TIPS FOR FIRST TIME POTTERS

It’s a New Year and you have always wanted to try your hand at pottery. What better time than right now! So you sign up for a one day workshop at Happy Hands Studio – Kudos to you! Some of you may have never worked with clay ever or maybe a long time ago as a child. Here are a few gentle reminders to prepare yourself before and during the much awaited pottery class:

BEFORE the Pottery workshop

• Cut nails short – having short nails is highly recommended to stop you from damaging the walls of your clay pot. The clay will be moving between your hands at a fairly fast speed and long nails could easily damage your creation so keeping them as short as possible will avoid this.
• Wear clay clothes and shoes – meaning clothes and shoes that you do not mind getting a bit messy. You will be surprised on where the clay could possibly land and so it is better to wear something that you would be comfortable in and not be too worried about. Saying that clay can be washed off very easily with water and does not stain.
• Watch videos – there are many videos on social media and Youtube that will give you an idea of what to expect when you are working on a pottery wheel. You will get familiar with the terms and methods used plus watching clay videos is so very relaxing

DURING the Pottery workshop

• Stretch your lower back before you sit at the wheel and take stretch breaks during and after the class. It can be a bit hard on your body from leaning forward for long periods of time and stretching will prepare your back for this
• Be prepared to use your forearm and shoulder muscles – you will be using 1lb of clay but even for as little as that, you will be using your arm muscles to control it on the spinning wheel
• Leave your ego at the door – pottery can be a lot harder than it looks. Give yourself a lot of grace if you do not pick it up right away or struggle on your first pull. Leave your expectations at the door and go in for the experience of learning to do something completely new and having fun while doing it. Be patient with yourself and be prepared to fail.
• Moisturize after your workshop as you will find your hands feeling very dry from the clay
• And finally learn to enjoy the process! Pottery is a skill that you master from putting in lots of practice and it is a very worthwhile journey.

Exploring the workshop as an opportunity to learn and staying in the moment will lead to a much more enjoyable experience.

Have fun and come back to tell us how your experience was – those of us who teach beginners love getting feedback about what/how things click (or don’t!). Good luck!

Sign up today for your next pottery class if you haven’t done so already!