You’ve finally done it – after months of procrastinating, you’ve finally signed up for your first pottery class but you don’t know what you’re in for. Read on to find out what you can expect from your first pottery class.
The Instructor Will Demo the Pottery Process
In most first pottery classes, especially wheel classes, your instructor is going to walk you through the pottery process by demo-ing how to use the equipment and how to create a pot.
Sometimes the instructor will do the demo with you, step-by-step, or the instructor will walk you through the entire process and then allow you to try it out yourself, helping you troubleshoot as you go.
If you tend to have difficulty paying attention to a long instructions, I would recommend watching a how-to video on YouTube, pausing and absorbing some of the key points at your own pace so you don’t feel lost after the demo
Check out this video by Timsee Clay on Youtube. This is a great video that provides comprehensive instruction that you can review at your own pace before your first pottery class.
Your Might Feel Frustrated
In your first pottery class, you can expect to feel a little frustrated. Pottery has the uncanny ability to quickly humble any first time potter. I am no exception. I walked into my first pottery class thinking to myself “I am going to be a pottery prodigy”. Wrong – so very wrong.
Like any new skill, pottery requires lots of practice. Despite how easy potters make it look on Instagram and YouTube, they’ve been honing their skills for years, and you shouldn’t expect to have the same level of proficiency on your first try.
You’re Going to Get Dirty
It should come as no surprise that pottery is a messy hobby – you’ll be going back to your childhood roots of playing in the dirt. And with playing in the dirt comes getting messy.
If you’re not sure what to wear to your first pottery class, check out What to Wear to Your First Pottery Class.
You’re Going to Lose A Lot of Clay on the Wheel
Students in my classes often say to me “Is it normal to lose this much clay?” and “there’s so much clay on my hands”.
When you’re first starting out, you have not yet mastered the frequency and quantity to add water to keep the clay lubricated – which causes a lot of clay to come off on your hands. You also will find at different stages of the throwing process, you will tend to pull clay off your pot.
With time, your skills will develop and you will be able to work on the wheel and lose minimal clay.
You Won’t Be Throwing Anything Very Big
You can expect to be working with less clay in your first class. This is because mastering the centering process is easier when you begin working with less clay. Only one you feel comfortable with the techniques, can you comfortably move to throwing larger amount of clay.
So if you had in mind that you would be throwing a large vase or a salad bowl, I would set your sights closer to small dishes and cylinders. These expectations will set you up for success and you can progress from there.
You’re Going to Have a New Appreciation for Pottery
Now when you go to your local craft fair, you’re going to look at artisan pottery with a whole new appreciation. Understanding the pottery process will give you insight into just how much skill and time it takes to create a beautiful piece of pottery.
