Look for Us at NCECA

Tom and Brenda are heading to Pittsburgh this March to see all the happenings at NCECA and to promote the May 17 & 18th


"Large & Loose, Polished & Poetic" Workshop - an exploration of how to both double the amount of clay you throw overnight - and learn the secrets and mysticism of saggar firing.

Many of you may know Tom's work and visited his website, but many more will hear about him in the April issue of The Crafts Report, where he will be on the front cover with his ceramic tiles.



Tom was featured in the July/August, 2007 issue of Pottery Making Illustrated talking about rakuing his large platters. In April, 2008 he talks about his tile process and is featured on the cover of The Crafts Report.


Brenda is proud to announce 3 of her "Fire Paintings" on a tile canvas were published in the new 500 Tiles book, published by Lark Publishing.



The book is now in bookstores and ceramic supply stores nationwide. If you like tiles - it's a must get book, very inspiring. Look in the index for Brenda's saggar fired tile work.

We'll have postcards at NCECA promoting the workshop - and we're offering another workshop at our Port Washington, Ohio studio October, 25 & 26th, 2008 - a great time of year in the hills of Tuscarawas County.

So let your friends know and go to either of our websites to sign up. We look forward to seeing you there!
Brenda & Tom

LARGE & L O O S E... Polished & Poetic

May 17 - 18th, 2008....
Saturday & Sunday...

It's a 2-day THROWING DEMONSTRATION and FIRING INTENSIVE workshop in eastern Ohio.

Join Tom Radca & Brenda McMahon for this Spring Workshop at their 36-acre studio and art farm in Port Washington, Ohio.



During this workshop you will learn how to increase the amount of clay you throw and learn to loosen up in that process. You will also get a comprehensive overview of saggar firing, the philosopy and how to build a saggar kiln. Your bisque fired pots will be saggar fired at the farm, so you'll see the results the next day!



LARGE & L O O S E: Tom will teach participants how to double the amount of clay you currently throw and how to throw it with fluidity. Tom regularly makes 36" diameter platters like this one.



But you don't have to have that kind of skill to learn how to Throw Large & Loose. If you can throw 4 lbs comfortably, learn to throw 8 lbs overnight. If you can throw 8 lbs comfortably, you're ready to jump up to 16 lbs and on like that. It's fast and easy. You'll be amazed.



Polished & Poetic: Brenda has been making saggar fired pots for 15 years and teaches saggar workshops across the country. In the saggar section of the workshop you will learn the philosphy, ideas and conception behind saggar firing. How these dynamic blushes occur on the pots without the use of any glazes - it's a contemporary smoke fire process.



Saggar firing is not raku. Brenda describes it as a contemporary pit-firing because it is more rooted in primitive firing techniques than in Korean or Japanese raku firing. It is different in several ways. The most obvious is the color palette - soft blushes of color on saggar pots are achieved through a smoking & fuming process. There is no glaze, but minerals are used to encourage the fume.



Bring your pots to this workshop - 1 to 3 of them - and you'll learn how to use natural materials, mineral salts and fire to get magical flashes on your pots.

You don't have to burnish the pieces, but if you do, the finish is that much more enticing.



Brenda and Tom are eager to share their knowledge of clay and fire with all participants. For more information on Brenda or Tom's work - go to http://www.tomradca.com or http://www.bluemoonclay.com.