Having a hobby is an essential, creative outlet that everyone needs in their lives. Hobbies come in many different forms, such as collecting, trading, and creating. These all relate to the common thread of creativity, which everyone must explore to develop a sense of balance and purpose in their lives.
Working with your hands stretches your imagination and allows you just to spend time in the moment. Creativity is a carefree stress reliever without any screens, distractions, and other responsibilities.
A perfect example of a creative outlet to try is pottery making. There are many different methods and techniques in the pottery world to explore, and there is plenty of room for creativity, growth, trial, and error. You may wonder how to even start a pottery hobby, but it is even more straightforward than you think.
Take a class
You may just want to try taking a pottery class or two to get yourself started. Classes are a great way to learn directly from experienced potters who can guide you and assist you through learning new techniques, glazing, firing, sculpting, throwing, and more! Classes are also a great place to meet new people who share the same love of creating. So you can make friends, learn, and come out with beautiful art simultaneously!
If this appeals to you, Inspire Pottery Studio is a great studio with expert teachers to learn from. Offering pottery wheel classes in Lancaster, PA, Inspire Pottery is a stress-free, judgment-free zone to create beautiful art among other creators. They have a variety of classes to choose from, including one-time courses, 6-week courses, and even date nights! So if you are looking for a place to start, Inspire Pottery Studio is your best option.
Buy supplies and tools
There are many different supplies and tools you will need to purchase as a novice potter. Some only apply to specific techniques, so if you know for a fact you do not want to try slip casting, you will not need to purchase any molds. But, investing in air-dry clay, a pottery wheel, sponges, slip, wire clay cutters, trimming tools, and more will be essential in your creative journey.
Explore different methods
As previously mentioned, there are a few techniques for pottery-making. There is the ever-popular wheel-throwing technique, hand-building, and slip casting. Hand-building requires the least amount of money in supplies out of these three techniques, but maybe slip-casting and wheel-throwing have always piqued your interest. Try out some methods, figure out which speaks to you more, and run with it.
Follow other potters on social media
Following other potters on social media is a great way to learn more about shaping, cutting, glazing, and firing techniques. Draw inspiration from others, and you will continue to grow in your craft.
With pottery, there are endless opportunities to grow and create. However, it may take a while to grow comfortable handling clay. After all, no one is born a master potter. But, with persistence, an open mind, and a willingness to learn, you will soon have a hobby that you love and are proud of.
If getting started with pottery on your own still sounds scary, remember you can always take a class, like the pottery wheel classes offered by Inspire Pottery Studio. To sign up for your first pottery lesson, head to the Inspire Pottery website today.
