A RAKU IMMERSION IN SICILY 19–20 September | Savoca
Earth Air Water Fire
Can you imagine learning the ancient firing technique of Raku in the shadow of an active volcano?
Set in the historic hilltop village of Savoca, Sicily, overlooking Mount Etna, this two-day intensive Raku course offers a fully hands-on introduction to the complete Raku process within a focused and immersive environment.
Led by Raku artist Salvo Moschella and ceramicist and educator Elizabeth Evans, the course combines professional instruction with direct material experience, allowing participants to engage with each stage of the process in depth. This is a practical, structured course designed to provide both technical understanding and the ability to confidently repeat the process independently.
COURSE APPROACH Raku is a process-based ceramic technique shaped by fire, timing, and atmospheric conditions. Rather than observing demonstrations, participants work directly through each stage—forming, glazing, firing, and reduction. The emphasis is on learning through hands-on experience, supported by clear, expert guidance. By the end of the course, you will have a grounded understanding of the full Raku workflow and how to reproduce it in your own practice.
LEARNING FROM TWO APPROACHES The course offers insight into Raku across different scales and methodologies. Elizabeth Evans will guide you through small-scale Raku and jewellery-making processes, focusing on amulets and intimate forms. Her teaching emphasises precision, sensitivity to material, and accessible firing methods that can be adapted for home or studio use. Salvo Moschella will lead the large-scale gas kiln firings, sharing his expertise in traditional Raku practice, including control of heat, timing, and reduction at a professional level. Together, this dual approach provides a comprehensive and balanced understanding of Raku, from small, personal objects to larger firing systems. Participants actively engage in both methods.
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN Across two days, you will be guided through the full Raku cycle: – hand-building forms. – understanding structure, thickness, and drying stages – glazing and surface development – live firing and reduction processes – observation of crackle (craquelé), carbonisation, and metallic effects Firing methods include: • Electric kiln • Small-scale adaptable systems • Gas kiln (large-scale Raku firing) The focus is on building practical knowledge, confidence, and repeatable skills.
PROGRAMME Day 1 — Making & Process Introduction to Raku principles and material behaviour Hands-on hand-building session Creation of vessels, small sculptural forms, and amulets Preparation for firing Day 2 — Fire & Transformation Glaze application and surface preparation Traditional Raku firing (gas kiln and small-scale methods) Reduction and atmospheric transformation Review and understanding of results
SETTING The course takes place in Savoca, a preserved medieval village defined by stone architecture, quiet atmosphere, and expansive views. Participants are accommodated in a local B&B, creating a close connection between living and working spaces.
Mount Etna remains visible throughout—an active volcanic presence that reflects the same forces explored in the firing process.
ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE: Beyond The Studio. To complement the studio work, the programme includes: – shared Sicilian meals – local wine tasting – guided walk through the historic village These elements support reflection, exchange, and immersion in place. This is a fully immersive environment. You will stay in a B&B in Savoca, a quiet medieval village of stone, silence, and panoramic views. The experience includes: – Sicilian cuisine in a shared setting – Wine tasting in the evening light – A guided walk through Savoca’s historic streets
Etna remains present throughout the experience—sometimes still, sometimes active. A living geological system that mirrors the unpredictability and the elemental forces of the raku firings.
OUTCOME Participants will leave with: – a series of personally made and Raku-fired works, including amulets – a clear understanding of the full Raku process – the ability to repeat techniques independently at home or in studio – confidence in working safely.
FEE €360 total Includes: 16 hours of expert instruction All materials and firings for selected works Small group format (maximum 6 participants) Cultural programme elements, wine and walks.
Early booking is recommended due to the unique nature of this course.
This course is built on direct experience— learning through making, firing, and understanding process.
You do not control fire. You learn how to work with it. You witness the Alchemy And you leave with work that carries the trace of a place, a process, and a moment that cannot be repeated.
