10 Pottery Studio Supplies You Need to Start Your Side Gig
With job security looking the way it is, lots of people are looking for ways to make an extra income from their creative skill set these days.
Making pottery is one of the ways that you can start a side gig that brings in an extra $100, $500, or even thousands of dollars per month.
Pottery items like ceramic ring dishes, handmade mugs, or earthenware plant potters are trending and are in high demand.
With the right idea, you could be on your way to starting a budding small business.
It doesn’t matter whether you have a lot of space or not much space. A small studio can still be profitable.
The key to success is knowing how to make the products.
But, how do you know what you need to get started?
There are tons of supplies out there and finding the right ones, for your specific needs as a beginner, without getting overwhelmed can be tricky.
In this post, I’m going to break down the 10 best pottery supplies that you need to start your projects, where to find them, and also ways to sell your pottery online.
Tools and Optional Supplies
Pottery supplies include clay, glazes, tools, and other materials that are used in making pots.
These supplies come in many different varieties, so finding the right ones for your needs can be challenging.
Start with the Internet
You can find a wide variety of pottery supplies online.
If you prefer shopping online, there are plenty of options available.
Let’s see what these supplies are.
1. Pottery wheel
First things first, in any pottery studio, pottery wheels are a must-have.
A potter’s wheel is a machine that the potter sits at to shape or throw the clay into a finished ceramic piece, like a bowl or vase.
It can be a manual wheel or an electric wheel equipped with a handle and a foot pedal.
The best brands will have a kick wheel that rotates smoothly with low noise. Take a look at this colorful one with a rotation direction that can be switched clockwise or counterclockwise.
2. Electric kilns
The RapidFire kiln is a small electric kiln that offers the ultimate combination of portability, function, and performance. It can be used by both beginners and professional artists.
It offers the ultimate combination of portability, function, and performance demanded by professional artists, at a fraction of the cost of comparative products.
It is the ideal solution for ceramic firing and weighs just 12 lbs.
The kiln comes with the following features:
- digital control panel
- embedded heating element
- 6″ x 5″ x 6″ firing chamber
- 1500 watts of power
- wide opening door
- heats to 2200°F (1200°C) in less than 10 minutes
3. Pug mill
Pug mills are small clay mixers that are used to mix and keep the material moisturized.
4. Glazes
Choose lead-free, high-fire glazes that work well with stoneware or porcelain clays like this mixed glaze set.
5. Sink trap
A sink trap allows clay sediments to be collected in a closed container under the sink. This is a way to keep your pipes clean and unclogged.
6. Modeling clay
Clay is part of the raw materials that you need. Get a good-quality moist clay like this one. This modeling clay is good for sculpting, hand modeling, and throwing.
7. Work surface
A good work table should also have storage space for your accessories and tools.
8. Pottery classes
Are you a complete newbie when it comes to making pottery? Enroll in a course at your local community college. You can find semester-long classes or an intensive one week session class. Even if you consider yourself a serious potter, you can benefit from learning new techniques. Good news, you can get a discount for a local class using Groupon.
9. Foot pedal
If you opt for a manual pottery wheel, like the one from Artista, you can convert it to a foot-powered wheel with this plug-in foot pedal.
10. Slab roller
Start your projects off with smooth slabs of clay. A slab roller is a machine that saves you time and energy by rolling out the clay for you.
Accessories
Sculpting Tool Set
In this 30-piece tool set, you have everything you need for carving, modeling, cutting, scraping, chipping, brushing, smoothing, and more.
Pattern Rollers
You can make surface pattern designs with pattern rollers. Here are the different textures in this set:
- Dragon
- Phoenix
- Small Propitious Clouds
- Big Propitious Clouds
- 3D Geometry
- Cookie
- Radial Rays
- Prismatic
- Wood Grain
- Sea Wave
Plastic Bags
Store the moist clay in plastic bags in order to keep it from going dry.
Other Ways to Find Supplies
You can also browse through Etsy, Amazon, eBay, and other sites to find the right products for your needs.
Many stores offer free shipping, and some even provide free samples.
If you need help choosing the right supplies, ask friends who make ceramics for recommendations. They might also recommend online shops that sell pottery supplies.
Visit Local Stores
There are several ways to find local pottery supply stores.
- One of the best ways is to search online for “pottery supply store near me.”
- Visit your local craft fairs and ask vendors there what they use.
- Ask your neighbors and friends who own ceramic supplies.
- Ask at your local arts and crafts stores.
Facts and Common Questions
How big should a pottery studio be?
Small spaces can work but your pottery space should be big enough to fit your essential supplies and still leave you room to create and a separate area for the firing process of your projects.
Conclusion
Pottery supplies are essential to creating beautiful pottery pieces. Now that you know the best places to shop for the pieces of equipment, you’re all set to make a good investment in your future pottery business.
