The Magic of Pit Fire with Victoria Shaw

Join ceramicist and teacher, Victoria Shaw to create pit fired forms and sculptures using both thrown and coiled elements. Learn how to make and apply Terra Sigillata, and learn to build a simple kiln for low fire smoke results.

Schedule

Saturday August 29: Day 1: 10am-3pm

Bring one or more bone dry, thrown or hand-built clay pieces for learning how to apply Terra Sigillata. You may also bring leather hard work for carving. Victoria will demonstrate decorative techniques, discuss design possibilities, and be on hand to help. During lunch, she will discuss the pit fire process, and recommend combustible materials to enhance your pieces. You will leave your finished pieces with us for bisque firing during the week.

Saturday, Sept 5th: Day 2: 10am-12 noon

Decorate your bisque fired pieces with oxides and cocoon them with combustibles, then we will secure them in the pit and light it on fire!

Sunday Sept 6th: Day 3: 4pm, unpack the kiln and Discover!!

Registration Fee: $295

Space is limited, please register to join us. Current members of Oregon Potters Association or the Pottery @ 446 receive a 10% discount off registration.

General Registration

OPA and Pottery @ 446 Discounted Registration

About Victoria

A Pacific Northwest native, and accomplished ceramicist and teacher, Victoria’s work derives inspiration from "the still, small voice within," and often her sculptures speak about a collective spiritual vision. Since 1986 she has been making totems of various forms. Victoria lives and works in Portland, Oregon, and her sculpture is collected throughout the United States, as well as Israel and Japan.

FAQs

I have a scheduling conflict with some of the sessions, can I still participate? Reach out to us: pottery@fourfortysix.co. We will make every effort to accommodate you.

What kind of clay do I need to use? Most clays should be fine, a raku clay or a sturdy stoneware will reduce the chance of your piece cracking. We will be bisque firing pieces to cone 04 (~1945’), and the pit fire process won’t reach temperatures much higher than that.

How many pieces can I bring to decorate? We will fire up to three pieces per participant.

Are there build requirements for my pieces? Finished pieces should be no more than 6-8” wide and tall. Because the pit firing heats up rapidly (relative to a traditional kiln), it’s key that your pieces have even walls, and are not too thick. Walls thicker than ~5mm are more prone to cracking.

I didn’t get my pieces made in time, can I still participate? Yes, we will have some bone dry and leather hard pieces available for you to decorate.

Besides my pieces, what should I bring to the first day of the workshop? Bring brushes, carving tools, and tools for burnishing (cloth, leathers, soft rubber kidneys, other smooth surfaced items). We will also have tools available.

What are we doing for lunch on day 1? Bring a sack lunch. Victoria will be discussing pit firing and combustibles while we break.

Will my pieces be waterproof / food safe? No. Pit fire’s low temperatures will not fully vitrify the clay, so your pieces will remain porous.