✨Resources for Beginner Potters✨
Here are some resources for if you're just starting out on your pottery journey! Some of them are specific to location, but many are just tool and equipment recommendations that anyone can benefit from!
1. Your first pottery wheel!
I highly recommend the Shimpo VL Lite if you're thinking of a first time wheel to invest in. No wheels are cheap, but this wheel is one of the most affordable for a beginner, and has the centring capacity to handle all of your needs. Even as you get better and start to throw bigger pieces, this wheel will be able to keep up with your needs!
https://tuckers-pottery-supplies-inc.shoplightspeed.com/shimpo-wheel-vl-lite.html
2. Basic tools to throw on the wheel!
I'm a minimalist when it comes to tools and I don't like to over complicate the process of throwing. Here is a basic tool set you can get that comes with everything you need to start throwing and trimming your pots. As you get more comfortable and figure out what tools you like most, you can start to upgrade your collection to fancier tools from a brand like Diamondcore. These tools can be very expensive though, so its best to start out with these more affordable sets until you figure out your needs.
https://tuckers-pottery-supplies-inc.shoplightspeed.com/pottery-tool-kit-8-piece.html
3. Buying Clay!
There are so many clay options out there! This is both amazing and a bit daunting. Make sure that if you're buying your own clay, you are getting it from a reputable source. It is also very important to understand the difference between low fire, mid fire and high fire clays. If you're firing with a community kiln, make sure to find out what cone they fire to so you can purchase the appropriate clay. If you put a low fire clay in a mid to high fire temperature, it will melt and has the potential to destroy a kiln. You do not want to get stuck with that repair or replacement bill. If you low or mid fire a high fire clay, it will not be fully vitrified and will allow liquids to seep through it. Not ideal if you're making mugs or vases that hold water. Don't slack when it comes to educating yourself about the clay you are purchasing. Be safe and ask questions first!
https://tuckers-pottery-supplies-inc.shoplightspeed.com/clay
4. Buying Glaze!
Similar to clay, glaze comes in a variety of cones that you should research before purchasing. If you're firing at a community kiln, ask what cone they fire to so you can buy glaze in the correct range. Low fire glaze in a mid to high firing will melt and completely run off your pots, damaging kiln shelves. High fire glaze in a mid too low firing may not vitrify fully resulting in undesired colours and pots that seep water. You can purchase premixed glaze in pints that you brush on, and you can also purchase powdered glaze that you mix in water for dipping. The pint options are great for space saving if you don't have a ton of room to store buckets of dipping glazes. Dipping glazes are great for super fast application, saving you time on brushing glaze on your pots. If you go the dipping route, make sure you're using proper safety equipment when mixing your glazes, and also make sure you are mixing to their specific gravity. Dipping glaze is a bit less beginner friendly, but not too hard if you're willing to put in the time learning how to mix and maintain them!
https://tuckers-pottery-supplies-inc.shoplightspeed.com/glazes-3621618/
5. Open studio space!
If you do not wish to purchase a wheel or kiln, it is a great idea to look into studios around you where you can use their equipment! There are open studios, and there are also guilds you can join. In my area, guilds are a bit more exclusive, and require you to volunteer time and expertise to help the guild. Open studios are a bit more relaxed and you can be a beginner potter with little knowledge to join. I teach out of a maker space here in Newmarket, Ontario and I highly recommend it as a place to start if you're just beginning to dip your tows into the world of pottery! Here you can take classes, join a community group chat, be surrounded by other potters and their creativity, and learn and grow in a very open and diverse community. If you live in the area, check it out! If you don't, then look into spaces around you where you can get access to equipment for a monthly fee.
6. Online lessons!
I'm going to selfishly take this opportunity to pitch my beginner wheel throwing lessons on my YouTube channel. If you're looking for some good instructional videos on how to throw on the wheel, I hope you will check out my channel! Of course, there are tons of other video resources on youtube for beginner potters, and I encourage you to check those out too! Every instructor teaches differently, and it's good to watch a range of content to learn what techniques work best for you. From my videos, you will learn easy and approachable techniques that will set you up for instant success and train you in a way that doesn't let you build bad habits on the wheel. Whether you watch my videos or others videos, take advantage of the ability to learn from online instructors! It's easy and free!
https://www.youtube.com/@BlackCatPottery
7. Find your community!
The internet is an amazing place and it is full of spaces for potters to mingle and share ideas! I highly recommend joining some groups on facebook. If you're shy, you don't need to talk or post, you can just sit back and enjoy all of the amazing posts from other potters willing to share their struggles and triumphs. You can learn so much from these spaces just by reading the comment sections in various posts. Not only will you be able to see amazing projects and glaze ideas, you will also be able to learn from other potters mistakes so you don't have to make them too. Here is a list of some of my favourite pottery groups on facebook:
- Clay Buddies
- Pottery Making
- Alternative Firing - saggar, pit, barrel
- Mayco Mud Room Society
- AMACO Cone 5-6 Glaze Forum
- Clay Fail! A Pottery and Ceramics Shit Show
- Canadian Potters (not just for Canadians)
- Glaze Combinations Galore
- Canadian Studio Art Pottery
- Obsessed With Underglaze
- Sgraffito Enthusiasts
- Pottery Tips & Tricks
I'm a member in all of these groups and I find the communities in each incredibly helpful and inspiring!
8. Buying a Kiln?!
If money is not an object and you're looking to get a kiln, make sure you do your research! There are many used kilns for sale on various market places, but if you do not know how to operate a manual kiln, or have no desire to learn, you will find that most of these used kilns are manual. A kiln with a digital controller is incredibly easy to use and some even let you monitor your kilns firings from your phone for peace of mind. The biggest thing with kilns is that they are properly wired. Sellers will tell you that firing a kiln is as safe as using your oven, but if you don't get your kiln wired professionally, this can result in serious consequences, aka. FIRE! So don't skimp on this step and make sure your kiln is wired by a professional!
When I started out in pottery, I bought myself what I call a baby kiln. Some call it a test tile kiln. It's a very small kiln and operates on a much lower voltage than bigger kilns so its easier to wire. Mine actually plugs in to a socket and doesn't need to be hard wired. The other benefit to my baby kiln is it fires fast! If I start my kiln today, I'll be happily unloading it the next morning, unlike my big kiln which takes a whole day just to cool down. I thought when I bought my large kiln I would sell my baby kiln, but it turns out, I use my baby kiln just as much. I can easily and quickly fire 5 mugs at a time for fast commission turn around and testing results. I also love to use it for lustre firings! In the end, buy a kiln that will suit your needs, but don't underestimate the power, cost effectiveness and usefulness of a smaller kiln when you're just starting out! Here's a link to my glorious baby kiln!
https://tuckers-pottery-supplies-inc.shoplightspeed.com/cone-art-119d-round-pottery-kiln.html
I will update this page with more resources as they come to me! Of course, if you have any questions or need further clarification, don't hesitate to reach out to me!! I'm always super happy to chat all things pottery!
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