getting started in pottery
Hey friends!
It’s been a bit since I shared a blog post with you all! I usually share my small biz happenings but wanted to switch it up! I thought I’d share some ideas/advice for how to get started in pottery. For those of you that are new here, I took up pottery on a whim at a local studio while I was in graduate school at LMU in 2019. I initially took a class as a way to try something new and destress during my semester of full-time student teaching and here we are! You 100% don’t need to turn your hobby into a business (but of course I’m all for it if that’s your passion and goal too)!! Pottery is such a great way to destress, have time away from your phone, and get messy! As adults, we often don’t have opportunities that allow us to just play and get messy which is why I love pottery so much!
Here are some tips to get your pottery hobby started.
Find a few studio options near you.
Find a local studio and support other small businesses in your neighborhood! Some good search words to use are pottery studio, ceramics studio, pottery classes near me. Or, if you’re back to work in person, find a studio that you can stop at on your route/commute home. There are also a lot of great class options through many city parks and recs departments that often don’t show up on maps. It will take a little bit more digging, but classes through the city can oftentimes be a bit more affordable! If you’re really into diving deep, check out your local city/community college as many often have ceramics classes that you can take too! I was enrolled at Santa Monica City College until COVID shut us down midway through my first semester, a total bummer, but that class series would have been incredible!
Choose your class type.
Most studios offer a one-time class offering. These are typically 2-3 hours and allow you to learn the basics of throwing on the wheel! You will usually make a couple of pieces on the wheel and pick out the color of your glaze from a set list of options. From there, the studio will take care of the rest until you can go back to pick up your work in a few weeks! (I took a class like this my very first time taking a pottery class!) They are a great way to see if you like getting messy and working with your hands. This one time class is also a super fun date night!!
If you already know you want to do more than a one time try, a series class is probably best for you. In a class like this, you will likely learn all of the major steps of the pottery process (throwing on the wheel, trimming on the wheel, some hand building techniques, and glazing) over the course of 4 or more weeks. This is a great option if you’ve taken a one-time class or really want to invest in learning the whole process in detail. A course like this is also almost always a requirement to work independently in the studio. After a series class you can often become a member at a studio too!
There’s a chance that your local studio has private lesson offerings. This is nice if you prefer one-on-one instruction or have a small group of friends or family you’d like to take a class with! Or maybe you’ve done some pottery but need a refresher class before diving into a membership.
Additionally, many pottery studios offer workshops so if you want to learn something other than throwing on the wheel, such as hand building/sculpting, there are often specific class offerings for those techniques as well.
Have fun!
I always tell my students at the beginning of the class to remember to be kind to yourself. I’m not going to lie, pottery is difficult! I feel I am quite crafty but it did not prepare me for throwing on the wheel. Pottery is quite technical and requires A LOT of practice. I don’t say this to scare you away from trying it out but to remind you to have realistic expectations of yourself. We often aren’t faced with a skill or task that we can’t be good at right away, particularly as adults. Throwing on the wheel can feel frustrating when your first few pieces are inherently wonky, lopsided, and uneven. (And they will be at first!! There’s no way around it and it’s 1000% normal!!) I promise you that if you stick with it, ceramics is so much fun!! Try your best to take in all the information and enjoy the process of learning something new. Learning pottery is like riding a bike… real wobbly at first but once you get the hang of it, it’s smooth sailing!
For all the parents out there, many studios offer kids classes or camps, especially during the major school breaks! Some even offer regular classes after school or private lessons. These are perfect for siblings or small friend groups to get together.
Here are a few pottery studios that I love in LA & the Bay Area.
I know of many more, but I have personal connections to these and really enjoy the community at these studios.
Community School of Music and Art | Mountain View
I currently teach classes here! The winter semester of classes will be added soon.
Pinckney Clay | San Francisco
I occasionally teach here (typically kids classess) with Holly Coley, the studio owner!
Good Dirt LA | Los Angeles
Members Only Pottery Studio | Los Angeles
For experienced potters looking for a studio membership. Their sister studio is Good Dirt LA.
If you ever have any questions or want help with your search, let me know! I’m here for you and excited for you to try out a new hobby!
Michelle
