun four-class ceramics workshop! What to expect : The first two days of this Raku Workshop will be for creating hand-building pieces appropriate for a raku firing. Explore the fun and variety hand-building with clay allows. We will also be experimenting with Horsehair Raku on unglazed pieces. Your pieces will be bisque-fired before the third day of class and in the 3rd class, we will apply glaze with special lustrous raku glazes. In the fourth and last class session, we will have fun with the actual RAKU firing, the most special and exciting part of this workshop! The ceramic pieces will come out of the kiln molten hot and be placed in a metal can filled with combustibles such as shredded paper or pine needles. Optional horsehair process during this session, students will be shown how to burnish their pieces to prepare for the horsehair process. The pieces ignite the combustibles in the can, and then a bit later, we close the lid, and this is where the “magic” happens. Raku is a fun and mysterious process that creates a unique glaze for your ceramic pieces. Raku’s crackle and copper glazes make for many ooohs and ahhhs! Your instructor Yvon Dockter will be your guide through this Raku adventure. Yvon has been teaching raku for many years. You may have seen Yvon’s ceramic ware for sale in shops and galleries in Nevada City and Grass Valley. No experience is needed Price: $208 + $30 materials Class 6 minimum/8 maximum participants – (please note: if attendance does not meet minimum, class will be rescheduled)