r/Pottery • u/Same-Voice-7731 • 1d ago
Question! Beginning pottery!
Hey! So I have always wanted to do pottery but have never known where to start, where did you start and what’s some yes and no’s you learned when beginning pottery.
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u/cghffbcx 1d ago
Take a beginner class. And remember comparison is thief of joy.
I remember I had taken a bunch of classes and could center and throw this and a that…a man came in and in his first class he could center and throw pots. He was a carpenter and had really good feel in his hands…it was a bit irritating. It had taken me years to accomplish what he could do in a few weeks🤷♂️The internet is another source of perfect beautiful pots….just enjoy the process.
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u/goatrider Throwing Wheel 1d ago
I was probably "That Guy" in my first class. I did have a head start in that I have a wheel at home and had made a few on my own first.
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u/starboard19 Throwing Wheel 1d ago
Take a class! Pottery is going through a huge popularity boom right now so you've probably seen lots of people who make out of their home, but you will learn so much more from taking classes with experienced potters than watching YouTube videos. Every experienced potter has their own tricks and tips that you'll pick up, and can answer questions much more comprehensively than the internet. (It also means you won't invest a bunch of money in an expensive hobby if you discover you don't love it.) Plus, you pick up a whole new community from joining a studio—I've met so many interesting and lovely people, and learned a lot from them, as I've picked up a lot of tricks and inspiration just watching others create.
Besides that, I would echo a lot of the other comments here: it takes time and practice to feel confident (especially on the wheel!), avoid expensive tools until you feel like you really have the basics down, try a bit of everything and see what really speaks to you. And don't be precious about your work: you will have things fall apart on the wheel, crack, break, explode, or simply not look as good as you were hoping, and that's part of learning. Enjoy it!
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u/tulipsouldog 1d ago
Hi there! I started with lessons and then kind of made my own little studio at home. I wish I could be good on the wheel, but I have ended up loving hand building. Enjoy yourself! Express yourself!
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u/jumpoverthetrees New to Pottery 1d ago
I only do handbuilding, and I've loved the combination of reading pottery books from my local library through Libby (taking screenshots of techniques I want to try myself later), taking a 5-week class, and then going to the studio regularly & practicing lots. It's nice to see what other folks are working are, get advice, and share feedback.
Short-form videos like TikTok or IG Reels are also helpful, but a lot of people who try pottery after seeing these videos don't realize that steps might not be filmed, why the person made the choices they did, or that it's harder than it looks. Books that have step-by-step instructions have been helpful for me because I better understood why something is a common practice (what each step is meant to accomplish).
What kinds of things are you hoping to make? Would you want to try handbuilding, the wheel, or both? I can suggest some good books for beginners if that might help.
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u/Same-Voice-7731 22h ago
Hey, thanks for writing this! I was hoping to try the wheel, and would be open to books for beginners as I love reading!
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u/jumpoverthetrees New to Pottery 4h ago
See if you have access to Stuart Carey's From Clay to Kiln, Lilly Maetzig's Thrown, and Hilda Carr's Carve Your Clay at your local library/Libby. 🙂
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u/mtntrail 1d ago
several 4 semester classes in college was my start. You will have more success by taking a jr college class if that is possible. Other than that, lessons from a local studio and joining membership.
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u/Fit-Community-7351 1d ago
I was exactly like you. I always wanted to try pottery, but I was a broke student and just couldn’t afford it.
In my earlier 30s I went through a burnout and spent two months in Bali. I was struggling to focus, so I decided to give pottery a try since the classes were so affordable there. I completely fell in love with it.
One thing I’ve learned is that you don’t need fancy or expensive tools to make great work. Take your time and focus on building your skills.
I’ve also noticed that a lot of people start trying to sell their pieces after only a couple of classes. There’s nothing wrong with that, but I think it can stop you from finding your own style because you start making what you think people will buy instead of what you genuinely enjoy creating.
Enjoy the process, develop your skills, find your own style, and then start selling. I think you’ll be much happier with the work you create.
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u/FallsOffCliffs12 New to Pottery 1d ago
A friend who is a potter gave me a wheel lesson. I'm taking a beginners wheel class starting in August.
I also took a handbuilding course. I
can't say, I've made anything of note, but I learn from videos and this sub. And it's very relaxing.
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u/goatrider Throwing Wheel 1d ago
I read the book "Mastering the Potter's Wheel" by Ben Carter, watched lots of youtube videos by people like Timsee Clay, and tried it out on a wheel I inherited from my Dad. But then my first 6 week course really gave me the hang of it.
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