Maximise Your Studio Time- Practical Tips for Potters
I'm back this week with some simple time-saving tips and tricks for your pottery practice.
When I was using a guest room as my studio, I didn't think much about efficiency. I was just starting out and focused on learning and creating. Now that I run a small business with a studio about 20 minutes away from my house, I've had to rethink and change the way I operate to make the most of my studio time. These tips have become integral to my practice, simplifying processes and making them more efficient. I hope you find value in them and can incorporate at least a few to save time and improve your efficiency.
Let's jump right into it!
- Plan Your Studio Time: Planning your day leads to a more productive day and less overwhelm, as you know your tasks in advance. I divide my week into studio and admin days. Studio days are further divided into making days, recording days, and occasional play days. For making and recording days, I plan projects in advance, keeping me focused and excited. This way, I'm not wasting time looking for inspiration and can dive right into creating.
- Roll Out Clay in Bulk: Roll out a bag of clay at once and store it between sheets of plastic. This way, you always have rolled-out clay slabs ready to use without breaking your creative flow.
- Use Templates and Molds: I have drawers full of different templates and molds for commonly made items like plates, platters, bowls, and mugs. This makes it quick and easy to cut and shape pieces without having to measure each time.
- Batch Processing: Group similar tasks together and work on them in batches. For example, when making a batch of mugs, cut all templates at once, add bases, make handles, and then attach them. I work in batches of 5-7 mugs at a time and keep them covered with plastic to prevent excessive drying. This reduces time spent transitioning between tasks.
- Plan Your Glazing in Advance: When you have a large load of bisque ware to glaze, list all the pieces and plan your glazing. This reduces overwhelm and speeds up the task. Though I have to admit, I don't always follow this and regret later. But when I do, it's a game-changer! I have a notebook dedicated to glazing where I plan and note all glaze combinations. Write down the glazes on sticky pads, place them inside or next to the corresponding pot, and separate them into piles based on color. Follow this method for combinations of multiple glazes as well.
- Dip & Pour Instead of Brush-On: Use dip and pour glazes for large batches. This method is quicker and more efficient than brushing on multiple layers and waiting for each coat to dry.
- Wax in Advance: Wax the bases of your pots a day in advance for easier dipping. Batch this task to make the process faster. A quick tip is to thin down water-soluble wax with a little water and dip the pot base in a shallow pan of wax, speeding up the waxing process.
- End-of-Day Clean-Up: Clean your studio before you leave each day. This may seem like a big task, but starting the next day with a clean and organized studio boosts motivation and productivity. Begin your day with important tasks instead of cleaning.
- Incorporate Playtime: Along with regular orders and commissions, I always make time for a few small projects just for fun. Exploring new forms and techniques without any expectations. These projects may become future additions to my offerings, but for now, I create them just for me.
- Keep Your Studio Organized: Keep tools, materials, and finished work organized in designated spaces. An organized studio saves time by making it easy to find what you need and improves workflow.
- Personalize Your Workspace: I've added some personal touches to my studio to create a welcoming and inspiring environment. I have shelves displaying my finished pottery pieces, handmade pieces from other potters, original art work from artists I admire. All these add to the overall vibe of my studio and keep me inspired and motivated.
Remember, efficiency is an ongoing process of learning and refining your methods. Give these tips a try, experiment with different approaches, and discover what suits you best.
It's also important to acknowledge that feeling uninspired at times is normal. Our energy and creativity ebb and flow, so allow yourself the grace to rest and rejuvenate. This way, you can come back to your pottery with renewed energy and inspiration.
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