Pottery Pit Firing Course

Learn the exciting art of pit firing over two days


ClayMotion
ClayMotion
4.9 (8)
1k followers

10 hours total (over 2 dates) Experience size 1 to 10 guests

$195 (Afterpay available)


VIC Country
•
Craft
•
Pottery
Looking for fun things to do in Dunnstown? Learn the beautiful art of pit firing with ClayMotion!
The two day workshop is for all skill levels and experience and will introduce you on how you can pit fire your own pots (please refer to 'what to bring' section).
Pit firing is an elemental and exciting process that results in beautiful and dramatic flashes of colour and smokiness on the surface of the pot.
During the two day course, you will learn all technical aspects of pit firing such as clay types, surface colouration guide, what to add to the pit to achieve what effect, pot preparation, plus loads more… and all while having fun!
This pit firing workshop is ideal for people interested in art or ceramics and also for artists wanting to expand and build on their skills.
As December can be a bit chilly in Ballarat, hot vegetable soup will be on the simmer to graze on from handmade bowls (made by me) during the day.
If you are not from the local area, accommodation is also available close to the workshop site.
Intrigued? All you need to do is bring your own pots along for the workshop!
Pit firing workshop schedule:
3rd December Saturday 12 - 5pm and 4th December Sunday 2 - 4.30pm
Day one: 12pm – 5pm (Bring notebooks and camera)
  • 12.00 noon – 1pm — Pots are prepared with seaweed, fern fronds, gum leaves, salted string, copper wire and other organic materials.
  • 1.00 – 2pm — The pit is prepared with wood, seaweed, cow dung, pinecones and other materials. Pots are loaded in the pit.
  • 2.00 – 5.00pm — Firing commences. Pit is stoked for a few hours and finally covered for a slow overnight simmer.
Day two: 2pm - 4.30pm –-- Bring notebooks and camera
  • 2-3pm — Pit is unloaded with lots of oohing and aahing and photo taking
  • 3-4.30pm — Pots are cleaned and polished with even more oohing and aahing and photo taking
Please note: If you need lessons and/or clay to make pots for the firing, casual participation in a weekly class is welcome at the special discounted rate of $25.00 per session.
Or if there is enough demand, a separate class can be scheduled specifically to make works for the pit firing.

Knowledge required
No previous experience or knowledge required.
 
What you'll get
An exciting afternoon with some beautiful finished pots ready to take home.
 
What to bring
Please bring your own pots:
  • One to two pots no larger than 30cm x 30cm that have been burnished and bisque fired to between 780-820°.
  • A low bisque will ensure the sheen is maintained on the pot after pit firing. Wide rimmed bowls and plates should be avoided. Enclosed forms, sculptural forms and narrow rims are more suited to the uneven flame and heat characteristic of a pit firing.
  • You are encouraged to bring a notebook and camera to document their learning.
  • What to wear: Old clothes you don’t mind getting dirty. Avoid synthetic and loose materials and enclosed shoes are a must. Ideally hair should be tied back.
Session repeats

After the first session, the next session is: Sunday 2pm - 4:30pm .

Location

ClayMotion - 37 Tierneys Road, Dunnstown VIC

Pottery Pit Firing Course location
More about this experience

This host has 8 reviews for their other experiences - which you can see here.

This experience is also covered by ClassBento's money-back guarantee.

Your host

ClayMotion
ClayMotion

4.9 (8)
1k followers

ClayMotion was established by Dawn Whitehand, a practicing artist since 2000. The studio offers a beautiful and peaceful art-making environment for a diverse community of makers ranging from emerging and established artists to anyone in the general public looking to learn a new skill. At ClayMotion it's all about using art and clay as therapeutic and expressive mediums through workshops, classes and private events.

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2025-01-03 15:00:00
V48I01Z33L 34c052b7f77f35dccea660a6ce51910d production VIC Country VIC AU vic-country