Exploring the Art of Pit Firing
Date, time and location:
Session 1: Sunday, Sep 28 2025, 2-5 pm, Feldspar Ceramics, 1390 Gerrard St East
Session 2: Sunday, Oct 5 2025, 2-5 pm, Feldspar Ceramics, 1390 Gerrard St East
Session 3: Sunday, Oct 19 2025, 9 am-8 pm, Off-site: Campbellville (Milton), Ontario*
Session 4: Sunday, Oct 26 2025, 2-4 pm, Feldspar Ceramics, 1390 Gerrard St East*
* Rain date: in the case of inclement weather on the pit firing day, the last two sessions will be rescheduled to:
Session 3: Sunday, Oct 26 2025, 9 am-8 pm, Off-site: Campbellville (Milton), Ontario
Session 4: Sunday, Nov 2 2025, 2-4 pm, Feldspar Ceramics, 1390 Gerrard St East
This workshop is catered to intermediate and advanced potters with prior wheel-throwing and/or handbuilding experience.
About the workshop
This multi-day workshop invites participants to explore the elemental process of pit firing – an ancient ceramic technique that transforms clay using fire, smoke, and burning organic materials. Pit firing is the oldest known method for firing pottery, yet contemporary pit firing techniques often yield vibrant, earthy and exciting designs on unglazed clay.
Participants will handbuild or throw ceramic forms, experiment with surface treatments and collectively fire their work in an outdoor fire pit located in Campbellville, Ontario.
Sessions 1, 2, and 4 will take place at Feldspar Ceramics (1390 Gerrard St E) and session 3 will take place in Campbellville (Milton) Ontario.
Schedule:
Session 1 - Introduction and making: workshop overview and discussion of the building and firing process, wheelthrowing or handbuilding pieces.
Session 2 - Surface treatment: exploring methods to prepare work for pit-firing, including terra sigillata and burnishing techniques, the use of oxides and carbonates, natural materials, and wire to impart colour, and foil saggars.
Session 3 - Firing: Starting at 9 am at the off-site location in Campbellville.
Instructors will discuss how to prep and pack pieces into the pit, and participants will experience packing and lighting the pit fire as a group.
Health and safety around pit firing will also be highlighted.
There will be rotating shifts to monitor the fire. Lunch and dinner will be potluck style.
Session 4 Finishing: post-firing finishing including buffing and waxing pieces. Take home your unique pieces from the workshop!
About the instructors
Daria Khosravi is a multidisciplinary artist based in Toronto, Ontario. She holds a BFA in Drawing and Painting from OCAD University and a Bachelor of Arts and Science in Biology and Anthropology from the University of Guelph. Her current practice focuses on ceramics, exploring both the expressive properties and inherent limitations of clay as a material. Since her time at OCAD, Daria has been experimenting with pit firing, an unpredictable and elemental technique that connects her work to fire, ritual, and natural cycles.
Zach Anderson is a ceramic artist, teacher and technician based in Toronto, Ontario, and the co-owner of Feldspar Ceramics. Drawing on his background in political ecology and environmental conservation, Zach’s ceramic work incorporates sculptural and gestural elements inspired by the flows and topographies of the natural world into traditional forms and functional objects, while exploring a range of ceramic materials and processes. Zach is passionate about the history, cultural meanings and rituals associated with ceramic traditions around the world, and is excited to discuss these topics with workshop participants while introducing them to this alternative firing technique.
A few things to note:
Studio sessions:
- A block of clay (8 lbs), firing and finishing material are included in the registration fee.
- Additional clay can be purchased from us at the studio.
- We recommend wearing comfortable clothing and shoes that you don't mind getting clay on.
- Aprons are not provided.
- Workshops are non-refundable.
- There are no partial refunds for missed workshops.
- If registration doesn't reach the minimum number of attendees, we reserve the right to reschedule the workshop.
Off-site firing day:
- Participants are responsible for arranging their own transportation however we will do our best to help with carpooling. There will be no further liability regarding travel costs on part of Fedspar Ceramics.
- Participants are asked to contribute to the potluck lunch and dinner.
- There will be rotating shifts to monitor the fire pit.
- We will be outdoors and exposed to the elements so please dress accordingly. Please bring a woollen hat or scarf to protect your hair from the heat. Wear loose, natural fibre clothing.
- Gloves and goggles will be supplied when unpacking the pots.
- If there are strong winds and/or heavy rain, the workshop will be cancelled for safety & practical reasons. The workshop will be rescheduled to the rain date noted in the main description above.
- Breakages are inevitable due to temperature gradients and nature of this type of firing.