Can I get into pottery without access to classes?

June 2, 2017 9:28 AM

I would absolutely love to learn to produce pottery but there are no classes in my area, is this too ambitious?

I have contacted local studios and have come up empty. I live in Southwest Vermont halfway between Bennington and Manchester if anyone knows something I don't.

I am a total beginner. Is it crazy to invest the money in this if I'd be teaching myself from books/videos online? I'd be looking at at least $2000-2500 just for the kiln and wheel to start. I'd really love to do it I just have no idea how realistic it is that I'd be halfway decent.
I'd like to make bowls/plates/tumblers/pots etc. Nothing crazy shaped. Perhaps cups eventually. Things for myself and perhaps things I could sell locally on a small scale eventually if I got remotely good at this.

I'm very much into ceramics and I love the idea of a creative hobby that produces something I'm so interested in.

Any insight is welcome.
Thank you!

posted by shesbenevolent to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (14 answers total)

Before investing in a kiln, what about taking an intensive class to see if you really want to commit to it? I know Snow Farm near Northampton, MA, has weeklong and weekend classes; I'm guessing there are other places in New England or elsewhere that do similar things.
posted by mskyle at 9:38 AM on June 2, 2017 [3 favorites]

I've done pottery and I agree that you should take some lessons before you buy a bunch of stuff. Have you checked out this place in Brattleboro? If that's too far call them and ask if they know of anyone closer who gives lessons. You might find a potter who is not into teaching classes but might be into teaching one person.
posted by mareli at 9:58 AM on June 2, 2017 [3 favorites]

Oh and another thing: you could just try making and not firing things for a while, to save on the kiln-related expenses. Most of the stuff you make at first is likely to be weird and wonky. It's definitely fun to have some wonky beginner work fired for you to keep but honestly you can probably get through many many pounds of clay without producing anything you'll be sad to lose - I've taken intro classes a few times and I've only ever produced one thing that I actually wanted to keep (of course it's the one thing that broke).
posted by mskyle at 10:01 AM on June 2, 2017 [1 favorite]

Have you looked into these summer classes?
posted by mareli at 10:08 AM on June 2, 2017 [1 favorite]

In case you decide to just jump right in, heads up, working with the clay really dries out your hands.
posted by aniola at 10:34 AM on June 2, 2017

Yup! Do it. Try out various types of clay--earthenware, terra cotta, stoneware, porcelain--and work them. Get a feel for the moisture requirements to work different types of clay. Try drying your work without having it crack or slump. Explore basic and 'primitive' approaches, such as pinch, slab, and coil. Put together some slabs, and then try different traditional decorative techniques. All the items you mentioned can be done without using a wheel. Check out ceramic hobby shops with kilns--there's always somebody that pours molds for public use that might allow you to fire your work. Don't go out and buy a wheel or kiln before you know the intricacies and feel of clay.
posted by BlueHorse at 10:35 AM on June 2, 2017 [2 favorites]

I would take a class, or take a summer program. You are not too far from Haystack and they have good classes. It takes a long time to learn how to make pots or sculptures, and a lot of it is just developing the skills, not necessarily art. Wheel throwing for me was the hardest, but I took a lot of classes and went to summer art camp as an adult many times.

I have been doing it for about 17 years, and it is something I love to do. I have a wheel and a kiln, but I took a ton of classes before making the investment. Learning around other people is the best too, because they can help you out, and you all benefit from new ideas.

But, ceramics is expensive and dirty, it takes forever to get a finished piece, you never really know how things will come out of the kiln, but if you love it these things will never stop you.
posted by chocolatetiara at 10:41 AM on June 2, 2017

I think it's possible to do it. There are some things that would be way easier to learn with someone teaching you, but on the other hand, sometimes a teacher will have a technique that works for them that doesn't work for you and it's nice to be able to figure out what works and what doesn't.

I've taken quite a few classes and find that I most often have my technique breakthroughs learning on my own via watching a bunch of different youtube videos and trying the techniques they describe. I've surpassed what my main studio teacher was really able to teach me (particularly because our styles are quite different). However, I'm about five years into doing ceramics casually and still don't really think my work is anything anyone would want to buy.

I agree with mskyle mostly about the kiln not being something you necessarily want to purchase right at the beginning. You'll want to practice throwing technique for different types of items before you want to fire them if you're truly aiming to make things that are functional and well done.

You might also be able to work out with one of the studios nearby some kind of arrangement for them to fire your work for you, since the decoration/glazing process of ceramics is also something that takes time to master. This could work while you're only throwing a few things that you want to keep and then you could buy a kiln of your own if you determine you really want to continue doing it.

If it doesn't work out, you can always resell your wheel.
posted by urbanlenny at 10:43 AM on June 2, 2017

If you are in a rural area you don't need a kiln. Just a hole and some bricks. Do pit firing. This isn't a high fire method, so not really suitable for making coffee cups, but great for other uses (art). You also don't need a wheel. I would suggest starting with ropes of clay or sculpting before trying to throw anything.

Make friends with a potter. Most would be happy to share space in a kiln. Most will be happy to show you techniques.
posted by cjorgensen at 10:49 AM on June 2, 2017 [1 favorite]

I came to recommend the summer classes that mareli recommended at Bennington College. It's mostly focused around painting, but they do have some pottery classes. The facilities at the college are top notch.

CCV (the Community College of Vermont) has ceramics classes, but none are currently being offered at the Bennington campus; you could check back there to see if they ever offer classes in the southern part of the state.

You could chat with the folks at this pottery place up in Dorset to see if they have anything they know of.

Other places that may have something that are in our vague area that you could check: Williams College, MassMoCA, MCLA.
posted by Betelgeuse at 11:10 AM on June 2, 2017

Two more possibilities:

1. The Vermont Arts Exchange in North Bennington is mostly focused around kids, but they do have some adult classes. They also are likely have their ear to the arts ground and would know what's up.

2. The Southern Vermont Arts Center in Manchester has workshops and classes throughout the year. They are mostly painting, but their list of current/upcoming classes lists one (sold out) clay sculpture class. You could contact them and see if that class is a one-off or if they routinely offer ceramics classes.
posted by Betelgeuse at 11:19 AM on June 2, 2017

I studied pottery over the summer at Bennington College when I was in high school, and it was exceptional. Their facilities are fantastic, and we got to do much cooler firing techniques (pit firing and raku in addition to standard gas and electric kilns) than I've had access to since. If they're doing adult ed classes now, I would absolutely jump on it!
posted by amelioration at 11:24 AM on June 2, 2017

Is Saratoga too far out of the way for you? Schuylerville has the Saratoga Clay Arts Center. I know it would probably be about an hour drive, but I'm willing to bet the scenery between you and there would be gorgeous.
posted by Bistyfrass at 2:08 PM on June 2, 2017 [2 favorites]

I'm a sculptor who dove into ceramics a couple years back. I took two classes and have attended some workshops and the rest of the technical aspects, that didn't overlap with my sculpture experience, were self-taught. For me, there has been a lot of failure, but I've progressed. So it's not insurmountable. I feel like I'm producing decent work, even after just learning to throw on a wheel earlier this year (though I still wish I had a more foundational learning experience).

Initially I used a local ceramics supply store's kiln firing service to fire my stuff, but that got old very fast. Eventually I went to find a kiln of my own on craigslist. I bought an electric kiln that's around forty years old, and while it looks a bit rough, it fires fine. I am getting near the point where I've outgrown it, but it wasn't too expensive and it has easily paid for itself by now. It's been a good starter kiln. I live in a biggish city and there are always a ton of kilns for sale on craigslist.

I also bought a wheel on craigslist, but that required a lot more patience and vigilance. For whatever reason wheels go very quickly. Eventually I got a great deal on one in pristine condition, but it took months.

So, craigslist! Keep an eye on the various cities adjacent to you and see what comes up. A good deal is worth a drive. Just make sure that you have help moving a kiln or a wheel, because both are very heavy.
posted by picea at 8:54 PM on June 8, 2017