Throwing your own coffee mugs
A cup of coffee right after waking up? I never say no to that. As a coffee lover through and through, I eagerly sip that black gold from one of my own creations. This selection makes my morning ritual even more enjoyable. It also increases my love for pottery Pottery is simply wonderful. With your own tableware, you can have exactly what you want, and it will consist entirely of unique pieces.
Making pottery seems like a lot of work. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it! The trick is to start from scratch and discover what suits you. When I first started, I made coffee mugs using a mould. This involves covering a mould with clay. Then I added a nice handle, and voilà : a beautiful coffee mug was born! So, yes, even without a potter’s wheel or advanced skills, it is possible to create ceramics.
However, I soon reached the limits of making ceramics with a mould. The next step in my pottery journey was to take a basic course and learn how to use a potter’s wheel. During the course, I immersed myself in the world of ceramics. I compiled all of these basic lessons in the blog ‘What is ceramics?‘.
Are you itching to try your hand at pottery? Then download the Cursist beginner’s guide!
Quick tips for getting started with pottery
Did you know that you can make many of your favourite utensils from ceramics yourself? Take a look around the room you are in right now. Which objects would you like to make from clay? There are few limits in terms of shapes. All you need are some materials and a few basic skills. If you give yourself time and start from the beginning, you’ll find it’s not as difficult as you might think. It’s a matter of practising, refining and learning. So, how do you get started with pottery? Here’s an overview!
1) What do you want to make?
First, think about exactly what you want to make. In the world of ceramics, the possibilities are endless. Would you like to make beautiful dinnerware? Or perhaps a series of large bowls? Or a watering can? Or a butter dish? Or a flower pot? There are endless shapes to choose from. Find inspiration in your surroundings or in our blogs about shapes.
2) Choose the right type of clay
Now that you know what shape you want to create, choose the clay that best suits it. For a coffee mug, for example, you would be more likely to choose porcelain, whereas for a flower pot you would choose stoneware.
You can find more information about the different types of clay in this article or in the Cursist’s beginner’s guide.
3) Pottery: with or without a potter’s wheel?
Pottery without a potter’s wheel
Once you have chosen your shape and clay, you need to decide whether to use a potter’s wheel. For small objects, it is more common to make ceramics without a potter’s wheel. This method is fairly simple: start with a small piece of clay and shape it using the warmth and pressure of your hands. Another option that does not require a potter’s wheel is working with a mould.
Pottery made on a potter’s wheel
This method is ideal for creating symmetrical, round objects. The size of the piece does not matter when pottery is made with a potter’s wheel. Admittedly, it is slightly more difficult to work with a potter’s wheel than by hand, but it is great fun!
If you want to learn pottery or improve your skills, a potter’s wheel is invaluable. Most people choose to make ceramics with an electric wheel, but a kick wheel is just as good. You can buy your own potter’s wheel or use one in a studio. There are also tabletop models that can be placed on a table. So you can choose the type of potter’s wheel that suits you best.
Make sure your potter’s wheel is at the right height. If it is too high or too low, you will sooner or later develop back problems. The right height depends on your own height and build, what you want to make, and your personal preference. Read this article to find out exactly how high your potter’s wheel should be.
You may also be wondering which way the wheel should turn. This also depends on many factors and is partly down to personal preference. We have an article on this too: ‘Which direction should your potter’s wheel turn?’
Working with a potter’s wheel to make ceramics is challenging, but also relaxing. It is a almost like meditation, with your hands in the clay and your mind free of other thoughts. You can feel, shape and build. In this video, you can see how nice it is to watch the clay spinning.
4) Firing ceramics
The final step is to fire your piece in a ceramic kiln. You can’t fire it in just any oven. You need a special one for that. If you have one, you can fire your ceramics in your own ceramic kiln, or you can find a place where you can have your ceramics fired.
There is also self-drying clay that does not require firing in a kiln. With this clay, you can make pieces without a kiln because it dries on its own. Please note that this clay is mainly suitable for smaller pieces and is therefore not ideal for larger projects. It is not actually ceramics.
Make your own pottery at home!
Have you always dreamed of doing pottery at home? You can! You will need various typical pottery supplies, as well as a potter’s wheel. Taking a good course is also a great way to develop your skills, especially if you are just starting out or want to learn specific techniques. This website offers online courses for all levels. These consist of video material, text and PDF documents that explain in detail how you can develop your clay-working skills.
Before starting to make pottery at home, it is best to make sure you have your own space. Your workshop does not need to be big, but it should be able to fit a potter’s wheel, a work table and possibly a ceramic kiln.
Taking a pottery course
You may be wondering whether it is possible to make pottery without any prior knowledge, or if it would be better to invest in a good course. Admittedly, there are countless videos online with tips and examples. While these are hugely inspiring, they lack structure. Demo’s also don’t explain everything you need to know to successfully make your first piece. From my own pottery experience, I’ve learned that clear instructions and a structured approach make the learning process easier and more enjoyable.
There are also some excellent textbooks for learning pottery. These are useful for building up basic knowledge of ceramics. However, what you won’t find in such a book are the crucial movements that you can see in a video. Video courses, such as those offered by Cursist, allow you to follow the teacher’s hands and receive all the important information and tips immediately.
We developed online courses because they combine the best of all worlds: a logical structure, the ability to demonstrate crucial movements on video, clear instructions, and a good teacher. Through modules and lessons that start from the basics, you learn everything you need to know to make pottery yourself. You also learn from master potters how to position your hands and what pitfalls to avoid.
Pottery is certainly not an impossible task. In fact, it’s easier than you think. Above all, it is great fun. Taking a course will help you make faster progress and learn to do things the right way from the outset. This will lead to better results. So what are you waiting for? Take a look at the course page , and who knows, you might soon have a kitchen cupboard full of homemade bowls, dishes, plates, mugs, and much more besides!
Would you like to try your hand at pottery? Would you like to learn more about clay and ceramics? If so, take a look at the online courses offered by Cursist!
