Pottery
“Mom, look what I made!” My daughter rushed toward me with her pinch pot made of air dried clay at a recent art class. She was beaming. Many of us have similar items sitting somewhere in the house or basement - items of clay made with eager hands when we were younger and still in grade school. When was the last time you let yourself sink your fingers into a tough, sticky lump of clay and follow your imagination to shape it into something new? Has it been a year? Two or three? Maybe more. Pottery isn’t necessarily the most widely pursued hobby, and I think part of that can be attributed to the idea that it’s expensive. In reality, it isn’t! Just the other day, I bought a huge block of air drying clay at the art store for my children that cost about $12. There are many ways to approach this hobby while keeping the cost down. If pottery is something that interests you, read on to see how you can bring more of it into your life!
To wheel or not to wheel? That’s right, I’m talking about a pottery wheel. You don’t have to use one of these to get started in pottery, but it isn’t a bad idea to look for a cheap one if you want to make pots that are symmetrical or larger containers. Plus they’re fun! If you really want to keep costs minimal, then skip the wheel and get going with hand sculpted items only.
The Clay. You’ll want to decide what type of clay you’re going to use. The easiest type up front is the air drying clay (what I purchased for my kids), but that isn’t the best clay to use if you want your items to be extra durable or usable with food and drink. Air dried clay stays somewhat porous, while clay that has to be fired in a kiln or baked in the oven will harden the most and prevent any liquid from being absorbed after a paint or glaze has been applied. If you are going with a type of clay that doesn’t air dry, start with earthenware or stoneware as porcelain is quite a bit more challenging.
Tools. For pottery, you’ll want to have the following: a wire clay cutter, sponges, trimming tools, needle tool, wooden tools, rib tools, and a shredder. Visit the pottery section of your local art store or look around on Amazon to get an idea of what to order.
Learning. Of course you can always dive in without any instruction, but it might be nice to use some online tutorials, get a book from the library, or take an in person class. Whichever approach you take, just remember that pottery especially is about relaxing, not perfection. So remember to put on an apron, get your hands dirty, and go for it!
Challenges/Points:
Pottery is thought of as an expensive hobby, but it doesn’t have to be at all!
To get a start, begin with air drying clay, then move on to earthenware (which needs to be baked in an oven or kiln).
Working with clay has been described as meditative and calming, and the items you create can make wonderful gifts.
Questions:
Have you ever worked with clay before? Don’t let the fact that it may be totally new stop you!
What’s one of the first things you’d make with clay if you started working with it?
Do you know anyone who works with clay? See if they’ll give you pointers!
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