About the class

In this workshop, students will be able to fire multiple times and explore the possibilities of Raku firing and other quick-fire techniques including horse hair, and other techniques. No Raku experience necessary to participate! 

Students should bring bisqued pieces to glaze the day of, or plan to glaze the week leading up to the workshop. A variety of sizes and shapes are encouraged to maximize the amount of work that can be fired, we will fire as many pieces as time allows. 

What is Raku? Raku generally refers to a type of low-firing process that was inspired by traditional Japanese raku firing. Western-style raku usually involves removing pottery from the kiln while at bright red heat and placing it into containers with combustible materials. Once the materials ignite, the containers are closed. This produces an intense reduction atmosphere which affects the glaze color and clay bodies. The drastic thermal shock also produces a crackle-glaze effect in some glazes. The original Japanese style of raku is an outgrowth from Buddhist influences in life and especially in the tea ceremony.

About the instructor

Ken Carmean

Instructor / Artist

Ken started making Pottery in his Senior year of High School, from there he attended the local Junior College in San Bernardino, Majoring in Art. He enrolled in Dick Bossard’s class and It wasn’t long before he was an emerging Studio Potter, making clay, glazes, loading glaze kilns, firing Salt and Raku kilns. He worked for this amazing potter from Fontana who had a production studio. There he learned how to throw a wide variety of forms quickly. He also learned how to single-fire work to save on costs. For 14 years he operated Arrowhead Stoneware. He has sold his work all over the western United States to many different retailers, art shows, and Galleries.