What to Consider When Setting Up a Pottery Studio

Some crafts require little or no extra space to participate. Pottery is not one of them. Depending on your technique and your attitude toward pottery, you could need a free corner in your home or an entire separate building. Here are some things to consider before you choose a space for your studio.

• Do you plan to handbuild or throw? The act of handbuilding does not require a great deal of space. Unless you plan to do it frequently, the kitchen table should be sufficient and can be cleaned up easily to be used for other purposes. But if you’re throwing pottery, you’ll need a space that’s large enough to accommodate the type of wheel you plan to use. And since throwing is significantly messier than handbuilding, you’ll probably want a dedicated room or building.
• Will you need to store lots of pieces? If you’re planning on selling your work, you’ll definitely need some storage space for it. You’ll also need some sturdy shelves to hold your finished products.
• Where will you store your materials and supplies? Again, this depends largely on how much you plan to produce. If you’re just creating a piece every now and then, a small shelf or drawer unit might work. If you will make several pieces a week, you may need an entire room.
• Will you have your own kiln? A kiln is not a necessity, because many pottery shops will fire pieces for their customers. But if you’re producing a lot of products, you’ll probably want your own kiln. If you do get a kiln, you’ll need a separate building. You’ll also have to put it in a location where it can be adequately ventilated. And you’ll need heavy-duty wiring to take care of its power needs.
• Adequate lighting is important in any craft, and pottery is no exception. If you’re working inside your home, lamps may be enough to compensate for poor overhead lighting if necessary. If you’re building a dedicated studio or converting an existing space, installing plenty of lighting is the best course of action.

As a general rule, you’ll need one watt of power dedicated to lighting for every two cubic feet. Multiply the length by the width of your space, and multiply the result by the height to get your cubic footage. Divide by two to determine how many watts of total lighting you’ll need, and install fixtures accordingly.

If you plan to pursue a career in pottery, your needs will be much different than if you just want to handbuild a piece every now and then. Carefully planning your studio will ensure that you have all of the space and resources you need without going overboard.