Fire 3 Ways
UNEARTHING PREHISTORIC HERITAGE THROUGH ALTERNATIVE POTTERY TECHNIQUES ON THE CAUSEWAY COAST
A new 2-day workshop for 2026
A great opportunity to experience 3 different firing techniques: -
Barrel Firing, Smoke Firing and Obvara.
Over 2 days, learn how to prepare your own work and fire it 3 ways. The course is planned to transfer skills to your own home studio, giving you confidence to extend your work into new possibilities as well as preserving the knowledge of these firing processes.
Day 1- Barrel & Smoke Firing
9am meet up for Welcome tea/coffee, scones.
A short introduction to Barrel firing, learn about pot preparation, *terra sigillata, burnishing and handle examples of barrel fired work to see the range of surfaces achievable with different techniques.
Patricia will prepare a pot for barrel firing, showing the variety ways you can use for different effects.
Experimenting with a variety of different saggars, wrap your work with a selection of different organics such as local seaweed and pine needles.
When all work is prepared, move out to the kiln shed and learn about planning your own barrel set-up, including health and safety and good practice.
Learn how to pack the barrels, how to layer fuel to achieve an even firing with maximum heat work. How to tend to the firing to achieve a reducing atmosphere.
1pm Break for lunch after the barrels are lit, keeping watch for the right time to go into reduction.
2pm Afternoon session: Smoke Firing
Smoke firing is a very attainable way to surface decorate using oxides and resists.
In this session you will make your own ochre pigment, use leaves and natural glue and design with paper resists. There will be some local Bronze Age inspiration too.
Once your work is ready, you will build your own brick kiln to fit your pieces. You will use waste wood shavings to create smoke.
Once smoked, clean and seal your pots.
With tea and cake, have an opportunity to critique and appreciate the results of the smoke firing.
Finish 5pm
Day 2- Barrel firing finish and Obvara
Meet 9am for scones and tea.
See a short demonstration on how to clean and seal your work from barrel firing.
9.30am Empty barrels.
As you are working on this, take turns to pack the gas kiln in preparation for Obvara firing.
Light gas kiln
Critique Barrel Firing results.
Lunch 12pm
Afternoon session: Obvara
An ancient technique of sealing pottery with a fermented brew using flour or milk.
Originating in eastern Europe, this method reaches back to the neolithic potter were traces of milk lipids have been found on the surface of ceramic sherds. Today this method has evolved into an aesthetic activity; Also known as Milk Raku, it creates amazing volcanic type surfaces, with a colour palette ranging from golden yellow to jet black.
Look at examples to see the different effects possible.
Learn on how to achieve different surfaces by the way you handle the pots during the process.
It is called milk “raku” as you are following a similar process of lifting hot pots out of a kiln.
Information on temperature and obvara recipe will be provided.
Using tongs, take turns lifting pots out of the gas kiln to dip into the obvara mix and water.
Once completed, clean and seal your pots.
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With tea and cake have an opportunity to critique and appreciate the results of the Obvara firing.
Finish 5pm
All participants will receive a comprehensive handout of all 3 firing techniques. With this and your experience gained over the 2 days, you should be equipped and confident to try these in your own studio space.
​*Information prior to the course of terra sigillata and burnishing techniques will be sent to you to guide you in pot preparation
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Includes:
All materials for barrel, smoking and obvara firings, fuel, refreshments and 2 vegetarian lunches
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£350 per person
2-6 participants
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New 2026 dates for Fire 3 Ways announcing soon:
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