SEPTEMBER Woodfiring with Svend Bayer

Service Description

This six-day course offers you the chance to learn from Svend Bayer who has a lifetime of experience with wood-firing kilns. You will be using our new single-chambered kiln, built by Svend in 2023. This is a fantastic opportunity to learn about the intricacies and variabilities of firing these exciting kilns and to discover what the firing process can bring to your own pots as you fire your work alongside that of the other participants over the duration of the course. On this 6-day course you will develop your understanding of the skills needed for the long, high-temperature wood-firing that produces the natural wood-ash and flame-painting effects typical of these kilns. The main body of each course runs for five days from Wednesday to Sunday, during which time you will be introduced to loading the kiln, wood-management and the firing itself. The kiln is then left to cool for a week and you return for the final day of the course on the following Sunday. On this final day we unload and discuss the pots and firing, and prepare the kiln and wood stacks for the next firing. Svend will be running the course with Brigitte Colleaux, our project director Dr Robin Wilson and assistants from Oxford Kilns. Wednesday/Thursday – Loading, wood preparation, organising your firing team Friday/Saturday/Sunday – Firing Second Sunday – Unloading and kiln maintenance What to bring: 40 or so small to medium-sized bisque stoneware pots and any high-firing glazes you wish to test. It is very important that you use appropriate glazes to minimise adverse effects on pots and kiln shelves so we do ask that you adhere to the advise we send out on glazes. It is recommended that glazing happens on site at the loading stage. In this kind of wood firing, much of the pleasure is gained by the action of the clay and ash on the raw surface of the clay body, so glazing is not always preferable. We can’t guarantee to fire all of your pots, but we will fire as many as possible. There is free camping on site, with hot showers and kitchens, or you can arrange your own accommodation locally. There are a large number of local AirB&Bs. Limited accommodation at our field study centre in the Woods is also available for those booking early in advance. Usually firing teams cook and eat communally on site, which we will arrange nearer the time. Please do ask if you have any questions. If you would like to arrange your payment in instalments, please contact us directly.