What should I do if I want to get into pottery?

I get this question a lot. What should I do, what should I buy, where should I start? The answer can go down many avenues, but this is mine. 

Like anything else I believe you should see if you enjoy the craft before diving head first.  Pottery can require a lot of expensive machinery and tools like wheels, kilns, slab roller, and hand tools. I know the idea of having your own home studio sounds lush, but it is not a must and I think for the majority of people local studios are the best option. 

Where I would look first!

It is nice to get hands on help as a complete beginner and If you can carve out time and commit to the course I would look into you Local Community College (CC). They are usually longer courses as they commonly go by quarters in the college system. I highly recommend these classes as the professors are artists themselves and love teaching. A great teacher can help you succeed and make learning pottery easy and fun. Their facilities are highly staffed with ceramicists that know what they are doing and a studio space that reflects that. The atmosphere can be very inspiring and full of creativity. 

As Pottery has grown in popularity it can be hard to grab a seat in these courses. Be sure you are capable of making the course schedule and apply on time!

Important note: If you cannot commit to the time please do not sign up for college courses as you are taking a spot away from someone else that can commit to the course schedule. Be kind and leave it for another soul :)

If you can’t commit to the time and length of a college course I suggest looking into your local ceramic studios. A simple “ceramic studios near me” search can help you find studios in your area. 

What course should I do at my local studio?

Important note: I do not recommend beginners to take drop-in courses that are not led by an instructor. You can hurt yourself or damage machinery/tools if you do not know how to properly work them. 

Some studios have drop-in courses that are guided by instructors. These can be great if you have a busy schedule and can’t commit to a specific class time each week. I worked at a studio that provided 4 classes a month and you can drop in at a time slot that worked for you. I would guide students through their projects and if they didn't have ideas or wanted to learn something new I would help them out. These laid back classes can be great for busy people or those looking for a little more creative freedom!

Looking for something more structured? 

Local studios typically have 4-8 week, once a week courses. I usually see these courses have set projects that the instructor plans. Being guided through projects that you would otherwise not create challenges your creativity and teaches you new techniques.

More advanced and don’t need help? 

Once you get more comfortable I suggest a monthly membership. I only suggest this for those that are very comfortable in creating with clay and using the machinery that are provided in the studio. If you are an absolute beginner please take a guided course as there is so much to learn and you could hurt yourself or cause problems for the studio if you don't know how to work the machines. Not only that but asking other students for help interrupts their creativity and sign them up for teaching when they signed up for creating. 

Monthly memberships typically don't supply clay, but provide a set number of firings. Every studio has different policies and I'd look into whichever works best for you. 

Tip: You can usually call a studio and schedule a tour of the space. To see if you like the space before you commit to a course or membership. But you can always try a class and see if you enjoy it that way too.

All in all if you're looking to dip your toe into pottery I highly suggest looking into local courses and graduating to open studios before you dive into creating a studio of your own, but if you are looking to create your own studio head over to my next blog that discusses this very topic.

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

Best,