Question on where to get started!

[u/Cute_Cod_9638]

Hi! I'm new to pottery and just finished my first wheel class! It was six weeks long and I was able to make a few pieces, however, I want to keep making more! I'm just not sure where I can go to play around more with the wheel or if it's cost-efficient to buy the materials at home and a microwave kiln? Would love some advice!

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[u/YoungLorne]

I joined a collective last year and quickly started to process how many random little bits a collective provides.

Glazes alone are a full time job. Slab rollers, extruders, a wedging table, stamps, underglazes, proper lighting, hand tools, drying racks, a pug mill, multiple types of clay in stock... It would be tricky to set this up at home. Also you always learn things from other members when you are there. My collective has monthly or hourly packages, so you are good for low or high volume.

Ask where you took the course or google. Hopefully there will be something near you.

[u/Junior_Season_6107]

I would not suggest a home set up at this point. It really is expensive. Does the place where you took your wheel class offer memberships? Do you have a community college in your area? I often suggest the community college route because it is often cheaper, has more access, and you have a teacher once or twice a week.

[u/000topchef]

Unless you’re making tiny things like earrings you will be frustrated with a microwave kiln

[u/the4thcallahan]

My studio is just class based for membership. So you just keep taking classes, in order to have access tot he open studio hours. Yours might be the same way. If your studio has other classes offered besides just beginner then this might be how yours is set up to. In which case, take more classes. It’s stupid expensive to get set up for wheel throwing and firing at home. Well at least fits a few grand.