Skill Building Workshop: Soda Firing w/Nathan Stanfield

Skill Building Workshop: Soda Firing w/Nathan Stanfield

June 14, 15 and June 21, 2025

Day 1: Saturday, June 14 - Glazing, Wadding, Loading

9 AM - 5 PM

We will begin the first day with a brief explanation of the effects of soda firing, a show and tell of Nathan's work, and a demonstration of how to prepare your work for the firing. We will then begin glazing, decorating, and applying flashing slips to the work using the spray booth and other methods of application. After lunch we will start wadding our pots and getting them in the kiln. We will end the day by beginning to candle the kiln.

** This class is open to more students that previous workshops. Each student is can bring up to 8 pieces of CONE 10 bisque ware for the kiln, each piece no larger than 9" in any direction, and pieces in varying sizes up to the max height is recommended. Cone 10 white stoneware or porcelain is recommended. **

Day 2: Sunday, June 15 - Firing!

9 AM - 5 PM

On this day we will arrive around 9am and converge around the warm kiln (bring coffee). After we check on the kiln and make a few adjustments to get the temperature rising and evening out we will discuss what to look for and how to get the kiln to do what we want. While the kiln is climbing in temperature we can break for lunch and afterwards Nathan can do throwing demonstrations between checking temperatures on the kiln. When the kiln has reached temperature, we will spray soda as a group. An organic vapor respirator is recommended for this. Once spraying is done we will shut the kiln down and will wait to unload the following Saturday.

Day 3: Saturday, June 21 - The Big Reveal

10 AM - 2 PM

Participants will return to open and unload the kiln. We will discuss our results and clean the kiln as a group. Nathan will also give a quick demonstration on how they go about cleaning up any stuck wadding or potential glaze drips.

Pictured above: Recent soda fired pot with flashing slip made by Nathan and fired in early April 2025.

About your Instructor:

Nathan Stanfield is from Oceanside, CA and began working in clay in 2010 during his time at Mira Costa College, where he earned an AA in Printmaking. He earned his BA in Sculpture from San Diego State University in 2014 before relocating to Los Angeles, CA. He has worked in collaboration with various designers and artists across Los Angeles while producing his own work in the studio. In 2019 Nathan began working with AMOCA in Pomona, CA; he continues to sell and exhibit work across the US of A.