Is Learning Ceramics Hard?

If you are new to ceramics or haven’t taken a class yet, you may be wondering; Is Learning Ceramics Hard? Well the answer to that question is: it depends. If you have never used clay before, even oven bake clay, to create projects then you may have a bit of a learning curve at first. In this post we will talk about different ceramics classes, which are best suited for beginners, and how you may feel in these kinds of classes!

Classes

Hand Building & Beginner Classes

If you are completely new to ceramics, the best place to start is with a beginner hand building class. In these classes you’ll learn to make pinch pots, coils and coil pots, and many different hand building techniques that are essential. These skills, first and foremost, will help you become familiar with how the clay moves and changes in your hands and this is essential for feeling comfortable in other ceramics courses. Hand building classes are relatively easy and still allow you to create functional pieces. Of course you don’t have to take a hand building class if you don’t want to, if you are dead set on taking a pottery class to learn how to use the wheel, you’ll find plenty of supportive teachers who will help you get the basics down in a beginner wheel class!

One-Time Classes & Workshops

Many studios will have one time classes on a range of subjects including one time introduction to the wheel classes, seasonal workshops that focus on teaching you how to hand build a ceramic pumpkin or Christmas tree, or a vase workshop. These are usually one day classes for a few hours and they help you to create guided pieces in a supportive and fun environment. Classes like this are great for the weekend warriors who may not be ready to commit to a full 6 week class or if you aren’t sure if you’ll really enjoy ceramics, this is a great way to explore the art and pickup small skills.

Intro to The Wheel Classes

If your goal is to work on the pottery wheel, many studios have a few classes each session for absolute beginners. Now my experience in a wheel class, I think, was more successful than others because I’d taken a hand building course in the past. I knew what to expect when the clay was in my hands, and while it still took time to learn the basics like centering, pulling, and trimming, I was creating functional pieces a bit faster than others in my class who were picking up ceramics for the very first time. On the wheel you’ll have to get use to a few things, first is centering the clay on the wheel which is the hardest step. Then you’ll get use to pulling the clay, which is not too difficult, but learning when to not pull too far so your clay doesn’t flop is the main challenge. One you have centering and pulling down, you’ll have some freedom to experiment and learn different skills like making bowls and cups, creating vases or plates, and getting more creative on the wheel.

Another aspect of creating wheel thrown pottery is trimming, which is essential for creating foots (the bottom of your piece like where a cup sits on a table) and cleaning up any roughness. Trimming can make or break a piece, quite literally. If you throw a bowl for example and it is already quite thin, when you go to trim the excess down, you run the risk of poking a hole in your piece or bottoming out when trimming the foot (I say this from personal experience). It’s best to start a bit thicker as a beginner so you can get use to trimming and *hopefully* preserve the integrity of your first few pieces.

Conclusion

Learning ceramics is a fun and rewarding skill and with so many different ways to create and so many things to learn, you are sure to find a class that suits you best. Like any art, ceramics take time and practice, but with the right classes and a bit of enthusiasm, you’ll pick it up in no time! Every studio is different and will offer different types of workshops, different class lengths, and skill levels for each. Take some time to research classes in your area, go to the studio to take a tour and check out the location, and of course ask instructors and students questions about their experiences! The people you’ll find in ceramic studios are often quite friendly and happy to share their experiences and thoughts with you.

Go forth and play with clay!