Sigillatas & Raku Kilns with Anas Rifi-Zinati

This course is designed for ceramicists and artists with prior ceramics experience who are fascinated by the timeless beauty of terra sigillata surfaces and want to explore both the practice and the theory behind it.

You will learn to:

• Make your own terra sigillata slip from scratch
• Understand and control the burnishing and application process for smooth, satin-like finishes
• Master a variety of decoration techniques using sigillata, pigments, minerals, and found materials to create unpredictable surface effects
• Build and use a simple, DIY gas kiln suitable for smoke effects, naked raku, and related firing methods
• Experiment with firing strategies to produce subtle color shifts, carbon markings, reduction and sulfate reactions

This is a rare opportunity to deeply engage with the tradition and experimentation of low-fire, smoke-reactive ceramics in a focused, hands-on environment, far from daily distractions. The immersive setting supports both technical learning and personal aesthetic exploration.

5 days are a very short time to create, decorate and fire your pieces. You will get a chance to make a few small pieces if you wish, however we will prepare a set of greenware pieces for you to decorate during the course. Each student will receive approximately: 7 small tumblers (approx. 12 cm high) and 4 round vases (approx. 15 cm high).

Since sigillata must be applied un leather hard greenware, we do not encourage you to bring your own pieces - unless you are confident you can transport leather-dry pieces without breaking them.

Your Teacher

Anas Rifi-Zinati is a ceramic designer based in Barcelona. After studying interior and industrial design at Escola Massana, he opened his own studio, Espai Alfar, where he produces his own work as well as developing project for other designers. He is also a regular teacher at renowned Barcelona school El Torn.

Anas’s work profile ranges from conceptual through to product design and his specialty is in large format throwing and slip mould production. Anas draws inspiration from his great grandmother who was a potter from the arid Mountains in Northern Africa. His work follow a philosophy based on responsible production, an enriching process and collaborations with other designers and artists.

Discover the territory/ Discover Sicily

During this week, you won’t just get a ceramics course. We’ve also organised a program of activity so that you can connect with Sicilian culture, get to know beautiful Salemi and its rich history and territory.

You will:

• Eat breakfast like the locals do in our favourite local bars
• Enjoy meals in a variety of authentic, local Sicilian restaurants / home-restaurants
• Seasonal cultural excursions

Arrival and Departure

We ask that you plan your arrival for Sunday. We have an included pick-up from either Palermo Centre (in front of Hotel Politeama) at 11:30 or Palermo Airport at 12:30. On Sunday afternoon (circa 16:30, subject to change), you will be welcomed to Salemi by one of our team members, who will take you on an orientation walk of the historical centre. This will be followed by a welcome apericena (light dinner) with a Salemi Spritz at one of our favourite local restaurants.

We will bid you farewell at the end of your time in Salemi with an included transfer to either Palermo Airport or Palermo Centre (Piazza Politeama), departing Salemi at 07:00 on Saturday morning.

**For pick-ups and drop-offs outside of these times and locations, please contact us for a transfer quote.