| Before you start making ceramic, it is | | | | finish it there. In all likelihood, you will |
| important to collect all the tool and | | | | buy the few necessary tools from your |
| material needed for your work. Take a tip | | | | teacher. This will be the start of your own |
| from this article on what are the things to | | | | home workshop. |
| be collected and how to get prepared. | | | | |
| | | | Of course many new ceramists begin by |
| There is a vast variety of tools and a | | | | immediately furnishing a complete studio, |
| equipment now available to the ceramics | | | | from clay to kiln. In most cases this is not |
| hobbyist. Suppliers catalogues are jam-packed | | | | advisable for two reasons. First, there are |
| with paraphernalia for the amateur workshop. | | | | financial considerations which would |
| After paging through one of these catalogues, | | | | frustrate this grandiose plan of action for |
| the beginner is apt to be over impressed with | | | | most people. Second, it is more prudent to |
| the necessity for fancy tools and equipment. | | | | wait and see what type of equipment is best |
| Fact is, however, that very few implements | | | | suited to your personal needs and desires. |
| are can't-do-without for the beginning | | | | The clay worker who wants to specialize in |
| ceramist. | | | | hand-sculpture will not require the very same |
| | | | tools and materials as the one whose skills |
| A working surface covered with a piece of | | | | and fancy lean toward pottery. |
| oilcloth, wrong side up; one or two simple | | | | |
| modeling tools, a knife, and about five | | | | When you select a site for your workshop, |
| pounds of clay are all you need to start | | | | make certain it is not exposed directly to |
| shaping your first object. The cost of these | | | | extremes of heat or dampness. Good lighting |
| is negligible. Most clay, for example, can be | | | | is also important, contributing both to the |
| bought from retail dealers at about 15 cents | | | | ceramist's comfort and to the quality of his |
| a pound. | | | | work. Running water, or easy access to water, |
| | | | is also desirable. Until you start to |
| Build your collection of tools slowly, adding | | | | accumulate a sizable collection of tools and |
| items as you need them. It is likely that you | | | | equipment, and want to set up your own |
| will do your first clay-craft in a local | | | | workshop, your kitchen should serve the |
| studio or classroom, under the guidance of a | | | | purpose. |
| professional teacher. It is not probable that | | | | |
| you'll begin sculpting or casting your own | | | | Many tools you will be able to make easily |
| pieces in a mold. Instead, you will be | | | | for yourself; others you will find already at |
| supplied with green ware, a fettling knife, | | | | hand about the house. No matter how far you |
| brushes, colors and glazes. You will remove | | | | advance in the ceramics art, you'll find the |
| the mold marks from the greensward, smooth | | | | most useful tools are your fingers. Every |
| the surface, add some decoration and glaze. | | | | other modeling device is employed simply to |
| Then the professional ceramist will fire it | | | | supplement the work that can be done with |
| for you in his kiln. | | | | your hands. When shaping a piece of clay, |
| | | | tools will only assist your fingers. They |
| After you have learned to do this, which | | | | will not accomplish anything that can't be |
| should not take more than one or two lessons, | | | | done with your fingers. |
| you may want to take the green ware home and | | | | |