Beginning Ceramics on a Budget

Starting a new hobby or business can be costly to start out, but I hope to share ways that you can enjoy ceramics on a budget. This doesn’t mean that everything I suggest or write about will be cheap, but rather I hope to just give inspiration to those who want to try ceramics without spending thousands of dollars on equipment. These suggestions aren’t for those looking to mass produce ceramics. Industrial production requires industrial equipment at a larger cost. These suggestions are more for someone starting out on a small hobby budget.

Where to begin? Here are some questions to ask yourself before making any purchases.

• Where will I create with Clay?

• What will I create with Clay?

• How will I fire my final pieces?

Where:

When you look for a special spot to create with clay, you will want a space that you can clean up easily. My studio has tile floors so I can easily mop up after a messy day of throwing clay. A room with carpet, or fancy things, would not be a good place to choose, as the clay can fall or splatter onto the carpet, making it very difficult to clean. You will also want to have adequate lighting. Since your work will be 3 dimensional, you will need to see it in detail from all angles. If you do not have space in your home, garage or an outbuilding, you may be able to google “ceramic studio near me” to find local shops that rent out space or time in their studios. Prices can vary quite a bit between studios, so shop around for the studio that fits your needs and price range. Also you will want enough room to work, store your tools and clay, as well as have a safe place to store your pieces as they dry before firings. In ancient times, clay pots and bowls were formed outside and set in the sun to dry. If you live in a warm area, you could also work outdoors, but you would need to be careful not to work under trees or bushes where debris could fall into your clay and potentially ruin your work.

What:

Once you have found a place to work with clay, what would you like to make? Or more importantly, what technique and tools would you like to use? The main techniques for working with clay are:

• coil building

• slab building

• throwing clay on a pottery wheel

The least expensive method to work with clay is to coil build. This technique only requires three things; your hands, clay and a work surface. Ceramic Clay can be purchased online or through a local clay studio or art supply distributor near you. If you are renting space at a studio and they will fire your pieces for you, they may require that you only use clay purchased from their store. This is so the studio knows and trusts the recipe and process in which the clay was made. Poor quality clay can damage a kiln and kilns are very expensive to buy or repair. If you plan to fire your pieces at a local shop, be sure to check with them on their clay policies before purchasing clay.

Another less expensive introduction into ceramics is to slab build. This would be similar to coil building, but you would need to have a rolling pin (or access to a slab roller) to roll the clay out flat to create the slabs in which you build with. Minimal tools are needed for this technique as well so it fits great for a low budget. Slab building is actually one my personal favorite techniques for working with clay. I have used slabs to create a lot of my sculptural pieces. Slabs of clay can also be draped over forms to create plates, bowls and platters as well.

Many people want to jump into throwing clay. This technique takes a little more skill and more equipment. Not too long ago, the only options to throw clay were on expensive professional grade pottery wheels that often costs over a $1500 (USD) to purchase. Today there are less expensive models under under $150-200 (USD) available on Amazon that work well for a person beginning out or just throwing pottery as a hobby. I personally use VEVOR 11 inch Pottery Wheel, 350W Ceramic Wheel Machine. It has an adjustable RPM (rotation per minute) of 60-300. It has both a speed handle and a foot pedal to control the speed by hand or foot. It also has a detachable basin for easy clean up. For starting out, this is great option without breaking the bank. Before making a purchase, be aware that you will need additional equipment such as bats, trimming tools and other tools to work on a wheel. As more time goes on, I'll help share some tips on homemade tools and other money saving tricks when throwing on a pottery wheel.

Firing your pieces:

Finally, you'll need to have a plan on how you will fire your pieces. If you don't own your own kiln, here are some ideas on where you may be able find one:

• Search for local pottery or ceramic studios that will fire a piece for you. Check with them first on their studio policies as some will require that you buy the clay directly from them.

• Check out local pottery school or classes. Community Colleges often offer inexpensive classes and use of their equipment when enrolled in a class. Some colleges will also allow you in the studio during non-class hours to work as well. This is a great place to learn techniques as well.

• Some local pottery supply stores also offer kiln services. When I lived near Seattle, WA, the Seattle Pottery Supply had kilns in the back of their store and would fire your pieces at a cost. Other supply companies may do the same.

• 'Paint your own pottery' stores may also offer Kiln firing services. Again check with them to see what their store policies are.

• Technical schools, Art schools and local community centers may also have kilns for rent or firing services. If not, they may know of other local business in your area that do have the service available.

• Another option is to find a local artist with a kiln who is willing to fire your pieces as well. Join a ceramic Facebook group and you may find a kiln near you is available.

If you plan to purchase a kiln, be sure to do plenty of research to determine the type of kiln that you'll be happy with. What type of results are you going for? There are electric kilns, as well as gas and raku. One can also fire their pieces in a pit fire. Each different kiln or type of firing has it's own unique qualities and results. If you have questions along the way, please feel free to reach out to me at muddollstudio@yahoo.com with questions and I'll help answer or point you in a direction to answer your questions.

The most important part of firing though is safety. Always be sure that whichever firing method that you choose, you always practice safety first. Keep the kiln away from flammable materials, including at least 18 inches away from the walls. Don't set anything on top of a kiln. Don't touch a hot kiln while it's in use, and as hard as it is, always allow plenty of time for your pieces to cool off before trying to remove them from the kiln. This will help ensure you can continue you artistic journey for a long time.

Best wishes always,

Judy - Mud Doll