One of the finest hobbies you can convert into a career is pottery. Starting a pottery business does not need a big sum of money or unusual abilities. You may start selling your work as a side hustle or as a full-time company if you know the principles of pottery production, have some practice, and essential equipment.

Space, Equipment, and Techniques

While having your equipment is required to begin pottery as a hobby, having your private studio is not. Whether it is a spare room in your house, the basement, the garage, or even the attic, any area where you can comfortably and securely work may become your pottery studio.

Read and comprehend the safety warnings on any equipment you’ll be using, especially kilns, as they require a unique setup depending on several parameters, including heat, size, and voltage.

When it comes to equipment, it all boils down to the kind of items you’ll be making and the techniques you’ll be employing.

You will, of course, require clay. If you consider taking up pottery as a hobby, you’ll have various techniques and equipment to choose from. These are some important questions for beginners to help them navigate the world of pottery.

Choosing a technique– You may create pottery in three different methods. It’s a terrific idea to consider which approach appeals to you the most when you’re thinking about beginning off. Then, to begin, you can concentrate on that specific technique. You may always change your mind and explore later. But, to start, it’s best to focus on only one method. Hand building, wheel throwing, and slip casting are the three processes you can choose from.

Choosing the best pottery clay for beginners– Several pottery clay brands are available, and if you are new to pottery, the variety might be bewildering. The first thing is that there is a distinction to be made between pottery clay “brands” and pottery clay “types.” Different retailers and manufacturers sell clay. This is why there are so many other ‘brands.’ It’s more necessary to comprehend the many “types” of clay. 

There are a few distinctions between these clay kinds. The most important thing to remember as a novice is that various types of clay are burned at different temperatures. And how different types of clay feel when you’re working with them. As a novice, some varieties of clay are more straightforward to work with than others.

Good Starter Tools

Beginner pottery does not require a lot of additional equipment. You can get away with only a few tools as you gain your bearings and figure out what you enjoy producing. There are a few fundamentals that will make your pottery experience more enjoyable:

• A clay cutter made of wire
• A needle is an instrument that is used to make needles
• Steel scrapers, both smooth and serrated
• A finishing tool made of rubber
• Some modeling software
• Trimming instruments
• A rolling pin is a tool used to roll out the dough
• a few sponges

If you wish to browse elsewhere, you may buy these separately. Alternatively, you may get a starting package that includes almost everything you’ll need to get started.

How to get started and costs

It might be difficult for first-timers who want to take it up as a pastime to go through all of that information and try to grasp it.

That’s why we’re here: to help you avoid false information and uncover the truth.

After all, terms like “kilns” and “pottery wheels” could lead you to believe that pottery is a costly pastime that you should avoid. However, while kilns and pottery wheels might be expensive, pottery does not have to be.

Let’s have a look at how to get started, some of the approaches and their prices, and the alternatives you should consider as a novice.

Enroll in pottery classes- To begin, and this is the option we suggest, you should enroll in pottery lessons. These classes provide you access to all of the required equipment and the teacher’s experience, as well as the opportunity to test out several pottery techniques to discover which one you like.

You can become comfortable with the equipment and procedures since it is easier to learn the correct techniques than to unlearn the incorrect ones. You may also use classes to see if pottery is a suitable fit for you. A typical lesson costs between $20 to $40 or more than $150 for an eight-week course.

Instructional books and Online research- If in-person classes aren’t accessible for whatever reason (the most common being COVID-19 these days), try learning from books and the internet. YouTube is a fantastic resource for all of your requirements; YouTube is likely to have a video for every issue you could have.

This is the most cost-effective method to begin your pottery-making career. After that, as you grow more committed, you may begin purchasing your supplies.

Purchasing a potter’s wheel- The size, pricing, and sophistication of pottery wheels vary. They cost between $150 and $2000.

However, getting a top-of-the-line wheel isn’t required when you first start. I think it’s a good idea to start with something less expensive when you first start. That way, you may give your new pastime a try and see how you like it.

Make money by selling your handmade pots

To sell the items, you’ll need to look at marketing options. In general, there are two ways to market the items. Either in the retail or wholesale market. Otherwise, you can try both options. It is usually preferable to open a pottery studio for retail purposes.

It’s a beautiful idea to rent a booth at the craft fair to sell your ceramics. You may also explore selling on the internet. There are several internet marketplaces where you may sell your handcrafted ceramics.

Aside from markets, you may open your own modest online business. It is no longer prohibitively expensive. You can also maintain your online business. Also, make the most of social media to promote your pottery business.

Conclusion

It might be overwhelming to get started with pottery as a hobby. Make use of the suggestions provided to help you get started. Soon, you’ll be gathering information, honing your skills, and producing beautiful ceramics.