Raku Pottery was developed in Japan 400 years ago as the preferred ceremonial tea ware of the Zen Masters, chosen for its deliberate avoidance of luxury. It is a process combining all four elements of nature whereby the earth struggles against the elements of fire, air and water and reflects the most fundamental rhythm of enlightened life.

A glazed pot is placed into a hot outdoor kiln, the entire vessel glows red and the glaze melts into sheets of liquid glass. The glowing pot is then placed into a container filled with sawdust and plunged into cold water. As a result of the tremendous temperature changes during the various stages of the Raku firing, the pot develops cracks in the glaze. The Japanese saw these marks as proof of the Earth having triumphed over the other elements.The six-day course in Patmos will be based at the beautiful cottage and garden of Nikos and Ritsa Eliou, your tutors.

During the course of the week you will:

Search for interesting and inspiring forms in the ever-changing landscapes.

• Learn the various techniques needed to build the clay forms such as slabbing, coiling & pinching.
• Create objects of your choice be it pots, plates, cups or even small statues.
• Biscuit fire your created objects, ‘The First Firing’.
• Learn to prepare and mix the glazes, chose colours and decorate.

Finally, the Raku Firing ceremony will take place on a beach under the star filled Aegean sky, accompanied with food and wine around the bonfire.

We provide:
Stoneware clay, glazes and under glazes, table turning wheel, brushes, modeling tools, wooden boards, outdoor kiln.