Consider lighting and ventilation when setting up a space.
Nothing is better than having a dedicated space to practice pottery and other arts. It allows for you to spread out as well as quiet time to concentrate. But it can be hard to find the right space, either at home, or in an outdoor venue. It is important to think about safety as well as space requirements. Be sure to ask the right questions before you commit to renting a space for a small pottery workshop.
What’s your level of curiosity?
First, consider how interested you are in clay. Are you just beginning to experiment with ceramics? You may not know how involved you want to be. Are you just starting out as a potter and want to develop your skills? Are you serious about becoming a potter and have worked in someone else’s workshop, maybe as an apprentice or student?
If you’re honest with yourself, you can decide if you need a studio for pottery or if it’s better to work in someone else until you feel comfortable.
What is the Space That Is Available Now?
The best option is to use an unoccupied space that you can convert to a studio.
A spare bedroom could be enough to make a studio if you’re not working too hard. Perhaps you have a porch at your home that could be enclosed and converted into a studio.
Consider converting outbuildings from your property, or even your garage, to get more involved. A studio could be built entirely freestanding.
You might rent studio space. There may be space available for rent that is set up for pottery. Look for local potters, art associations, and centers.
Are you skilled in hand-building, or do you prefer throwing?
Hand-building pots will take up less space than using a wheel and throwing. You can make pots at home on your kitchen table. And you can still clean up for dinner in a short time. However, you should think about how big a table you will need to build your pots if you are hand building them.
Throwing is inherently messy. You will end up with splatters all over your walls, floors and furniture. You will also need more space for the wheel in the pottery studio. Think about whether you want a smaller, lighter, or bulkier electric wheel.
How often do you work?
Now, you’ve decided what your interest are and whether you’ll be building by hand or throwing. It’s time to determine how many pots or sculptures will you be creating, and how large.
For instance, if you only make a handful of small pieces per month, the best clay space is likely to be different than if there are hundreds of large pots you want to make in a given time period.
What type of storage is required?
Your materials will need a place to call home. You can divide your storage space into two areas.
Materials storage is where your supplies will be stored. This includes dry clay, clay scraps that can be recycled, slurries and slips and glazes. It may also contain dry clay or glaze ingredients, depending on what you need.
You can store your clay pots in shelving. This allows them to dry slowly and is safe from being jostled or bumped. Keep in mind that only thrown items must be kept on the bat until dry enough to be removed. You’ll need shelving to store your greenware, as well as bisque pieces that are still waiting for their glaze firing.
Important safety considerations must be taken into account when organizing and storage.
Keep ceramic materials safe from children and pets.
All potentially dangerous substances should be stored in metal or glass containers. Make sure to mark all containers where these substances are stored. Container storage is best done in locked cupboards or cupboards.
Clear labels are vital for studio organization. Labelling everything is important, especially for dangerous glazes or clay bodies.
What Lighting and Electrical Products Do You Really Need?
For pottery you don’t need full-spectrum lights. However, good lighting is vital for your workspace. Ambient lighting will provide the best lighting, not spotlights.
To determine the lighting needs of your space, measure it and calculate its cubic footage. Take, for example, a 10×10 foot space with an 8-foot ceiling. Multiply all the sides to get 800 cubic feet.
1 watt is sufficient to light 2 cubic feet. You will therefore need 400 watts to illuminate the area in our example. To achieve this level, you could use four 100-watt bulbs or six 75-watt lights.
Another question: Are you looking to rent kiln spaces from another potter or install your own electric fire in your studio space. The wiring for most electric kilns is heavy-duty, just like the ones used to power washers or dryers. It is a good idea to have a licensed electrician install the required wiring for your particular model of kiln.
Is the Plumbing Enough?
For clay working and cleaning up, you need water. Clay and ceramic materials should never be poured down your drain. Clay can eventually block your plumbing and glazes can often contain toxic chemicals that can be difficult to filter out by sewage systems.
A series or buckets are the best way to keep clay out of your plumbing system. One bucket should serve as the first rinse for washing your hands. You can recycle the majority of the clay that remains in it. A second bucket will capture most of the particles remaining on your hands. As an optional extra, you can rinse your hands with a third bucket before washing them in the sink.
Is there enough ventilation?
Every firing produces some amount of gasses from the clay bodies and glazes. You should not use a kiln in an enclosed area unless you have a licensed HVAC technician install it.
If you’re going to be making your own glazes and clay bodies or using an electric airbrush, you will need special ventilation. A separate ventilation system should be installed in the area used for mixing. An airbrush should be used only inside a vented spray booth. Both cases require that you wear a suitable respirator.
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