How to start making pottery: A guide for beginners
Pottery is a timeless craft that has captivated humans for centuries. Whether seeking a creative outlet, a new hobby, or a potential business venture, pottery offers a unique and fulfilling experience. This guide will help you understand how to start pottery making, providing you with the essential steps and tips to get you started on your pottery journey.
Why pottery?
Before diving into the practical steps of starting pottery, it's essential to understand the benefits of this craft. Pottery is not just about creating beautiful objects; it's a therapeutic activity that promotes mindfulness and relaxation. Shaping clay with your hands can be incredibly meditative, helping reduce stress and improve mental well-being. Additionally, pottery allows for endless creativity and personal expression, making it a rewarding endeavour for individuals of all ages.
Learning at home vs. in a class
Choosing between learning pottery at home or through a pottery class depends on your preferences, goals, and resources. Here’s a brief comparison of both approaches.
Learning pottery at Home
Advantages:
Flexibility: Practice anytime that suits your schedule.
Cost-Effective: Save on ongoing class fees after initial equipment investment.
Personal Pace: Learn at your speed without pressure.
Comfort: Work in a familiar and comfortable environment.
Challenges:
Lack of Immediate Feedback: Progress may be slower without expert guidance.
Resource Limitations: Limited access to equipment like kilns and pottery wheels.
Self-motivation: Requires strong discipline and motivation.
Learning pottery in a class or course
Advantages:
Expert Guidance: Immediate feedback and tips from instructors.
Access to Equipment: Use pottery wheels, kilns, and other tools.
Structured Learning: Follow a comprehensive curriculum.
Community: Meet and learn with fellow pottery enthusiasts.
Accountability: Regular classes help maintain commitment.
Challenges:
Cost: Classes can be expensive.
Fixed Schedule: Must adhere to class times.
If you’re weighing the pros and cons of taking a class or a full course, why not take a taster class instead?
Essential tools and materials
The first step in how to get started in pottery is gathering the necessary tools and materials. Here’s a list of essential items you'll need:
Clay is the foundation of all pottery. There are various types of clay, such as earthenware, stoneware, and porcelain. Earthenware is a good starting point for beginners due to its flexibility and lower firing temperatures. If you don’t have access to a kiln, consider starting with air-dry clay. This will allow you to start learning handbuilding techniques, but your pieces will only be decorative, not food safe. We recommend the book “Make it with Air-Dry Clay” by Fay de Winter
Pottery Wheel: While not essential for all pottery projects, a wheel is crucial for creating symmetrical pieces like bowls and vases. For those on a budget, consider starting with hand-building techniques before investing in a wheel.
Kiln: A kiln is required to fire your pottery and make it durable. If you don’t have access to a kiln, look for local studios that offer firing services.
Basic Tools: These include items like a wire cutter, sponge, ribs, and wooden modelling tools. They will help you shape and refine your pottery pieces.
Glazes and Brushes: Glazing your pottery adds colour and a protective coating. You'll need a variety of brushes to apply the glaze evenly.
Preparing your space
Creating an efficient and safe workspace is essential for pottery making at home. Here’s a quick guide:
Choose the right location
Select a spacious area like a dedicated room, garage, or basement to set up your pottery workspace. Ensure the area has good ventilation, especially if you plan to work with glazes, as proper airflow is crucial for safety. Adequate lighting is also essential; natural light is ideal, but bright, adjustable lighting will suffice if that’s not possible.
Organise your tools and materials
Organising your tools and materials is critical to a functional workspace. Store your tools, clay, and glazes on shelves, bins, or cabinets, and label everything for easy access. A pegboard or container can keep tools like sponges, ribs, and brushes within reach. Store your clay in airtight containers or plastic bags to keep it moist and workable.
Set up your work area
Choose a sturdy table at a comfortable height for your work area. If you’re using a pottery wheel, place it on a stable, level surface with enough space around it for easy movement. Keep a bucket of water and a sponge nearby to clean your hands and tools. Designate a specific area with shelves or racks for drying your pottery pieces undisturbed.
Prepare for clean-up
Having the proper clean-up tools is essential for maintaining a tidy workspace. Keep sponges and old towels ready to clean up clay and glaze spills. Since clay dust can be harmful if inhaled, regularly clean your workspace with a damp sponge or mop to minimise dust, avoiding dry sweeping.
Getting started: Basic techniques
Once you have your materials, it’s time to learn some basic pottery techniques. Understanding these techniques will form the foundation of your pottery skills.
Hand-building
Hand-building is the most accessible method for beginners. It involves shaping clay without a pottery wheel, using techniques like pinching, coiling, and slab building.
Pinching: Start with a ball of clay and use your thumb to press into the centre, then pinch the sides while rotating the clay to form a bowl shape. From here, add decorations or carvings to finish your piece
Coiling: Roll out long, snake-like clay coils and stack them to build up walls for pots or vases. Merge them together with your fingers or a wooden tool for a smooth finish.
Slab Building: Roll out flat slabs of clay with a rolling pin and cut them into shapes to assemble structures like boxes or plates.
Wheel throwing
If you have access to a pottery wheel, wheel throwing is a fundamental skill to master. This technique involves centring a ball of clay on the wheel and shaping it as it spins.
Centring: This is getting your clay perfectly centred on the wheel, which is crucial for even shaping.
Opening the base: use your fingers to make a hole in the middle of your clay and form a flat base at the bottom.
Pulling Up the Walls: use your fingers to pull the clay upwards into a cylinder, forming the walls of your piece.
Shaping and Trimming: After pulling the walls, shape the piece with your hands or tools, then trim any excess clay from the base.
Our tips for success: From the team
Our amazing pottery course team, each with their own experience and background, have given some of their top tips for learning pottery from the ground up:
Meli: Be patient! Pottery is meant to be fun, don’t get frustrated if you didn’t make a masterpiece your first time touching clay, it takes time!
Brandon Find inspiration in books, online, or real life. Keep a little notebook with all the things you would like to try, and take notes any time you make something you like.
Adrian: There’s tons of resources online, which can be very helpful but also overwhelming. Take it step by step and focus on individual projects.
Ben: Be mindful. Pottery can be a very meditative practise, and getting your hands dirty has many benefits.
Joining a taster or beginner Class
One of the best ways to immerse yourself in pottery is by joining a taster or beginner class. These classes are designed to introduce you to the basics of pottery making in a supportive and structured environment. Here’s why you should consider enrolling in one and what you can expect.
Hands-On Learning: While books and videos can be helpful, things are different from the hands-on learning experience. In a class, you'll get the opportunity to work with clay under the guidance of an experienced instructor.
Immediate Feedback: Instructors can provide immediate feedback on your technique, helping you improve quickly. They can identify and correct mistakes that you might overlook on your own.
Access to Equipment: Pottery equipment can be expensive. A class provides access to pottery wheels, kilns, and other essential tools, allowing you to try the craft without a significant investment.
Community: Joining a class connects you with other beginners. This can be a great way to make new friends who share your interest in pottery. The camaraderie and support of a group can be very motivating.
Structured Learning: Beginner classes often follow a structured curriculum that covers essential techniques and knowledge. This ensures you build a solid foundation and don’t miss out on crucial aspects of pottery making.
Final thoughts
Pottery is a journey that combines creativity, skill, and patience. By following this guide on how to start pottery making, you’re well on your way to creating beautiful, functional pieces. Remember, enjoying the process and embracing the learning curve is key. Your pottery skills will flourish with time and practice, and you'll find great satisfaction in this ancient craft.