If you’re planning to get into pottery, deciding how and where to start can be difficult to pinpoint. This is especially true for people who have absolutely no background in the craft.
Luckily, we’re here to make the process a bit easier for you.
Whether you plan to recreate that scene with Patrick Swayze in ‘Ghost’ or you’re simply trying to find a new hobby, this ultimate beginner’s guide that we’ve prepared will teach you how to get started in pottery, so you can begin making yourself (or your loved ones) some charming clay pieces!
Choosing a Pottery Technique
First thing you need to figure out as a beginner is the type of pottery method you want to use in practice.
There are several methods of producing pottery. And while most potters use a combination of these methods, for beginners, it’s much safer and more productive if they stick with just one technique.
(You can always branch out later, once you’re more familiar with the craft.)
There are three (3) basic pottery techniques you can choose from:
- Using a pottery wheel a.k.a. wheel throwing
- Hand-building
- and Slip casting
Advantages of Using a Pottery Wheel
Many potters prefer the pottery wheel compared to other techniques because it offers a much easier and convenient experience. A couple of advantages of using a pottery wheel include improved evenness and increased production speed.
The Speedball Artista Potter’s Wheel is one of the most recommended potters’ wheels for beginners. It’s easy to store, affordable, and is simple to operate — even for the most inexperienced operator.
Advantages of Hand-Building
As you may have gathered from its name, hand-building is simply creating pottery using only, well, your hands.
It’s trickier than the first technique we mentioned; it’s much harder to get the evenness on your work right with just your hands.
But it’s a great alternative method for those who are only testing pottery out to see if they enjoy it.
You don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars from the get-go, only to discover that you don’t like pottery after all.
Besides your hands, you may also need some pottery tools to start making your projects.
Things like fettling knives, wooden modeling tools, and calipers are just some of the things you’ll want to look into.
Advantages of Slip Casting
Slip casting is one of the simplest pottery techniques because it involves the least effort from the potter. You simply pour the slip — a smooth mixture of water and clay — into a cast and voila! You have yourself an evenly-shaped pot.
Slip casting is great if you want to make multiple versions of the same piece.
Potters have a choice of making their own cast or buying one online. For beginners, it may be best to start with a pre-made cast before creating one from scratch.
Choosing the Right Clay and Tools
Once you’ve made up your mind about the technique that you’ll be using, you can move on to find the best clay and tools to practice with.
The tools you buy will depend on the type of clay you plan to use. So, before making any final decision about tools, you must find out what type of clay will suit you best.
What should I look for when choosing clay?
There are a variety of clay types that can be used in making different clay bodies or specific compositions of clay.
Clay Bodies
Clay bodies are further categorized into three sections: Earthenware, Stoneware, and Porcelain.
Earthenware is great for throwing and hand-building because it’s much easier to manipulate and shape. We recommend the Amaco 45015Y Moist Earthenware Modeling Clay.
It’s great for wheel throwing and comes at quite an affordable price.
However, if you’re a beginner, stoneware is a great place to start when you’re using a pottery wheel. For this, we recommend the AMACO High Fire Moist Non-Toxic Stoneware Clay.
Porcelain is great for more experienced potters who are looking for a little challenge on the wheel. If you fall under this category, you might want to check out the Sculpey Air-Dry Porcelain Clay. It’s affordable, non-toxic, and versatile in its uses.
Texture
After clay bodies, you need to consider the clay texture. This will, in turn, depend on the pottery technique you’ll be using.
If you’re using a pottery wheel, you may want to choose a smooth stoneware clay that has enough texture but doesn’t hurt your hands, even after hours of work.
If you’re hand-building, you want your clay to have a good amount of grog and sand, so it can stand on its own while you continue to work.
Firing temperature
Firing temperatures are another thing that beginners should consider when looking for pottery clay. Most clays are rated by “cone,” which is what potters use to measure heat work.
What tools/equipment do I need to get started?
Tons of online stores sell beginner pottery kits that contain the basic tools potters need to get started. One product that comes highly recommended is the Genround 45pcs Clay Sculpting Tools Set by Genround.
It contains a variety of high-quality tools that can help you with your clay and/or ceramic projects. Plus, it’s lightweight and comfortable to hold, so your hands and fingers don’t get exhausted while at work.
Lastly, it comes at quite an affordable price range, around $25 to $35, depending on where you buy from.
Some other basic tools that you may need include:
- An apron and some towels
- Buckets
- One small pail, to hold slurry or water during work
- Two to three large pails to hold cleanup water
- Sponges to carry/apply water to the clay
- A soft, large brush
- A wooden trimming tool
- A potter’s needle
- A cut-off wire
- A small box or case to keep tools
Choosing a Pottery Class
Now that you’ve settled for a technique, figured out what clay you want to use, and have the tools/equipment to get started, it’s time to find a class.
Joining a class is great for beginners because it gives you a guide to follow, instead of having to work blindly. While there’s nothing completely wrong with experimenting, it would be better to have a solid foundation to build upon at the start.
Learning from a teacher can help you understand and use the different pottery techniques more effectively. Furthermore, it can help you avoid learning bad habits that would be hard to unlearn later.
Teachers can also be a great source of motivation and encouragement — two things every beginner may need.
Check your local college or art studios for classes and offers. You may also check online on sites like YouTube or Skillshare.
Facebook also has groups and forums you can join, such as the Hobby Potter Life.
Whichever platform feels more comfortable to you should be the one you choose.
The Total Cost of Starting a Pottery Practice
You can begin making pottery with just clay and your hands — that would bring your cost to around $30 to $40. Plus tools that may also range between $25 to $35, which brings your total costs to as little as $55 to $75.
So, it doesn’t take a lot to start practicing pottery.
The only time things can get expensive is when you buy heavy-duty equipment, such as a pottery wheel, which may cost you around $200 to $1000 — depending on the model, functionalities, and manufacturer of the wheel you buy.
Final Thoughts
While getting started in pottery can feel intimidating or overwhelming, with practice and patience, you’ll find yourself making pottery like a master in no time! Use the above guide to help you through the beginning stages.
Once you get the hang of the basics, you can start breaking away and exploring other regions of the craft.
Good luck!