Start with your hands.
Let the kiln finish the sentence.
A beginner’s guide to handmade pottery: pinch, coil and slab, how clay dries and fires, first glazes and life in a shared studio.
Hand-Building Your First Pieces: Pinch, Coil and Slab
You do not need a wheel to make good pots. The three hand-building methods teach you how clay behaves, and they need almost no equipment.
DryingFrom Wet Clay to Bisque: The Stages of a Pot
Clay changes as it dries, and each stage is good for different work. Knowing where your piece is saves it from cracks and breakages.
GlazeGlaze Basics for Beginners
Glaze is where pottery gets its colour and its practical surface. It is also where beginners learn humility: the kiln always has the last word.
MaterialsEarthenware or Stoneware? Choosing a Clay
The clay body you choose decides how a piece is fired, how strong it is and whether it holds water. Two broad families cover most beginner work.
Studio lifeStudio Memberships and Class Bundles: Reading the Tiers
Most beginners join a shared studio. Memberships often come in tiers, and the right one depends on how often you will really go.
SellingSelling Your First Pots Online: Photos, Pricing and Getting Paid
At some point friends say you should sell your work. Selling a few pieces online is manageable if you plan the boring parts as carefully as the pots.