Times: 10:30-12pm | 12:30-2pm | 2:30-4pm

Raku firing is SO addictive and fun! This 1.5-hour Mothers Day Raku Experience is about choosing your pot, paint, fire and reduce the piece called The Art of Raku Firing!

What is Raku Firing?

Raku firing is a traditional Japanese ceramics technique that has been practised for centuries and is known for producing highly distinctive and unpredictable surface effects. Originating in Japan in the 16th century, early Raku wares were traditionally hand-formed rather than wheel-thrown and were closely associated with tea ceremony vessels.

The Raku process involves removing glazed ceramic pieces from the kiln while they are still glowing red-hot and placing them into combustible materials such as sawdust or newspaper. As these materials ignite, oxygen is rapidly reduced around the piece, creating dramatic crackle patterns and rich, varied colours within the glaze. When pieces are fired without glaze, the reduction process draws oxygen from the clay body itself, resulting in striking matte black and smoky surface effects.

Because the interaction between heat, flame, smoke, and reduction is never exactly the same, each Raku-fired piece is completely unique. The process embraces chance and transformation, offering less control over the final result and making every firing an exciting and unpredictable experience.

Your teacher will guide you through each stage of the process, explaining what’s happening and why — from kiln to reduction to cooling. A full creative journey awaits.

In your Raku Experience:

* offered 1 bisqued pieces to glaze

* offered raku glazes and colourants to decorate or paint your piece in

* put your pot into the kiln

* wait 45 minutes for your piece to fire to temperature

* smoke reduce your pot in metal bins

* pull out of bins and wash to reveal colour and texture of your finished piece

Our Mothers Day Raku Experience sizes will be limited to 6 people per session. 

Clay Talk Ceramic Centre’s spacious and beautifully designed ceramic studio is a great space to tap into your creativity.

Your Raku Experience fee covers:

* Raku glazes

* Use of the Raku kiln and post reduction bins

* Firing 1 piece

What you must bring:

* fully covered shoes and sleeved shirts

* Hat, sunscreen, sunglasses & water bottle

* Optional - face mask if allergic to smoke

We will provide:

* Heat gloves

* Bisqued pots for decorating

Suitable for:

• Adults 18 years and over

• Not suitable for children

• Participants aged 15–17 years may attend only when accompanied by a parent or family member

THIS WORKSHOP IS HELD OUTDOORS

THIS WORKSHOP WILL BE CANCELLED due to inclement weather, total fire bans, extreme heat, extreme wet weather or less than 4 people attending. Notice of cancelations will be dependent on conditions at the time and may be given as late as the morning of the workshop. Credit notes and transfers will be issued before considering full refunds if the session is cancelled.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

To secure your place in a class, course or workshop we require full payment at the time of booking.

Bookings are only accepted through our online portal at www.

Payment of class, course or workshop fees can only be made through our online portal at  www.

ACCESS

Clay Talk studio is located on the grounds of Montsalvat. For this reason, there are security measures in place to prevent trespassing and maintain your safety. Upon booking you will receive an Information Kit which has instructions on how to access Clay Talk studio. Please read this before coming to class.

REFUNDS / ABSENCE / TRANSFERS/ CANCELLATION

• We do not offer refunds if you change your mind after you have made the booking. Please be sure you are able to commit to the class, course or workshop dates and times prior to booking.
• Transfers are done upon email request and subject to available spaces only. Failure to transfer successfully will mean receiving a credit note or being transferred to a later term of the same class.
• If you are unable to attend a class, please contact us at claytalk@montsalvat.com.au on the day of your class. In exceptional circumstances, we can make alternative arrangements to compensate for lost class time.
• Retrospective requests (a request for a make-up from last term for example) for class make-ups are not accepted. We request you make contact via email or phone to Clay Talk as soon as you can’t make class so that we can make alternative arrangements for you.
• Clay Talk reserves the right to cancel a class due to unforeseen circumstances such as insufficient enrolments or illness or for maintenance works. You will be notified prior to the class if cancellation of the class is deemed necessary, or if there will be another date scheduled, or if a pro-rata refund will be provided.

ILLNESS

If classes and workshops are cancelled due to illness of a tutor, and the inability to find a suitable replacement, Clay Talk will endeavour to provide rescheduled dates for classes and workshops.

In the event that students cannot attend the rescheduled classes, students must email claytalk@montsalvat.com.au as soon as possible prior to the commencement of the rescheduled class or workshop.

If a student is unable to attend the rescheduled classes or workshop Clay Talk may, at its absolute discretion, provide either a credit note, or a pro-rata refund (minus an administration fee of 10%).

 GIFT VOUCHERS

Gift vouchers are only available through our online portal www. Gift vouchers can be purchased for a minimum of $20 and are valid for 3 years from purchase.

Gift vouchers can only be used for booking classes, courses and/or workshops at Clay Talk through our online portal. Gift vouchers can be applied at check out when booking a class, course or workshop.

FIRING OF WORK 

Most workshops and classes include firing and glazing of a specific number of pieces. Check the workshop listing description on our online platform.

We take extreme care with your work however accidents do happen, and we are unable to guarantee fully that your work will be successfully fired. Clay Talk takes no responsibility for failure or breakage of work.

• EMAIL / SMS NOTIFICATIONS
• Clay Talk takes no responsibility for students not reading or checking their messages, emails or checking their spam/junk mail regarding schedules or work collection.