The Many Hats of a Potter

The Many Hats of a Potter: Everything You Have to Think About

Being a potter is more than just shaping clay and firing kilns—it’s an art, a science, and a business all rolled into one. Whether you’re making functional pottery or sculptural pieces, there’s a surprising amount to consider beyond the spinning wheel. Let’s dive into all the things that run through a potter’s mind.

1. Choosing the Right Clay

Not all clay is created equal. A potter has to decide whether to use earthenware, stoneware, or porcelain, each with its own firing temperature, durability, and workability. Then there’s the question of sourcing—local clay, commercial clay, or even digging your own?

2. Mastering the Wheel (or Not)

Some potters throw on the wheel, while others prefer hand-building or slip-casting. Each technique requires different skills, tools, and approaches to creating forms.

3. Drying & Warping Issues

Clay shrinks as it dries, so timing and thickness are crucial. Uneven drying leads to cracks and warping, meaning a potter must be mindful of drying conditions—humidity, air circulation, and whether to cover pieces with plastic or let them dry slowly.

4. Glaze Chemistry & Application

Glazing is its own science. Potters must understand how different ingredients interact, how glaze thickness affects results, and how to apply glaze evenly. Dipping, brushing, pouring, or spraying? Each technique has its quirks. And let’s not forget glaze flaws—crazing, crawling, pinholes, or running onto kiln shelves.

5. Kiln Firing & Maintenance

Kilns need careful monitoring. Firing schedules, ramping speeds, soaking times, and cooling rates all affect the final piece. Electric, gas, wood-fired, or raku? Each has its own magic and challenges. Plus, there’s kiln maintenance—elements wear out, thermocouples fail, and shelves need regular cleaning and recoating with kiln wash.

6. Studio Organization & Safety

Pottery is messy, and good organization makes all the difference. Managing clay scraps, glaze buckets, tools, and reclaiming materials is an ongoing process. Safety is also key—silica dust is a hazard, so ventilation and cleaning routines are essential. And then there’s the weightlifting—lugging heavy bags of clay, loading kilns, and moving finished pieces.

7. Marketing & Selling Your Work

A potter isn’t just an artist; they’re a businessperson too. This means photographing pieces beautifully, running a website, managing social media, attending craft fairs, and dealing with customer orders. Pricing work is another challenge—balancing affordability with the time, skill, and materials invested.

8. Shipping & Breakage Woes

If selling online, packaging pottery securely is an art form in itself. Double boxing, padding, and choosing the right carrier can mean the difference between a safe arrival and a heartbreaking pile of shards.

9. Continuous Learning & Experimentation

No potter ever stops learning. New glazes, new techniques, and new inspirations keep the craft exciting. Every kiln opening is a mix of anticipation and surprise, with lessons learned from every firing.

10. The Emotional Rollercoaster

Pottery is humbling. A piece can collapse at the wheel, crack in the kiln, or come out with unexpected glaze results. There’s the thrill of a successful firing and the frustration of failures. Yet, despite the challenges, the love of clay keeps potters coming back to their studios, ready to try again.

Final Thoughts

Being a potter requires patience, skill, resilience, and creativity. It’s a journey of endless discovery—one where muddy hands and hopeful hearts shape more than just clay, but a life of artistry and passion. So, to all fellow potters: keep centering, keep experimenting, and keep embracing the messy, magical process of working with clay.