Participants will work together to assemble a fast-fire kiln in one day. We will pack the kiln with pots which have been pre-bisc-fired (participants are welcome to bring fired stoneware pots with them). Basic glazes will be provided for wood firing. On the second day, the kiln will be fired, with participants taking turns to stoke it. The third day will involve unpacking the kiln and reviewing the results. Imogen built her first kiln on leaving art college. This was a ‘top hat’ gas kiln in which she fired her large saggar fired pieces. She subsequently built a small scale Raku kiln for students at The City Lit in London where she taught for 8 years. She has built kilns from paper with school students for smoke firings using local clays as decorative slips. Her recent kiln builds are a 5 metre long wood fired Train kiln, which fires in 16 hours and a fast fire Philosopher’s kiln which fires in 8 hours to cone 12. Imogen’s students in Devon are building 2 small fast fire kilns and she contributes regularly to planning and construction of these manageable kilns. Times: 10 AM - 4 PM Lunch and refreshments included. Students will need to bring: •8 medium-sized, bisque-fired stoneware pieces. •Sketchbook and pen. •Apron and small towel. •Boxes and packaging for transporting pieces

Linda Bloomfield who holds a PhD in Chemistry, is a potter, author, and teacher. She makes porcelain tableware, which she sells worldwide, and is a respected author of several books on glaze chemistry and development, including Science for Potters, Colour in Glazes, and Special Effects Glazes. Linda has been teaching at the Forest Row School of Ceramics for over seven years, visiting twice a year to work with our full-time students and lead this two-day workshop. This workshop is designed to introduce the chemistry behind glaze materials and how they react and response with each other in the kiln. It will provide potters with the knowledge and confidence to experiment, adjust, and develop their own glazes. Day 1 (10 AM - 4 PM) The day will focus on discussing your chosen base glaze recipes, mixing test blends, and preparing test tiles for firing, which will be done overnight. Lunch and refreshments are included. Day 2 Linda will give a lecture on glaze materials, covering their effects, chemistry, usability, sustainability, and origins. This will be followed by a Q&A session and a review of each student's glaze test results, freshly fired from the kiln. Lunch and refreshments are included. What to bring: •At least 25 small, bisque-fired tiles (approximately 6x4 cm) for glaze tests, made from the clay you work with. If using stoneware, these will be fired during the course so the results can be assessed with Linda. •Earthenware glaze tests must be taken home to be fired. Linda will then discuss the results with you over Zoom. •20 small, lidded containers (roughly the size of a hummus container) •A small sieve (80-100 mesh) •A set of scales that measure down to 1 gram •A dust mask •An apron •A notebook and pen If you're unable to bring any of the above, please let me know.

This 3-day workshop is designed to introduce combining wheel throwing with traditional coiling techniques to create large-scale pots, inspired by African coil pots. This workshop requires Intermediate throwing experience so is not suitable for beginners. Please note, the focus of this workshop is on learning technique rather than producing a finished, fired piece to take home. The pieces made during the workshop will not be fired here, but you are welcome to take them with you. There is no additional charge for materials used. We’ll start by throwing the bases of our pots, using as much clay as we can handle, and then continue building the form using coils. If time allows, we will also look to decorate them to finish. Includes Lunch and refreshments Day 1 (10 AM - 4 PM) •We will begin with a film about traditional African coiling techniques, followed by a discussion on form, function, and decoration with our own pots in mind. •You will design your pieces on paper as a starting point, understanding that during the making process, ideas and forms may change. •I will demonstrate the throwing process, and then you will throw your own bases with my support and guidance. •We’ll be working on two pieces at a time, allowing the clay to dry and rest between sessions. The bases will dry overnight. Day 2 (10 AM - 4 PM) •I will demonstrate how to add coils to our forms, and then you’ll have the opportunity to try it yourself with my help and support. •This will be a hands-on day where we focus on building up the form with coils. Day 3 (10 AM - 4 PM) •On the final day, we’ll focus on finishing and decorating our pieces. What to Bring: •Sketchbook and pencil/pen for design ideas. •Apron to protect your clothes. •Small towel for drying hands. •Your own tools if you have them (tools will also be provided). •A heat gun or hair dryer for drying your pieces between sessions. •Boxes and packaging if you’d like to take your pieces home.