You can spend a ton on ceramics….trust me I have. There are a million possibilities and variations. Tons of different kinds of clay and glazes. Millions of ribs and trimming tools. Endless possibilities. But the truth is that there are only a few you need…everything else is what you want. And there is nothing wrong with that.
I wont be going into the basics like Needle tools or the ones that come in the babies first pottery kits sold. Instead I’ll be going over the very few basics that I use every single time I throw. These are the jumping off points. Keep in mind that it is all opinion and that everyone has their preferences. Also keep in mind that there is nothing wrong investing in your craft and experimenting is part of the process. Likewise just because these are the basics doesn’t mean you can’t have more. I myself have a drawer and I repeatedly stray to try different kinds of clay and different trimming tools.
Favorite Clays:
-Brown Bear by Kentucky Mudworks- this is my one that comes out black.
-Speckled Turtle by Kentucky Mudworks- red base with speckles.
- Bleeding Speckle by Laguna Miller- cream base with large specks- has a great break where the glaze hits.
Throwing Tools:
Natural Sea Sponge. I prefer this to the synthetic because they hold more water but smoother
Fish stick Ribs by Garrity Tools- my go to rib in both large and small
Red Rib 1- Small and medium work great for smoothing
Wire Cutter by Dirty Girl- I get the thinnest I can because I throw all the way down
Bat System by Northstar: I’ve used a few of these but this is my favorite because it lasts longer/ doesn’t absorb water and warp the same way others do.
Trimming Tools:
Foam mat by Xiem: way cheaper then a griffin grip and makes it easier to press down without hurting your rim.
Set Spinner by Hsinchuen on Etsy: Okay but this is a double ball bearing spinned that holds your pot in place as you trim and doesn’t create friction to throw it off center and is probably the best addition to pottery ever.
All Purpose trimming tool Mudtools: This is one of those things that you can buy hundreds of but this one tool really does have almost all of the surfaces needed to trim.
River stone- I found this by….a river. I use it to smooth edges and burnish. It also just grounds me. And perfectly smooth stone (That you feel connected to) will do.
Glaze brands:
Coyote: This brand creates that creamy thick texture that looks like melted ice cream that I LOVE.
Mayco: Some people live and die by its competitor but I love Mayco. Its cheaper and just as good. Plus their crystal grazes are utterly beautiful.
The Ceramic Shop: I luckly only live 35 minutes away from where this is located in Norristown PA. I’ve just started using their store brand but they are amazing glazes and when buying dry are so affordable.
Other tools:
Carving: Diamond core tools: Pricy but worth it. I love these carving tools and the fact that their blades are replaceable. I would recommend buying the 3 piece set just to see what you like for your specifics.
Grinding: Again, I buy the grinding tool from Diamond core and fix it to a cheap bat. When its done a peel it back with a puddy knife and put a new one on. Its just cheaper then buying the one already fixed and it’s a pretty pricy piece of kit.
Holder: For those of you that watch my throwing videos on Insta, I have a green, spiky holder that I use to hold my tools while I’m working as well as when I’m cleaning them. This is actually a grass baby bottle older I found at Target (Though they are on amazon too). They are cheap and keep your station a bit more organized them constantly loosing your needle tool under your splash pan.