Where beginners learn
Most people start in a beginner class. Classes are offered by community art centers, adult education programs, colleges, parks and recreation departments and private studios. A typical course meets once a week for several weeks and includes clay, use of tools and glazes, and firing of a limited number of pieces. Check what the fee covers before you sign up, since some studios charge separately for clay or firing.
After a class, many potters join a community studio as members. Membership usually gives you shelf space and open studio hours, with firing done by staff. A studio is also the best place to learn from people a few steps ahead of you.
What to bring to your first class
- Clothes you don't mind getting dirty, and closed-toe shoes.
- An apron or old shirt.
- Short nails, if you will be throwing. Long nails cut into the clay.
- A towel and a hair tie.
- Remove rings and bracelets before working with clay.
What to buy and what to skip
Many classes include basic tools, so ask first. If you buy a starter kit, the pieces you will use most are a needle tool, a wooden rib, a metal rib, a sponge, a cutting wire and a couple of loop trimming tools. Skip buying a wheel or a kiln until you have taken classes for a while and know which way of working you enjoy. Both are large purchases with real setup needs, and a kiln needs a suitable electrical supply and venting.
Studio etiquette
- Label your work with your initials or mark on the bottom, as the studio asks.
- Use only the shelf space you are given and keep your work covered while it dries.
- Use the clays and glazes the studio approves, and keep reclaim buckets separate by clay body.
- Clean your wheel, splash pan, table and tools every session.
- Follow the studio's rules for what can go in the kiln and how it should be prepared.
- Ask before touching someone else's work, even to move it.
Cleaning up safely
Dried clay turns into fine dust, and that dust contains silica. Breathing it in over months and years can harm the lungs. The answer is simple housekeeping:
- Wipe surfaces with a damp sponge, and mop floors instead of sweeping.
- Don't let clay scraps dry and crumble on tables and floors.
- Wash tools and aprons regularly, and change out of clay-dusty clothes before going home.
- Never pour clay water or glaze down a sink unless it drains into a clay trap. Clay settles in pipes and blocks them. Most studios use a settling bucket instead.
Set a realistic pace
Most beginners lose a lot of pots in the first few weeks, especially on the wheel. That is normal. Keep a few of your early pieces to see how far you come. If you want a structured start, read the clay bodies guide, then try hand building and the wheel, and keep the glossary handy for new words.