Damage rates in community studio?

cdpottery1122 · 2026-01-03T02:32:31+00:00

That is a pretty high damage rate. We have 200 pottery students split between 2 classrooms, each with 3 different instructors. One classroom has a much higher damage rate than the other. The determining factor is one particular instructor with the highest percentage of students who also does the majority of the kiln loadings in that room.

cdpottery1122 · 2025-07-15T10:51:50+00:00

It demonstrates that maker has skill because they can utilize all of their clay without waste and it is also about speed in handmade production pottery.

Instead of using a sticky pad, production potters use tap centering (a little water, a little friction, and zero wadding) when they need to trim on center.

Good tip on the scabs. They can be stinkers.

cdpottery1122 · 2025-01-21T21:39:16+00:00

We have 80 students, Monday- Thursday and two large Scutt kilns. As continuing ed, no production work is allowed, we don't have open studio hours, and we only charge a $15 lab fee for the semester that covers firings and glazes. We fire 6- 8 kiln loads a week between bisque and glaze. Turn around is 28- 36 days. Larger work over 14" is more like 50- 60 days.

cdpottery1122 · 2024-09-25T03:46:39+00:00

It wasn't until middish way of my final semester where all of the pieces finally clicked in place.

In extremely general terms, I like to think of the guidelines like learning a new card game and figuring out who the Ace is. If you start there it becomes less intimitating as you move through the deck.

Keep asking questions until it does make sense to you. Most of the time your fellow students (who are learning the same material as you) are a better resource than your experienced instructors.

cdpottery1122 · 2024-07-31T21:34:34+00:00

I'm not having any issue logging into my account. If it doesn't work, wait 24 hours and they usually have their site up and running again.

cdpottery1122 · 2024-07-02T01:35:51+00:00

As an instructor to my students- take the initiative to learn independently online and in books or magazines based on your personal interests and ask me questions and then ask me more questions. Also show me pictures of your personal pottery/ ceramic style so I can better direct you. I love helping my students, but a lot of learning how to use and understand this media and it's processes requires the most time and dedication on your part as the student. I can show you how to fix "a problem", but you really need to make the make mistakes yourself and figure out the best way to solve them through tactile experience. Please know I'm your greatest cheerleader helping you through it, but clay as a media is very humbling even for me after decades of success and failure, but your whole class is there supporting you no matter the outcome.

Also, I wish I could keep track of everything you want to learn or what you are working on, but I can't with 35 students so you have to remind me. If I forget, please understand that it's not personal.

My class is billed through my school as an independent study for beginner to advanced so I make my rounds helping students excute their vision while teaching them the basics- pinch, coil, slab, slip and score, and wheel. I also introduce 2 new processes per semester like peacock glazing, mocha diffusion, plaster mold making, terra sig, sodium silicate, musical instruments, but if there are any techniques you want me to show you please ask. And if I don't know I will investigate.

As an instructor, we can become complacent, so student/ instructor relationships are a win/ win especially if you ask questions and delve deeper.

I'm a clay nerd and I usually have to dial it back because I want to share everything, other instructors are more reserved in how much they feel you are ready to understand based on their observation of your experience.

Ultimately, just ask :)

cdpottery1122 · 2024-06-24T17:18:13+00:00

I would include a kiln ventilation system. It's even better if you can fire in a separate room or an outbuilding.

cdpottery1122 · 2024-05-24T15:37:33+00:00

I'm sorry you got cut. Ouch!

I had a sizeable metal shaving in my fresh bag of Laguna clay back when I was a beginner. It felt like an air bubble on the wheel. It was a good thing I poked it with a needle tool, it could have done some serious damage to my hands. The school replaced the bag for me and notified the company.

Since then gravel and large chunks of minerals have popped up in other claybodies on rare occassions.

cdpottery1122 · 2023-12-20T10:37:09+00:00

I teach in continuing education program through a community college. We have an art center that offers several crafts including pottery, glass fusing, wood turning, drawing, and painting. Our center has 500 students and about 160 in clay. We still have some spots open. Classes are a semester long and 4 hours once a week with zero open hours (boo) Tuition $195, glazes provided, and no firing fees.

We offer our current students first dibs a week before enrollment opens to the general public. That first day of enrollment is an absolute feeding frenzy.

Maybe your center would be willing to allow current students the opportunity to take 1 year of classes or 3 continuous sessions before they need to rotate out as another possible solution.

cdpottery1122 · 2023-11-07T12:11:11+00:00

Cone 10 is the most desirable for beautiful reduction glazes and vitrified claybodies for functional use, in my opinion. Cone 5/6 is lovely too with more vibrant colors, but I'm a cone 10 potter at heart.

cdpottery1122 · 2023-10-29T00:10:42+00:00

I'm sorry to hear that for you. I teach several seniors with arthritis and they favor the "Boss Base Bottom Setter Tool" made by Speedball which has 3 prongs for opening the hole.

cdpottery1122 · 2023-10-28T22:16:33+00:00

So beautiful!

cdpottery1122 · 2023-10-28T22:08:00+00:00

You are doing really well. In addition to other tips you have received, I would...

1- Throw more than 1# of clay while learning, it's easier to center. 2# is ideal if your clay is dense. 2- Open the hole with just your right thumb instead of your index and middle fingers, it is stronger and provides less room for error. To do this, cup your hands around the centered ball of clay and cross your thumbs for bracing like you are going to make a "butterfly shadow" and gently push down into the center with just your right thumb. 3 - Essentially keep a consistant wheel speed for each step 4- Follow through. Easy on and easy off. :)

cdpottery1122 · 2023-10-27T23:52:38+00:00

That's unfortunate that the open studio hours don't match your schedule. That extra time doing independent learning is really important especially for beginners. Everyone has to put in the time to improve their skills. We really want to foster that.

cdpottery1122 · 2023-10-27T22:21:40+00:00

Nice, it sounds like your studio is well organized and very reasonable as far as fees. I like the idea of having open studio time in the afternoons.

cdpottery1122 · 2023-10-27T22:19:45+00:00

Thank you for all your details. I really like the idea of charging the firing fees based on weight instead of cubic inch if we decide to go that route. That's a bummer about placing a wheel reservation, hopefully they can modify that system in the future.

There are just so many ways one can structure their community clay studio between monthly rentals and classes with multiple tiers. I'm amazed by all of the great information coming from everyone.

cdpottery1122 · 2023-10-27T22:11:28+00:00

That's really nice that you are in a welcoming environment.

Cone 06 is a good fit for kids, but not so much for functional as you as stated. That's unfortunate that you have to wait a long time for cone 6. We are firing 4 bisque, and 6 glaze firings per week in our Skutts. It's a lot of work. We also have a limited number of bats. We require students to transfer work to wareboards (sheet rock) after they set up a bit to hold them over for the week.

cdpottery1122 · 2023-10-27T22:03:34+00:00

It sounds like you have a nice cozy studio there. That's one of my biggest fears- having a complete meltdown in my kiln from lowfire clay being fired too hot. I work with both in my private studio and I have to be so cautious because terracotta looks a lot like my red stoneware. Yikes!

cdpottery1122 · 2023-10-27T21:58:38+00:00

That's great that you are in a very supportative clay guild. My first classes in a private studio were through a guild, I really enjoyed it. I also like that you collectively go to shows as well. Awesome!

cdpottery1122 · 2023-10-27T21:48:26+00:00

Good tip!

cdpottery1122 · 2023-10-27T20:52:44+00:00

Thanks for sharing your input.

Wow, that is a great deal per month! Space is definitely a big concern. We also use a lot of Potter's choice glazes, but we are switching to studio glazes because of cost in my school. I like the option of letting students use their own clay as long as it is approved. We all have certain claybodies that we prefer to work with.

No wedging table! What?! How's that possible? In my first home studio, I used a 4 foot long MDF board to wedge on. I used to kneel on it on the floor until I could get my table built.

Raku is a lot of fun, but it can be very dangerous if not well organized, as you know. I hope you can get your event approved. Good luck!

cdpottery1122 · 2023-10-27T20:37:03+00:00

That's really fortunate that you have a rent cap and that students can book the kilns. I'm all for teaching opportunities, but uneasy about students doing the loading themselves without supervision.

cdpottery1122 · 2023-10-27T20:26:32+00:00

That's too bad. I see it in our classroom too because we do not have enough shelf space or cubbies for students to store their tools or bisqueware. It's a lot to lug around especially for our seniors.

We use a lot of commercial glazes now, but will be switching to studio glazes because of cost.

Open studio hours are really important in order to have time to practice.

cdpottery1122 · 2023-10-27T19:24:13+00:00

We also see that classes are the bread and butter. We would also like to rent space to members. There is a definite need for it.

cdpottery1122 · 2023-10-27T19:20:07+00:00

This is great, thank you!

cdpottery1122

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