Starting a home ceramic studio - things to think about

First off I want to say that if you're looking to just get into ceramics I suggest looking at my other blog called “What should I do if I want to get into pottery?” I would not suggest purchasing pottery equipment right off the bat. Learn from an instructor or teacher and explore ceramics in a studio setting before creating your own at home. 

That being said, if you've done pottery for a while and know you love it I’d first look into getting a wheel, wedging table (sturdy table will do), and tools can be a great start. Your studio doesn't have to have everything. There’s a lot of equipment that goes into pottery and you could easily spend a ton of money thinking you need all these tools. For example a slab roller is not needed for a hobbyist and I would not suggest such a purchase unless you create with slabs so much that the purchase makes sense. A roller and some dowels work perfectly fine. Another example is a kiln. You can outsource your firings using kilnshare.com. A great platform where individual artists or studios rent out their kiln to others.

The purchase has to make sense for the amount you create. 

I think this sentence is key when thinking about your home studio. I get the question “Should I buy a small electric kiln?” or “I’m thinking of buying a small electric kiln. What is your opinion?” 

And the lovely answer everyone loves ohhhh so much is … Well it depends. Does the purchase make sense for the amount you create? A small kiln can be great, but you are limited to the size. Outsourcing your firings will eliminate the size restriction of your pieces. Not to mention you can have the beauty of a larger kiln without the task of electrical wiring, electricity bill, paying for maintenance, buying new elements/thermocouples, and learning how to fire the kiln. There's a lot more to owning a kiln than just running it. 

I'm coming from a place that sees people wanting to create and I think eliminating some parts of the process can help you create more. I think a lot of people think the next step is buying a kiln and I want to just say you don't have to if you don't want to. Not worrying about firings and other maintenance can allow you to focus on creating and not learning another task. There's a lot to learn when owning and maintaining a kiln and I just don't think it's a purchase of a lot of hobbyists. 

Let's talk about mess and more importantly safety. 

I was once sent a photo of a wheel that was in a living room on carpet. When I saw this photo I was a little mortified. I believe that pottery should not be set up in such a space because ceramic dust, specifically the silica in the dust is harmful to inhale. Carpet is really great at keeping all the ceramic dust and stepping on it can push up the silica into the air. One could argue that they clean the space every time, but I will stand firm in that creating with clay should have a separate space from your living quarters. Even if your studio is not on carpet. That is just my professional opinion. 

Getting into the zone… the creative zone.

Driving, walking, commuting to a studio can be great for someone that has a busy homelife. I remember talking to a mom that was explaining that ever since she has created her studio in her garage it has been a hassle getting away from the kids. Traveling to create a separate space from home, work, a studio where life stays at the door is a blessing. When I used to teach at a local studio I always pushed students to silence their phone and be present as this is their time to create. When you're done all you need to do is clean your station, pack up your piece and travel home. No maintenance or stress to deep clean and mop. Leaving all that for the studio staff. How I wish that would be me!

All in all, if you're looking to create a home studio, start small. Get what you need and expand from there. It's okay to not purchase or wait on that large item. You might find you're doing just fine and not even need it. 

Have any questions or comments? Leave them in the comment section of this blog!

Best,

Isa