Throwing your own coffee mugs
A coffee just after waking up? I never say no to that. As a coffee aficionado, I eagerly sip that black gold from one of my homemade mugs. That selection makes my morning ritual even more fun. And it increases my love for pottery. Making your own pottery is simply amazing. Your tableware is completely the way you want it and it consists only of unique pieces.
Pottery seems like a lot of work. Indeed, it is not easy, but it pays off! The trick is in starting at the beginning and discover what you like. For example, in the beginning I ventured into making coffee mugs with a mold. That is a shape that you cover with clay. Then I added a nice ear and voila: a beautiful coffee mug was born. So yes: even without a potter’s wheel and advanced skills, you can make perfect pottery.
Of course, I quickly bumped into the limits of making ceramics with a mold. The next step in my pottery story was to take a basic course to learn how to make pottery on the potter’s wheel. During that course, I also delved into understanding ceramics. I collected all those basic lessons in the blog ‘What is ceramics?’
Are you itching to make your own pottery? Then download the Cursist beginner’s guide!
Tips for a pottery blitz start
A lot of your favorite items can be made yourself out of clay. Look around the room where you are now. What objects would you like to create yourself out of clay? In terms of shapes, there are few limits. All you need is some materials and some basic skills. Rest assured: if you give yourself time and start from the beginning, it is not at all as difficult as you think. It is a matter of practicing, honing and learning. But how do you start pottery yourself? An overview!
1) What do you want to make?
First, decide on exactly what you want to make. In the world of ceramics, the possibilities are endless. Do you choose beautiful dinnerware? Do you prefer a series of large bowls? A watering can? Butter dish? Flower pot? There are endless forms. Be inspired by your surroundings or be inspired by our blogs on forms.
2) Choose a good type of clay
Now that you know what shape you want to create, choose the clay that best fits this shape. For example, for a coffee mug, you are more likely to choose porcelain and for a flower pot, stoneware.
Learn more about the different types of clay in this article or in the Cursistbeginner’s guide.
3) Making your own pottery: with or without a potter’s wheel?
Pottery without a wheel
Once you have chosen your shape and clay, the question presents itself whether it will be done with or without a potter’s wheel. For small objects, you are more likely to choose to make ceramics without a wheel. This is a fairly simple method: you start with a small piece of clay and you form the clay by pressure and heat from your hands. Another option that does not require a wheel is working with a mold.
Pottery with a potter’s wheel
This method is ideal for symmetrical and round objects. The size of the piece is not a factor in pottery made on a potter’s wheel. Granted: working with a wheel is a little more difficult than working by hand, but it’s oh so much fun!
If you want to learn how to make pottery or boost your skill level, a potter’s wheel is a great value. Usually, ceramics are chosen to be made on the electric wheel, but a kick wheel is an equally good option. You purchase the wheel yourself or you can use a wheel in a studio. There are also tabletop models that you place on the table. So you choose the type of potter’s wheel that suits you best.
Make sure your wheel is at the right height. If it is too high or too low, sooner or later it will cause back pain. The right height depends on your height, build, what you want to make and your personal preference. If you want to know exactly how high your potter’s wheel should be, read this article.
In addition, you may wonder in which direction your wheel should turn. Again, that depends on many factors and also has a bit to do with your personal preference. We have an article for you on that too: in which direction should your potter’s wheel turn?
Throwing pots on a potter’s wheel is challenging, but also relaxing. It is like a form of meditation: with your hands in the clay and thinking of nothing else. Feel, shape and build. In this video you immediately notice how nice it is to see the clay turning.
4) Having ceramics fired
The final step is firing your piece in a ceramic kiln. You can’t do that in any oven. You need a special one to get your ceramics fired. You do that in your own ceramic kiln if you have one, or you find an address where you can have your ceramics fired.
There is also self-drying clay that does not need to go into the kiln. With that self-drying clay, you can make pieces without a kiln, because the clay dries by itself. Please note that this clay is especially suitable for smaller pieces and therefore not for larger projects. It’s not actually ceramics either.
Making your own pottery in your own workshop
Is it your dream to make pottery at home? You can! You will need several typical pottery supplies and possibly a potter’s wheel. A good course is also a great value. Especially if you are just starting your pottery adventure or want to learn specific skills. On this website you will find online courses for different levels. The courses consist of video material, text and pdf documents that explain in detail how to build your skills with clay.
Before you get started with pottery in your own home, make sure you have a place of your own. Your own workshop does not have to be large, but it should fit a potter’s wheel, work table and possibly a ceramic kiln.
Making your own pottery through a course
You may be wondering if you can do pottery without prior knowledge or if it’s better to invest in a good course. Granted, there are a huge number of videos online with tips and examples. These are tremendously inspiring but have no structure. Sample videos also don’t explain everything you need to know to successfully create your first piece of work. What I have learned from my pottery adventure is that a good structure and clear instructions make your learning process easier and more enjoyable.
There are also very good textbooks for learning pottery. Very useful for building a basic knowledge of ceramics. What you won’t find in such a book are the crucial movements that you can see in video. In video courses like Cursist’s, you follow the instructor’s hands and get all the important information and tips right in.
The reason we developed online courses is because they combine the best of all worlds: a logical structure, the ability to show crucial moves on video, clear instructions and a good instructor. So you learn everything you need to know to make your own pottery through modules and lessons that start from the basics. And you will also learn from master ceramists how to set your hands and what the pitfalls are.
So making your own pottery is certainly not a hopeless task. On the contrary: it’s easier than you think. And most of all, it’s a lot of fun. With a course, you will progress faster and perform the actions the correct way right away. Which means, a better result! So what are you waiting for? Be sure to take a look at the course page and who knows, you may be at the start of a kitchen cabinet full of homemade bowls, dishes, plates, mugs and so much more.
Did you feel like making your own pottery? Want to learn about clay and ceramics? Then browse Cursist’s online courses!
