Can I Teach Myself Pottery?

Q: Can I teach myself pottery?

Yes, you can teach yourself pottery basics using YouTube tutorials, online courses, and air-dry clay for hand-building. However, wheel throwing is very difficult to self-teach and progresses 5-10x slower than with in-person classes. Most successful self-taught potters eventually take classes for wheel throwing and kiln access. Best approach: combine online learning for theory with occasional studio classes for hands-on practice.

Yes, but classes are 5-10x faster. Self-teaching works for hand-building. Wheel throwing needs in-person instruction. Here's the full comparison.

Quick Answer

Yes, you can self-teach pottery basics with YouTube tutorials and air-dry clay. But wheel throwing is very difficult alone - you'll progress 5-10x slower than with a class.

Best approach: Learn theory online + take occasional studio classes for wheel practice and kiln access.

Self-Taught vs. Classes: Full Comparison

Factor	Self-Taught	Classes
Cost	£20-100 (clay + tools)	£35-300 (sessions/courses)
Learning speed	⭐⭐ Slow (no feedback)	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5-10x faster
Wheel throwing	❌ Very difficult	✅ Hands-on guidance
Hand-building	✅ Doable with videos	✅ Faster with instructor
Kiln access	❌ None (air-dry clay only)	✅ Included
Functional pottery	❌ Not waterproof	✅ Food-safe mugs/bowls
Flexibility	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Practice anytime	⭐⭐ Fixed schedule
Bad habits	⚠️ Easy to develop	✅ Instructor corrects

Best of Both: Hybrid Approach

Most successful potters combine both:

✓ Learn theory from YouTube/online courses (free-£50)
✓ Practice hand-building at home with air-dry clay (£10-30)
✓ Take occasional studio classes for wheel throwing (£35-70/session)
✓ Use studio kiln access for firing pieces (£5-15/piece)

Total cost: £60-150 first year (cheaper than classes alone, better results than pure self-teaching)

What You Can Self-Teach

✅ Easy to Learn Alone

• Pinch pots
• Coil building
• Slab building basics
• Sculpting with air-dry clay
• Pottery theory & terminology
• Glazing knowledge (theory)

❌ Hard to Learn Alone

• Centering clay on wheel
• Throwing consistent walls
• Trimming technique
• Advanced hand-building joins
• Glaze application (practical)
• Kiln firing (need equipment)

How to Teach Yourself Pottery (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Start with Free YouTube Tutorials

Learn pottery basics, hand-building techniques, and terminology. Watch multiple channels for different perspectives.

Recommended channels: Pottery for All, Earth Nation Ceramics, Ceramic Arts Network

Step 2: Buy Basic Supplies

Air-dry clay (£5-15), modeling tools (£8-15), sponge, rolling pin. Total: £20-40.

See complete beginner tools list →

Step 3: Practice Hand-Building Weekly

Make pinch pots, coil pots, slab boxes. Practice 2-3 hours/week. Focus on one technique per month.

Step 4: Take 1-2 Studio Classes for Wheel Throwing

After 2-3 months of hand-building, book a wheel throwing taster session (£35-70). Get hands-on centering feedback that videos can't provide.

Step 5: Use Studio Kiln Access

Bring home-made pieces to studio for firing (£5-15/piece). This bridges self-teaching with functional pottery.

Pros & Cons of Self-Teaching Pottery

Pros:

✓ Much cheaper (£20-100 vs. £160-300)
✓ Practice anytime at home
✓ Learn at your own pace
✓ No travel or scheduling
✓ Good for hand-building
✓ Access to global tutorials

Cons:

✗ 5-10x slower learning
✗ No expert feedback
✗ Easy to develop bad habits
✗ Wheel throwing very difficult
✗ No kiln access (air-dry only)
✗ Can't make functional pottery
✗ Less motivating alone

Self-Teaching? Try a Class First

Just one taster class (£35-70) gives you hands-on feedback that videos can't provide. Combine classes with home practice for best results.

Find Beginner Classes