I still have one more session of glazing then I’m done the pottery class! It’s had to reschedule last week’s class because I was away but I am hoping to have the makeup done sometime this week. Because of this it’s been over a full week since I’ve been in the studio, and over 2 weeks since I’ve thrown anything on the wheel. I feel like all the skills I’ve developed are slipping away day by day, which is not a nice feeling! And if I’m being honest, I’ve lost a little of the gusto I had at the beginning of these classes. Not because I’m any less interested or stoked by pottery, but the break in combination with a busy semester has distracted my attention. I know I should be looking into studio spaces where I can practice on my own, but so many places are too expensive, and the ones that are affordable are really hard to get into. In combination with the aforementioned busy semester and I’ve seem to have hit a wall.

The previous studio I worked at was $30/ month which is absolutely unheard of around here. I’ve organized some of my options below in an attempt to motivate me to make some calls, get on some wait lists and get back to touching some mud.

Studio Description Cost
Touci The studio I’m currently taking my classes. Offers drop in hours a few times a week (pay as you go) as well as a membership. The membership comes with storage and kiln firing. Membership: unknown. You have to contact the studio with an inquiry form – but it looks like its for a full on personal space in the studio… which seems expensive

drop in: $20/hour (yikes)
Cedar Hill Rec Centre Hard to get in. You register for a 2 month program, that is specific times and dates. No evening slots, mostly morning and early afternoon. Current sessions are all full, next registration is April 8 for the summer slots (starting in June). Ranges but a current program that is 2 times a week for 9 weeks is $315.
Home Studio Rent my own wheel? Buy my own wheel? Make a home studio? Pricy and requires space
I thought there would be more … …

So that doesn’t seem aggressively optimistic. At least this blog got me to actually call the rec centre which has been on my to-do list forever! Even if it wasn’t exactly the information I’d like to have heard. The schedule for those classes comes out on March 25th so I’ll still take a look to see if anything fits into our summer class schedule… fingers are crossed. That would be an interesting set up, having designated hours twice a week, that I am paying almost $20/session for. It would force me to regularly go and practice which would be good! But I’m not sure my creativity with thrive in a rigid schedule… some days you just want to create… other days you don’t!

The ideal situation is a home studio. I’ve always said I will know I have been successful in life when I have my own studio. Which really isn’t that big of a feat, many people turn their sheds or garages into studio space then have pieces fired by someone else if they don’t have a kiln. As far as life goals go, I think it’s pretty managable. I sadly live in an apartment, so I don’t have the space to be messy. I am also a broke student and setting up a space would require a decent chunk of change. Woe is me I guess… for now! My boyfriend already knows that when we move after graduation, we will be on the hunt for a house with a shed, basement or garage that will be my future studio. Until then I will be practicing the virtue of patience.

This post ended up sounding more negative than I intended it to be. But thats okay! It’s just a bump in the road. Like I said above, my creativity ebbs and flows, but it will always come back! And even though it doesn’t look like free studio time is going to happen for me any time soon, I can always sign up for another class, or pay for the occasional drop-in sessions. I am optimistic. I’ve been doing pottery off and on for 3 years now, it is something that brings me a lot of joy and peace, and something I always come back to. This is not the end of my wheel journey, it is really just the start!

The plan is one more glaze session, then depending on how long it takes to fire the pieces, I’ll either share my final finished pieces or I’ll go to a drop-in session and try to remember how to throw!