Soda Workshop: Making & Firing

Cone 6 Heavy Reduction & Oxidation Cooling Techniques
September 4–11, 2026

Join us for an immersive eight-day soda firing intensive led by internationally recognized ceramic artist Stuart Gair. This workshop brings together rigorous making, thoughtful surface development, and the full arc of a cone 6 soda firing—from wet clay to kiln opening.

Participants will spend the first half of the week focused on wheel-thrown forms and bisque mold-making, emphasizing altered forms, repetition, and subtle shifts in gesture. As the week progresses, attention turns to surface, flashing slips, wadding strategies, and the choreography of loading and firing a soda kiln in heavy reduction with controlled oxidation cooling.

This workshop is ideal for intermediate to advanced ceramic artists who want a deeper, more integrated understanding of soda firing at mid-range temperatures, and who value both technical precision and material curiosity.

Daily Schedule Overview

• Workshop hours: 9:00am–5:00pm daily (with a 1-hour lunch break)

• Lunch: Bring a sack lunch in a cooler bag or visit nearby local establishments

• Optional studio access: 4:00–8:00pm at Rain City Clay
  Independent practice time for registered workshop participants

Workshop Timeline

Due to the nature of clay, drying, and firing, please think of this as a workshop to experiment in, rather than as a production firing.
We will bisque everything ready to load on day three. Other projects finished after the bisque may be taken home green.

Clay work in the studio is available from Sept 4th-7th (the first 4 days), after that we will clean up and move on to slips & glazing.
Sept 8th-11th, (the last 4 days) the studio will not be available for wet clay work.
The kiln will be packed loosely. Each participant will get 2-3 items in the soda kiln firing.

Day One – Form & Alteration>9am-5pm

Wheel work at Rain City Clay focusing on throwing basic forms and altering them through cutting, paddling, assembling, and distortion. Begin a bisque mold, set to dry under a fan.

Likely forms include: envelope vases, cups, stacked vases, boxes.

Day Two – Form Development & Mold Completion>9am-5pm

Continued wheel work and form exploration, building on techniques from Day One. Complete bisque molds and set them to dry under a fan.

Likely forms include: bowls, pouring vessels, decanters.

Day Three – Guided Making & Bisque Load>9am-5pm

Follow-up demonstrations responding to student work from the first two days. Extended studio time for making, refining, and troubleshooting with one-on-one guidance.

Bisque kiln loaded by 7:00pm and fired overnight (pots and bisque molds).

Day Four – Surface & Preparation>9am-5pm

Morning slide talk at Rain City Clay, providing context for Stuart’s approach to form, surface, and firing.

Unload the bisque kiln around 2:00pm, followed by demonstrations and hands-on work with flashing slips (brushing, dipping, spraying). Discussion of wadding strategies, including recipes for red and white wadding. Participants will mix wadding and make discs and other placement forms used during soda loading.

Day Five – Glazing & Soda Kiln Load>9am-5pm

Glazing day at Rain City Clay with guidance on surface choices suited for soda atmospheres.

Soda kiln loading begins at 2:00pm. Candling starts by 5:00pm.

Day Six – Soda Firing Day> 9am-5pm

Full soda kiln firing day, including an in-depth introduction to soda processes, atmosphere control, and reading the kiln. Heavy reduction firing with a planned crash cool beginning around 5:00pm.

Day Seven – Cooling Day & Community Time

Kiln cooling day. Take an independent day-trip into Seattle with suggestions provided by Deb. Evening 6pm potluck dinner hosted at Deb’s house.

Day Eight – Kiln Unload & Reflection> 10am-4pm

Morning kiln unload followed by group discussion of results, surfaces, form responses, and firing outcomes.

Learn more about Stuart’s work at stuartgair.com.
All work is limited to 15 inches in any direction.

All Levels Welcome! You must be 15+ years of age to participate. There is a 15” maximum size, in any direction, when creating with clay at RCC.

Materials: Clay is $40 for new clay or at times we have recycled clay for sale for $20. This is a separate purchase from your class fee. Purchase clay ahead of time HERE.

Bring an apron, comfy clothes, a quart-sized container (like a yogurt container), and a beginner's set of tools to the first class.

Tool kits are available for purchase online or at Clay Art Center or Amazon. The class fee includes all glazing materials, firings, and generous open-studio access for practice time.

About the Instructor: Stuart Gair

Stuart Gair is an internationally exhibited ceramic artist known for his soda-fired vessels that balance volume, movement, and restraint. His work explores the tension between control and chance—using subtle form shifts, soft edges, and atmospheric surfaces to invite close looking.

Gair’s practice is deeply process-driven. He works primarily at cone 6 in soda atmospheres, pushing mid-range materials through heavy reduction and carefully managed cooling cycles to achieve nuanced surface variation. His approach emphasizes repetition, responsiveness, and the cumulative effects of small decisions made across forming, surface, and firing.

In addition to his studio practice, Gair is a respected educator who has taught workshops and lectured internationally. He is known for his generous, clear teaching style, offering participants both technical rigor and conceptual grounding. Students can expect thoughtful demonstrations, practical problem-solving, and an environment that supports experimentation and personal voice within shared firing conditions. 

Prepare for Class

• Full information on how to prepare for classes is available on our Clay Q&A Platform (Links below).

• Tools: Suggested tools are in the image on this class page.

• Special Materials:

• Studio Access: Workshops do not come with studio access outside the workshop times specified above.

• FAQ’s about classes:

RCC Communication Platform

• Join Clay Q&A Here.

• Our studio communication platform, The Clay Q&A “Space”, is hosted on the Mighty Networks App.

• Participation is required to take classes at RCC or have a membership at RCS.

• Clay Q&A is essential to participants. It is where participants may:

  • Buy Clay

  • Schedule practice time

  • Learn about kiln deadlines/ kiln unloadings

  • Hear studio news & events

• Learn more/ download the More about the Mighty Networks App, or text the Mighty Network App to your Phone.
  
  This app can be used on a desktop or mobile device. This app is essential for purchasing clay during the session, scheduling practice hours, and keeping up to date with studio deadlines for kilns and finishing your art projects at RCC.

RCC Clay Participation Opportunities

Read our registration policies, refunds, and other conditions before registering.
Clay classes require some physical strength. Consider a one-time event if you are uncertain of your ability to participate.

• Scholarships for session classes

• FAQ’s for Classes at RCC (Learn More)

Cancellation Policy

Cancellations must be made via email to info@raincityclay.com
If you want to cancel your class, you may request a refund based on the bullet points below. Then you may rebook yourself for a class that fits better into your schedule.

Last-minute cancellations in classes are difficult to fill - please double-check your schedule before committing to an event. Refunds take several business days to process from the date we receive the email request.

• 100% of tuition (less a $15 processing fee) will be refunded if a student elects to drop a class no later than 10 days before the day of the first class meeting.

• 80% of tuition (less a $15 processing fee) will be refunded if a student drops a class within 7 days before the first class meeting.

• 50% of tuition (less a $15 processing fee) will be refunded if a student drops a class within 3 days before the first class meeting.

• 0% of tuition is refunded if cancellation is made within two days of class for any reason except for documented medical emergencies. (providing a doctor's note). There are no other exceptions to this policy.

• After this period, if a student elects to drop a class or transfer, tuition will NOT be refunded for any reason except for documented medical emergencies. (providing a doctor's note). There are no other exceptions to this policy.

• No refunds or credit will be given for missed classes. Students currently enrolled in 10-week classes may practice during open studio time to build skills even if a class is missed. One-day clay events and lessons do not come with open studio time.

• We reserve the right to cancel a class or workshop up to 3 days in advance of the first class due to insufficient enrollment. If a class is canceled, you will be offered the option of another class or a full refund.

• For some reason, should the studio have an unforeseen need to reschedule the class, you will be notified and given the option to take a class at a later date or receive a refund. Examples of these include power outage, covid flare up, or force majeure.

A minimum of 9 participants is required to run the class. If a class does not meet this, we will give advanced notice about any cancellations and a refund will be issued.