Workshop Registration for the Art of Wood Firing to open Monday August 31st at 7pm
Art of Wood Firing: Flame, Form & Surface: Workshop led by Yuki Watanabe at Ruby’s Clay Studio and Gallery at Spring Valley Anagama
Art of Wood Firing: Flame, Form & Surface: Workshop led by Yuki Watanabe at Ruby’s Clay Studio and Gallery at Spring Valley Anagama
Art of Wood Firing: Flame, Form & Surface
Workshop led by Yuki Watanabe at Ruby’s Clay Studio and Gallery at Spring Valley Anagama
Join us for an exploration of wood firing, where form and surface come together through the interaction of flame, wood ash, soda, and atmosphere to create one-of-a-kind surfaces.
Registration: opens on August 31, 2026 at 7pm.
Fee: $325*
Registration button at the bottom of this page!
Cancellation policy: Due to the planning and workload requirements for wood firing, participant drop out is highly discouraged and could result in the cancellation of the entire workshop. To request cancellation, email workshop@rubysclaystudio.org with the reason for cancellation. A partial refund of $150 may be given only if a replacement participant is found before the first session on 10/4/26.
Important — Full Attendance Required: This workshop requires attendance at all scheduled dates and locations, including the sessions at the Milpitas kiln site. Please register only if you are able to attend every session.
Limit: 15 participants. Open only to current Ruby’s community members.
*This event is offered at a reduced rate thanks to a generous donation to Ruby’s to enrich our workshop programming. Additionally, two spots are offered at a reduced rate of 50% off. Contact the Workshop Committee before Friday, 8/28/26 at 7pm by emailing workshop@rubysclaystudio.org to request a coupon code; first-come, first-served. Honor code applies.
Workshop Details: Participants will explore forms, slips, and clays that work best in atmospheric firing. They will learn about kiln design, loading and firing strategies, soda introduction, and techniques for developing complex atmospheric surfaces; and examine how form and placement influence the final results. Wood firing is a community effort, so participants are expected to commit to all steps in the process -- firing preparation, loading, stoking, and cleanup.
The workshop takes place over six learning days. Participants must participate in all sessions. The workshop fee includes:
Two instructor-led sessions held at Ruby’s
Four on-site learning days at the kiln in Milpitas, CA, ~53 miles south of SF and ~1 hr 15 min drive depending on traffic
2 cubic feet of firing space per person, approximately
2 shelves 12” deep x 24”wide x 6” average height. More details will be provided to participants.
Day 1, 10/4/26, 9am - 12pm, @Ruby’s: Lecture, demonstrations, and discussions on wood firing basics, clay choice, forms, and placement in the kiln. This lecture will inform participants’ choices of the work that they will make for the firing in January.
Day 2, 1/9/27, 10am - 2 pm, @Milpitas: Kiln tour and work day to prepare wood and site
Day 3, 1/10/27, 9am - 1 pm, @Ruby’s: Slip and glaze instruction and work session
Day 4, 1/15/27, 9am - 6pm, @Milpitas: Wad pieces, load kiln and seal door
Day 5, 1/16/27 12pm to 1/17 12pm, @Milpitas: Fire kiln. Sign up for one 6-hour firing shift
Day 6, 1/23/27, 9am - 3pm, @Milpitas: Open and unload kiln, review and discuss results. Clean shelves, kiln, and site. Stack wood. Please bring N95 mask or respirator. Celebrate with a potluck!
The workshop does not include clay or bisque firing, nor is there time allotted to work with wet clay during the workshop. Participants should make their pieces and arrange to bisque-fire their work independently. They are expected to bring their bisqued pieces to the slip and glaze work session on Day 3.
Water will be provided. Participants should bring their own snacks. On the long days at the kiln site (Days 4, 5, and 6) please bring food to share.
Artist Bio: Yuki Watanabe is a ceramicist and educator in the Bay Area. She is passionate about atmospheric firing (wood and soda) for its collaborative process with the kiln and the interaction of fire, clay, ash, and soda. Her work honors the place she resides, bringing out the history and beauty of the geology, creating a way for viewers and users to connect with the environment. She strives to stop the users'/viewers' time to experience inner tranquility and transcendence through light, shadow, texture, pigments, and flame licks in the clay art form.
Questions? Email workshop@rubysclaystudio.org
The studio reserves the right to cancel the workshop if there are not enough registrations, in which case refunds will be issued.
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