Obvara: Alternative Firing Workshop

Service Description

Saturday, November 8, 2025 30 minute sessions. Choose the session that works for you. 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM $25 per person for a 30 minute session and up to 3 pots per session 2 participants per session Ages 16+only. No exceptions Come join us on Saturday the 8th of November to participate in one of the coolest alternative firing processes ever. This workshop will give you a chance to take 3 of your pots through the Obvara process. Obvara is an ancient Eastern European ceramic firing technique where a hot, bisqued piece of pottery is rapidly immersed into a fermented liquid made of flour, yeast, and water, followed by a quench in water. This process, sometimes called Baltic Raku, creates unique, unpredictable surface patterns and colors, such as browns, blacks, and tans, through the carbonization of the organic mixture on the hot clay. What to expect: At each half hour throughout the day we will have 2 participants load their pieces into the Raku kiln, watch them as they heat rapidly to over 1500 degrees, then with the use of tongs and protective gear, lift their pots out of the hot kiln and plunge them into a vat of fermented Obvara mixture, followed by a plunge into a vat of water. Pieces will cool and be ready to take home within a few minutes. This event will be held outdoors in the yard on the south side of the studio. Please plan accordingly. Spectators are welcome to watch from a distance. Water and light snacks will be provided. This will be a fun, all-day event. Bring your camp chairs and hang out for a while. What's included: Safety gear Tools to load and unload pottery Obvara solution A one-of-a-kind experience Information on how to seal your newly fired piece, not a food safe process, decorative use only What to bring: Wear long sleeves and long pants with close-toe shoes 1-3 bisque-fired pieces of pottery, Raku clay recommended but most stoneware or porcelain clay bodies will be fine. Low-fire clay not recommended. Raku clay can be purchased at Muddy Pants Pottery. Please allow enough time to get it bisque-fired. Optional: Muddy Pants Pottery will have pottery for sale on site the day of the Obvara workshop. You will be able to purchase pieces at that time for use in this workshop. These pieces will be priced individually and the cost will be in addition to the $25 session fee. 24 hour notice required for cancelation with full refund. See cancelation policy at checkout.