How To Begin Creating Clay Pottery

Pottery can become a mild interest, taking up little of your time or money. Alternatively, it could become a major part of your life. If you are only starting out on your pottery journey, it is a good idea to try out clay pottery or take a beginner’s class. If you decide to start out on your own, here are some tips on how to begin.

What’s The Attraction Of Working With Clay?

Clay is a fascinating substance. It will lend itself to your level of skill level, whatever it may be. Pinch pots are easy to make. Everyone will be able to make these – from adults to young children. It is possible for you to learn to make a pinch pot easily and in less than an hour.

Clay is never boring. There is constantly more to explore, more to try out as well as more to create. Be ready for a fine adventure as you take your first steps into the world of pottery because clay is as deep and as broad as the earth that it comes from.

What Type Of Clay Should I Use?

Before considering what type of equipment you need to buy for your pottery-making endeavours, it’s worth thinking about what type of clay to use. The various firing temperatures of each clay type may have a bearing on what sort of kiln you need.

Earthenware

Earthenware is the lowest-firing clay. What is means is that it matures in the kiln at a low temperature. This has the advantage of needing less energy, therefore cheaper electricity bills.

Stoneware

Stoneware is a middle-temperature range clay. There are many types of clay which vary in the exact temperature that they mature at. It is available in a range of different colours from almost white to buff (tan), red or speckled.

Porcelain

Porcelain is the highest-firing clay. If you intend to utilise this type of clay, then you need to make sure that your kiln can reach the required temperature. Many of the smaller, hobby-style kilns won’t go that high. Porcelain is a beautiful and fine ceramic which can be translucent when it is thin. This is owing to its purity. It is also very expensive – it’s around twice the cost of other clay.

Where Should You Do Your Pottery?

It is best to keep the clay in a room or an outbuilding of its own. Clay dust is fine, which means that it will not be picked up – or contained – by household vacuum cleaners. It gets in everywhere, and if you have a computer you enjoy playing at https://realmoneypokies.biz/ on, it could cause damage.

The best space for your pottery will have:

• Floors which are impervious to water and easy to clean, such as concrete or linoleum
• Access to water (but make sure that no clay goes down any drains!)
• A sturdy table, for example, a kitchen table
• Sturdy shelving for the drying process of pots
• A cabinet or other storage area for glazes, where pets and children cannot get to them

Another option is to defer finding a space of your own while trying pottery out. The most straightforward way that you can do this is, as we said before, to take a beginning pottery class.