Glaze and Surface Workshop

FishCat Wood-Soda Kiln

APRIL 2026

Instruction by: Samuel Newman and Dwayne Sackey

Workshop Overview

This immersive workshop brings participants into a cone 10 wood–soda firing at East Creek’s catenary arch kiln. Instruction is led by Samuel Newman and Dwayne Sackey and is grounded in the glazing and surface approaches they use in their respective practices.

Participants will take part in all stages of the firing cycle, including glaze preparation and application, kiln loading, firing, unloading, and post-firing cleanup, with an emphasis on shared labor and collective decision-making.

With an ethos of shared effort and shared result, this workshop is built to accommodate out-of-town participants as we will plan to hold the first session in-person and remotely. Please note that you’ll want to be in Portland, OR with three cubes of cone 10 bisque ware by 2pm on Thursday April 2nd.

While at East Creek Art we’ll have a range of lodging options. Car camping is a great option if you’ll have a vehicle, but there are cabin rental and low cost bunk rental options

Before purchasing your workshop reservation please review the cancellation policy and don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions!

Cancellations (minus the $75 cancellation fee) can be made up to six weeks before the workshop

Quick Facts

  • Firing: Cone 10 wood and soda

  • Kiln: East Creek’s catenary arch wood kiln

  • Space allocation: 3 cubic feet per participant

  • Locations: Clay Compound (Portland) and East Creek (Willamina)

  • Day 1 – Sunday, March 29, 2026 | 11am - 4pm

    Location: Clay Compound

    • Introductions and goals

    • Atmospheric firing orientation

    • Surface preparation

    • Glaze and slip review

    • Wadding and cone pack making

    • Glaze planning

    • Liner glaze application

    Day 2 – Wednesday, April 1, 2026 | 3pm–7pm

    Location: Clay Compound

    • Glaze demonstrations

    • Glaze application

    • Bisque firing to sinter work for transport

    Day 3 – Thursday, April 2, 2026 | 2pm–9pm

    Location: Clay Compound

    • Continued glaze application

    • Wadding and packing work for transport

    Day 4 – Friday, April 3, 2026 | 10am arrival

    Location: East Creek

    • Kiln orientation

    • Loading plan and strategy

    • Wadding session

    • Load the kiln

    Days 5 and 6 – Saturday & Sunday, April 4 & 5, 2026

    Location: East Creek

    • Firing shifts

    • Monitoring kiln behavior

    • Stoking and airflow adjustments

    Day 7 – Saturday, April 11th , 2026 | 11am (tentative)

    Location: East Creek

    • Kiln unload

    • Cold work: wad removal and grinding

    • Kiln and furniture cleanup

    • Instruction and demonstration from Samuel Newman and Dwayne Sackey throughout the full firing cycle

    • Access to East Creek’s catenary arch wood kiln for a cone 10 wood–soda firing

    • Shared glaze and slip recipes developed for atmospheric firing

    • All soda materials, kiln wash, wadding, and cone packs

    • Bisque firing to sinter glazed work prior to transport

    • Loading, firing, unloading, and post-firing cold work instruction

    • Dedicated space allocation of approximately 3 cubic feet per participant

    • Firing logs, reference materials, and glaze documentation

    • Use of kiln furniture and shared studio tools during the workshop

    • How a wood–soda atmosphere at cone 10 influences surface, color, and glaze behavior

    • The major phases of an atmospheric firing, from candling through reduction and soda introduction

    • Strategies for selecting and applying glazes for wood and soda environments

    • How kiln placement affects surface outcomes in atmospheric firings

    • Best practices for mixing, testing, and scaling glazes for production

    • How to prepare work for transport, loading, and high-temperature firing

    • The fundamentals of kiln loading, airflow management, and stoking strategy

    • How to read cone packs and pyrometer data to assess kiln conditions

    • Safe and effective practices for firing, unloading, and post-firing cold work

  • This workshop is designed for intermediate to advanced ceramic artists with prior experience working at cone 10 or in atmospheric firing environments. Participants should be comfortable working independently, collaborating in a group setting, and engaging in physically demanding kiln work. Prior wood or soda firing experience is helpful but not required.

  • This workshop emphasizes hands-on learning through shared labor and collective responsibility. Participants are expected to take part in all phases of the firing process, including preparation, loading, firing shifts, unloading, and cleanup. Wood and soda firing is inherently physical and requires flexibility, attentiveness, and teamwork.

    Lodging options at East Creek include car camping, cabin rentals, and low-cost bunk accommodations. Participants will receive detailed logistical information closer to the workshop date.

  • Cancellations may be made up to six weeks prior to the workshop start date and are subject to a $75 cancellation fee. Due to the limited capacity and planning required for this workshop, cancellations made within six weeks of the start date are non-refundable. Please review this policy carefully before registering and contact us with any questions.

Space is limited. Registration first come, first served.

Glaze and Surface Workshop Glaze and Surface Workshop
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Glaze and Surface Workshop
$625.00

Registration for the Glazes and Surfaces Workshop at the FishCat Wood–Soda Kiln, April 2026.

This purchase reserves one participant space and includes instruction, firing participation, and materials as outlined on the workshop page. Please review the full workshop details and cancellation policy before completing your registration.