ABOUT THE WORKSHOP RETREAT PLEASE NOTE: THIS WORKSHOP RETREAT IS SOLD OUT. To join the waitlist, visit: WAITLIST SIGN UP Join us October 15-18 for a creative intensive in Alternative Firing Techniques with Vicente Garcia. In this intensive three-day workshop, participants will explore a range of raku and alternative firing techniques, including smoke, obvara, fuming, saggar, and raku processes. Designed for both emerging and experienced ceramic artists, this immersive experience emphasizes hands-on learning, technical development, and an expanded understanding of surface transformation through fire. Through detailed demonstrations and guided firings, participants will engage each stage of the process—from material preparation and surface application to kiln loading, firing, and post-firing reduction. Emphasis will be placed on how different materials and techniques interact to produce varied surface effects, from smoky blacks and carbon trapping to layered color, pattern, and atmospheric markings. Working across multiple firings, participants will experiment with organic materials such as hair, feathers, pine needles, and other combustibles, alongside slips, washes, and saggar methods to create rich, unpredictable surfaces. Instruction will also include fuming and obvara techniques, as well as traditional and contemporary approaches to raku firing, offering a wide spectrum of visual outcomes. The structure of the workshop allows for repetition, reflection, and refinement. Participants will have the opportunity to evaluate results, troubleshoot challenges, and re-fire selected pieces, deepening their understanding of each technique through iteration. Group discussions and informal critiques will support this process, encouraging shared learning and exchange. This workshop is best suited for those with prior clay experience, as participants will bring pre-made bisque-fired work to focus fully on firing and surface exploration. By the end of the session, participants will have completed a diverse body of fired pieces, developed practical knowledge of multiple alternative firing methods, and gained the confidence to continue these processes in their own studios. REGISTER HERE ABOUT Vicente Garcia Vicente Garcia is a Connecticut-based ceramic artist and educator with over four decades of experience specializing in raku, alternative firing techniques, and steel fabrication. Working from his studio in Simsbury, he creates both functional and sculptural work that merges the plasticity of clay with the structural precision of steel. Garcia earned a BFA in Ceramics and Sculpture from University of Texas–Pan American and a master’s degree from University of North Texas. He recently retired as a professor from Central Connecticut State University, where he taught all levels of ceramics from 1997 to 2026, shaping generations of students through both technical instruction and experimental approaches to the medium. His work is widely recognized fo...
