FAQs

How do I choose on the best pottery studio in Rochester for my needs?

Choosing the best pottery studio in Rochester for you can be overwhelming! A studio that is perfect for one person might not be the right fit for another. Location, cost, equipment, instructors, aesthetics, and parking are all considerations. If you are having a hard time deciding where to learn about ceramics, we suggest visiting some studios before you sign up for a class. We welcome visitors to our studio during open hours or by appointment, and will be glad to show you around.

What is the difference between “pottery” and “ceramics”?

While the term “ceramics” can be used to describe everything from industrial ceramics to pottery, the term “pottery” is usually used to describe functional pieces like mugs, bowls, etc., which are made of clay and fired to a high temperature.

What is the difference between a “potter” and a “ceramicist”?

Ceramicists and traditional potters both work with clay, but their techniques and approaches differ significantly. A potter generally refers to someone who makes functional pottery on a wheel. Another quality that potters have is the ability to make production runs of pottery very quickly. Conversely, a ceramicist usually refers to a person who makes hand-built or sculptural work out of clay using a variety of techniques such as coiling, slab construction, or sculpting. At the same time, ceramists may also make functional work out of clay!

Is pottery an expensive hobby?

Learning pottery is not an extremely expensive hobby if you enroll in a class at a community studio. They will already have the equipment you need to make pottery (kiln, tools, tables, glazes, wheels and much, much more). Clay, glazing and firing your pottery is usually included in the cost of classes.

That said, pottery can be an expensive hobby if you start by buying all the equipment needed to make pottery. A new kiln to fire stoneware could cost anywhere from around $1,300 to many thousands of dollars. You can probably buy a new, good starter wheel for $1,100. Although, it’s best to try some classes before you invest in a home studio, to see if you really love to make pottery or ceramics!

How hard is it to get into pottery?

It’s not difficult to get into pottery making if you start by taking a few classes. Hand-building ceramics is one way to easily start making your own work. This method can be learned very quickly and can produce beautiful pieces! At the same time, learning to throw pots on the wheel will take most people a bit longer to learn and quite awhile to master.

Why is learning pottery so expensive?

Creating pottery requires a studio to invest in a lot equipment (kiln, electric wheels, tools, glazes, education and time. Some may think lessons are expensive, while others will think the price of lessons are quite reasonable for what they get in return.

What should i make at my first pottery class?

What you make in your first pottery class can depend on whether you are working on the wheel or hand-building. You may want to start out with creating a simple project like a mug or a bowl. This will help you to get the feel of the clay and working with the tools. Then, you can build on what you have learned to create more complicated projects. Before taking your first class, do a little research online for inspiration. There are many examples of projects, demos and instructional videos (YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram) and photos to spark your own creativity! (Also, many local ceramics studios will have students’ work posted on their websites.)