Pottery has been a functional skill and hobby for ages. Glazed stoneware was being created back in the 15th century BCE in China. This came around the same time the kiln could be fired at higher temperatures. By the time of the Tang Dynasty, porcelain was first made.

Even if you are not an ancient Chinese trained potter, you can still enjoy the artful hobby. Pottery making can be fun and easy to learn. Any of your items can be made from coils of clay, combining flat slabs of clay, pinching balls of clay, or a combination of these techniques.

When you begin your pottery making hobby, you are going to need several pottery tools and supplies. You will want pottery clay, pottery glazes, a pottery wheel, and access to a pottery kiln. Once you have a pottery wheel, you will need to learn a technique called throwing. The term comes from the Old English word thrawan, which means to twist or turn. This is because a ball of clay is placed in the center of a turntable called a wheel head that rotates, usually by pressing an electric pedal. Throwing can take a good deal of practice and skill, but is fun and relaxing.

In order to complete your piece, you will need to use extreme heat to harden the clay. Firing the clay in a kiln will permanently harden it, but you will need the appropriate temperature for the material you are using. If you plan to become serious about your pottery hobby, you will want to research inexpensive kilns for sale.

Pottery making can be a great new hobby, a way to express your artistic talent, or a way to make traditional, functional stoneware. If you have an interest in pottery making, you should begin researching ceramics supplies and pottery wheels for beginners. As your skills improve, you can invest in better pottery wheels and clays. You will have a fun and relaxing outlet for a lifetime.