Pottery career?

[ArthurPoppy]

I've a creative tween interested in a ceramics career. We would love to hear about peoples journeys with this craft. Also any advice. Thankyou

I took a pottery course for 2 years, at the end I got a certificate I can’t remember what it was some sort of level 2 proficiency. Adult learning though so no idea if they end to be 18 plus. I did it purely for fun. Where I grew up as a tourist area there were a couple of small independent pottery studios. Try and visit one to get a feel for it.

Have a look at the work of

Augusta Savage.

Or the sculpture of Kara Walker.

And these people at The Ruskin might be worth investigating.

Thanks will follow the links

UCAS might be a good place to start …

https://www.ucas.com/explore/courses?soc=5441&filterBy=all

I’ve also trained in ceramics at adult learning school. There was a very talented student who was studying an MA so she could become a teacher, she sold her work and then the trainers also sold work on the side. One of the problems with ceramics is the costs involved. There is a lot you need to purchase and it’s expensive, the equipment is costly and the glazes are very expensive too. Firing your work is highly energy inefficient. So it now even more expensive since energy crisis. It’s a ‘slow’ art. Obviously people do make money if they become successful but it would be hard to rely on it as a main source of income. I’d say everyone I’ve met through pottery had another income stream.

That’s interesting to hear

.

That's my experience too.

Thsnkyou