Can You Self Teach Pottery?

Pottery and ceramics are therapeutic and enjoyable hobbies that allow you to use your creativity to make beautiful and functional pieces of art. While taking in-person classes is ideal for learning the hands-on skills required, it is possible to self-teach the fundamentals of pottery making as a beginner. This article will explore the benefits and challenges of teaching yourself pottery, provide tips on getting started, and outline techniques for making progress as a self-taught ceramist. Resources for online learning, in-person workshops, troubleshooting common issues, and developing your own style will also be covered. With dedication and practice, self-teaching can allow you to gain proficiency working with clay and creating your own pottery.

Benefits of Self-Teaching Pottery

Two of the biggest benefits of self-teaching pottery are the ability to learn at your own pace with less pressure. Without an instructor or class setting, you can move through techniques and projects entirely on your own timeline, without feeling rushed or left behind. This allows you to fully absorb new information and skills, repeating steps as many times as needed to master them.

By learning pottery independently, you also avoid any social pressures or comparisons with other students. Your successes and failures happen privately, allowing you to make mistakes and work through frustrations without judgement. Many find this leads to a greater sense of accomplishment once skills are gained.Studies show pottery also lowers stress and anxiety levels, which are further aided by the therapeutic nature of working with clay at your own pace.

Challenges of Self-Teaching

One of the biggest challenges with teaching yourself pottery is troubleshooting issues on your own. When learning independently, you lack an experienced instructor who can provide feedback and guidance when problems arise. As noted on Reddit, “Having a good teacher that can guide and critique you, having peers that can give you advice, and studying the work of pottery masters are all invaluable parts of the learning process.” [1] Without these resources, beginners may become frustrated and discouraged when their work doesn’t turn out as expected.

Additionally, it can be difficult as a beginner to identify flaws in technique or execution without an outside perspective. Areas for improvement may go unnoticed when self-teaching, hindering progress. Constructive criticism from a teacher helps potters gain awareness of where their skills need refinement. Trying to evaluate and improve skills in isolation can prove challenging.

While perseverance and dedication to the craft can lead to success, self-taught potters need contingency plans for getting feedback and mentorship. Taking occasional in-person classes, joining a studio, or sharing work online for critique can help overcome the lack of instruction when learning solo.

Getting Started

When getting started with pottery, the first step is acquiring the proper equipment and setting up your studio space. The main pieces of equipment you’ll need are a potter’s wheel, clay, pottery tools, and a kiln to fire your creations (The Little Pot Company, 2017). While a wheel allows for throwing pots, handbuilding techniques like pinch pots, coils, and slabs can be done without one.

Beginners just starting out may want to look for used equipment, start with a smaller wheel and kiln, and buy clay and tools in smaller quantities. Setting aside studio space can be as simple as a corner of a room with a table covered in canvas or plastic. Make sure the area has access to water and proper ventilation for kiln firing (Soul Ceramics). Focus on buying only essentials in the beginning and accumulating more equipment over time as skills progress.

Learning Techniques

When self-teaching pottery, learning the fundamental techniques is key to being able to create high quality pieces. Some of the most important techniques to focus on include:

Centering Clay

Centering clay on a pottery wheel is essential for being able to throw symmetrical pots. This involves placing a lump of clay on the wheel and using your hands to shape it into a cone while the wheel spins. It takes practice to center clay properly and get it perfectly centered.[1]

Throwing

Once the clay is centered, you can use your hands to shape and raise the walls of the clay to form different vessels. Throwing involves supporting the inside and outside of the clay with your hands as it spins to shape pots, vases, bowls, and other thrown pieces. Mastering throwing takes coordination and experience.

Trimming

Trimming is the process of refining the shape, size, and surface of a thrown piece using specialty trimming tools. This involves placing the pot back on the wheel and carefully shaving away excess clay. Trimming makes pieces look more precise and professional.

Glazing

Applying colored glazes to bisque ware and then firing them is important for finishing pieces and making them waterproof. Learning about different glaze ingredients and applications like brushing, dipping, and pouring is key. Testing glazes to achieve the right effects involves experimentation.[2]

Mastering these fundamental techniques opens up creativity and allows you to make increasingly complex and beautiful pottery pieces when self-teaching.

[1] https://www.couling.com/basic-pottery-techniques/
[2] https://www.thecrucible.org/guides/ceramics/handbuilding/

Developing Style

Developing a personal style in pottery requires experimentation and developing your own aesthetic preferences. As a beginner, it can be helpful to study the styles and techniques of famous potters to get inspiration. However, it’s important not to just copy someone else’s style. Experiment with different techniques, forms, glazes, textures, and finishes to discover what you enjoy most.

Pay attention to the specific techniques and design choices that make you feel creative and engaged with the process. Over time, you will likely gravitate towards certain colors, shapes, or finishing methods. Let this guide your exploration rather than adhering strictly to established styles. Be patient with yourself as you work to cultivate your artistic voice. An individual style often emerges gradually through practice.

Discussing your work with other potters can provide helpful feedback. However, remember that developing a personal style is about discovering your own sensibilities. As recommended in this Reddit thread, focus on the processes and aesthetics that bring you joy, rather than worrying about conforming to expectations.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Pottery making involves mastering techniques and gaining an intuitive understanding of the clay. However, beginners will inevitably encounter some common issues like cracking, collapsing forms, and uneven throwing. Learning how to troubleshoot these problems is an important part of the self-teaching process.

Cracking often occurs when clay dries too quickly or unevenly. Using a bat or canvas to slowly dry pottery can help prevent cracks. Wrapping pots in plastic after throwing is another useful technique. If cracks do appear, filling them with slip or a mix of water and clay can repair damage. Avoid big changes in temperature and dry pots slowly to prevent cracks (Pottery Crafters).

Collapsing issues arise when walls are too thin or soft clay is under too much pressure. Letting clay sit after wedging and using clean hands when shaping can help minimize collapsing. Starting with thicker walls and avoiding overworking the clay gives it more stability. If a form does start to collapse, gently reinforce walls with spare clay. Build up thicker areas gradually to reshape a piece (Pottery Crafters).

Throwing clay evenly on the wheel takes practice. Wobbling and uneven shapes are common at first. Make sure clay is well centered before opening. Apply gentle pressure and compress walls slowly. Use hands and ribs to uniformly shape the inside and outside. Take time refining forms for more consistency. Allow pieces to firm up slightly between steps (Pinterest).

Persistence and learning from issues leads to mastery. Troubleshooting problems thoughtfully is all part of the rewarding process of self-teaching pottery.

Online Resources

One of the best ways to self-teach pottery is through online resources. YouTube has an abundance of instructional pottery videos that provide tutorials on topics like wheel throwing, hand building, glazing, kiln firing, and more. Some popular YouTube channels for learning pottery include Hsinchuen Lin, Ceramic Arts Network, and Simon Leach Pottery. These channels offer clear step-by-step tutorials that allow you to learn techniques at your own pace.

Online pottery forums like r/Pottery on Reddit are also great resources, according to Reddit users. The r/Pottery community shares advice, tips, inspiration, and feedback with one another. As a beginner, you can browse posts or ask questions to get guidance from experienced potters.

For more structured online learning, sites like Skillshare and Udemy offer a wide range of pottery classes you can take online at your own pace. From pottery wheel basics to hand building techniques, these classes can supplement your self-directed learning and help build your skills.

In-Person Classes

Taking in-person pottery classes is a great way to learn hands-on techniques and get live feedback from experienced instructors. Many options exist for beginner pottery classes, including:

Community centers often offer accessible and affordable multi-week pottery courses. These classes provide a relaxed environment to learn with others at various skill levels. Community centers with pottery equipment may be found by searching “in-person pottery classes for beginners near [your city or state].”

Universities and colleges frequently have pottery classes through their extension or continuing education programs. These are open to the general public for a fee and offer beginning wheel throwing and handbuilding. University art departments may also hold intro workshops or open studio times.

Private pottery studios can provide high quality instruction from experienced potters. Studios like Roberson Clayworks and Clawson Clay Guild offer multi-week beginner wheel and handbuilding classes year-round. Look for well-regarded studios in your area.

Taking a class provides community support, learning from an expert instructor, and access to pottery equipment and materials. With guidance and practice in a studio setting, beginners can progress quickly to make functional pieces and artwork.

Conclusion

In summary, self-teaching pottery is certainly achievable with dedication and persistence. While instruction from an experienced potter can be invaluable, plenty of resources exist for learning techniques on your own. The key is being patient with yourself as a beginner and not getting discouraged by initial failures. Progress will come with regular practice. Many successful potters started out teaching themselves the basics at home. With an abundance of online tutorials and communities to provide feedback, self-learners can develop admirable skills. However, in-person classes should not be discounted, as hands-on guidance can accelerate growth. Ultimately, a hybrid approach of self-teaching supplemented with some formal instruction is likely the best path for mastering pottery. With passion and creativity, self-learners can thrive in pottery and discover great satisfaction through self-expression in ceramic arts.