Want to dive into the world of pottery? This blog post offers plenty of tips on how to get started as a complete beginner. We at Formwerk Berlin will guide you step by step. From choosing the right clay and learning basic techniques to avoiding common beginner mistakes: here you'll find everything you need to know to confidently and joyfully begin your pottery journey.
Motivation: Why pottery is a wonderful hobby
Pottery requires patience and creativity, but rewards you with unique results.
Pottery is no longer a dusty hobby – quite the opposite! Many people experience working with clay as a creative counterbalance to their digital everyday lives . Shaping the clay allows you to wonderfully switch off, reduce stress, and be in the here and now. Your hands are busy and your mind becomes clear, because clay is a material that forces you to be fully present – for many, pottery has an almost meditative effect.
At the same time, you unleash your creativity and end up holding a handmade, unique piece in your hands. This direct, tactile experience is incredibly grounding: you feel the soft clay between your fingers and see how something beautiful emerges step by step from a lump of clay.
Furthermore, pottery is also practical, because with each project you create a useful everyday object – be it a bowl, cup, or vase. In short: pottery slows you down, inspires you, and gives you durable, personal treasures.
First steps: How do you get started?
Getting started doesn't have to be difficult – the important thing is simply to begin. At Formwerk Berlin, we usually recommend that you start with simple projects and don't put yourself under pressure.
A small bowl or a simple cup, for example, are ideal first projects. This way you can quickly experience success and develop a feel for the clay.
What are the options for getting started?
Option 1: Take a pottery class. A beginner's course is especially suitable for your first project. In a class, you have the great advantage that everything you need is already provided: clay, tools, potter's wheels, glazes, and even the kiln. You can try out different types of clay, experiment with tools, and receive valuable tips from professionals – all of which builds confidence in your own abilities.
Another plus: The shared experience is fun and incredibly motivating. Our experience at Formwerk Berlin shows that beginners often progress faster in courses because they can learn a lot from instructors and other participants. So don't hesitate to book a trial course if there's one near you. 
Option 2: Start at home. You can, of course, try pottery on your own at home. The important thing here is to do a little preparation: Set up a workspace that can get messy (e.g., the basement, garage, or a table with a wipeable mat). Working with clay creates dust and spills – so protect floors and surrounding areas and wear older clothes. Set up a simple shelf where your pieces can dry undisturbed.
You don't need much to get started (see tool tips below). For your first attempts, it's best to choose a hand-building technique without a potter's wheel – for example, a small thumb pot or building with coils of clay. These methods work even without much equipment and are ideal for developing a feel for the clay. If you later discover you enjoy the hobby, you can always buy a potter's wheel or take a course.
Our tip: Be patient with yourself. All beginnings take practice – don't expect your first piece to be perfect. Allow yourself to make mistakes and learn from them. At Formwerk Berlin, we always say: you learn pottery by doing – with each piece you'll gain confidence and your technique will improve.
Finding the right key for beginners
The choice of clay greatly influences how easy pottery will be for you at the beginning. Basically, there are three main types of clay used in ceramics: earthenware, stoneware, and porcelain .
For beginners, it's important to know that these clays behave differently: they are fired at different temperatures and have different textures. Porcelain clay, for example, is very fine and tends to become flimsy when shaped – it also dries out more quickly. Therefore, as a general rule, porcelain is more difficult for beginners to work with than earthenware or stoneware. Beginners are advised to use earthenware or stoneware clay instead. These clays are more robust and more forgiving of minor mistakes.
At Formwerk Berlin , we also recommend a clay with a small amount of grog (also called chamotte ). Grog is pre-fired and ground clay that is mixed into the clay body. Why? It makes the clay firmer, easier to shape, and helps prevent your pieces from cracking during drying. A fine grog coating is particularly ideal for hand-built pieces (i.e., without a potter's wheel) because it provides stability without making the clay too coarse. In other words: A lightly grogged clay—for example, a light-firing stoneware clay with fine grog—is perfect for beginners. It's ideal for shaping bowls, cups, or small vases and is more forgiving of uneven wall thicknesses without cracking.
Sibelco WMS 2502 – stoneware clay with spots is, for example, mixed with chamotte.
What about air-dry clay ? This is a special clay-like modeling compound that hardens at room temperature and doesn't require a kiln. Air-dry clay can be a great option for first creative experiments at home – especially if you don't yet have access to a kiln. It can be worked similarly to real clay and hardens in 2–4 days when exposed to air.
But be aware: These clays are not waterproof and not food-safe. You can't use them to make dishes for food or liquids. However, air-drying clay is wonderfully suited for decorative objects (such as figurines, pendants, dried flower vases, etc.). It allows you to try out pottery without having to invest in equipment and a kiln right away. If you later decide you want to make functional ceramics (e.g., cups or plates), you can always switch to proper firing clay.
In summary : We at Formwerk Berlin recommend that beginners use a lightly grogged earthenware or stoneware clay for their first steps. Air-drying clay is a good playground for experimentation, but it does have its limitations. You should steer clear of porcelain for now – you can save that for later, once you have some experience 😉.
Basic techniques: thumb cup, bead technique & slab technique
Pottery is an ancient craft with many techniques. But don't worry – you don't have to learn them all at once. To get started, there are three classic basic techniques with which you can already do a lot:
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Thumb bowl (thumb pressure technique): This technique is perfect for beginners and probably the easiest way to shape a small bowl. You start with a small ball of clay, press your thumb into the center, and then shape the walls evenly by twisting and pressing. This quickly creates a simple bowl – ideal for practice because you immediately get a feel for the thickness of the material. The thumb bowl requires no tools other than your hands. Our tip: Make sure the base of the bowl isn't too thin and that the wall thickness is roughly the same throughout.
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Coiling technique (building with clay coils): This method is suitable for building larger or taller vessels by hand – for example, cups, vases, or planters. You roll long coils (also called coils ) from your clay and lay them on top of each other in a spiral. Each layer is joined to the one below by rubbing or smoothing the seams ( technical term: sealing the seams). In this way, the vessel walls are built up piece by piece. It is important to check regularly whether the wall thickness is uniform and, if necessary, correct the shape with your fingers or a modeling tool. With the coiling technique, you can work very freely in terms of height and width – it is very reliable and was already common in antiquity.
- Slab technique (building with clay slabs): Here you work with flat clay slabs, almost as if you were handling cookie dough. You roll the clay out to the desired thickness with a rolling pin or pastry roller and then cut slabs into the required shapes. From these clay slabs, you can build, for example, boxes, containers, plates, or angular vessels by joining the slabs together at the edges (always roughen the contact points and coat them with slip – a clay-water mixture – so they adhere well). The slab technique requires some planning because you have to measure and cut in advance, but it allows for very clean, straight pieces. Shapes. A tip: To ensure the same thickness of the slabs everywhere, you can use two wooden strips as spacers, between which you roll out the clay.
These three hand-building techniques are sufficient to create surprisingly versatile pieces. Whether bowl, vase, cup or box – many things can be made using thumb-building techniques, coils and slabs.
By the way : Another option is freehand modeling, where you simply start shaping without a fixed technique (e.g., small figures or decorative elements). Here, your imagination knows no bounds.
What about the potter's wheel? Throwing on the wheel is undoubtedly the ultimate skill for precisely creating round vessels like cups or bowls. However, it does require some practice to center the clay and shape it. For absolute beginners, we recommend starting with the hand techniques mentioned above. You can always try the wheel once you've developed a feel for the clay – for example, in a beginner's pottery class.
Our " Studio-Home Set " for beginners with an HSL potter's wheel
Buying your own potter's wheel is expensive and takes up a lot of space; therefore, it's best to try wheel throwing first in a course where someone shows you how it's done. Many of our course participants at Formwerk Berlin were surprised by how much you can create even without a wheel – and then, with a solid foundation, later successfully ventured to use one.
Tools: What you really need to get started
You might think you need huge machines and a whole arsenal of tools to do pottery – but that's not the case! A small starter set of hand tools is perfectly sufficient to begin with. At Formwerk Berlin, we recommend the following basic tools to every beginner:
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Cutting wire: A wire (often with two handles) used to cleanly cut blocks of clay. Also handy for removing finished pieces from the work surface or potter's wheel.
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Wooden or modeling tools: Various spatulas, knives or modeling sticks made of wood or metal, with which you can shape the clay, make cuts or work out details.
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Loop tool: A tool with a metal loop, which you can use You can remove excess clay or hollow out cavities. This is especially useful for giving vessels a uniform wall thickness (e.g., removing the rim of a thumb bowl if it's too thick).
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Needle tool: A type of long metal pin or needle on a handle. It can be used to puncture air bubbles , mark the center point, drill holes, or etch fine details. Many people also use it to test wall thickness (spot check).
- Sponge: A regular sponge (preferably fine-pored) for Smoothing the surface and regulating moisture. Unevenness can be smoothed out, edges moistened, or rounded off using a damp sponge.
These five tools will get you very far. Additional helpful items include a rolling pin (for rolling out clay for slabs), a small knife, or a potter's wheel (if you're more advanced). But none of this is essential to begin with. In our courses at Formwerk Berlin, we provide participants with precisely this basic equipment and show them how to use it correctly.
If you'd like to purchase a starter kit, you'll find suitable sets containing exactly these basics in the Formwerk online shop. Important: You don't need to buy everything right away – many everyday objects can be repurposed (a kitchen knife will do for starters, and any smooth bottle can be used for rolling out the dough).
Pottery at home or in a class? Advantages and disadvantages
Both have advantages — depending on how you prefer to learn.
Course:
You'll receive guidance, avoid common mistakes, and can try out different keys and tools without having to buy everything right away. The creative community provides additional motivation. The only downsides are fixed dates and course fees.
At home:
Maximum flexibility and lower costs. You can practice anytime and progress at your own pace. However, you'll need some space, have to source your own materials, and will often have to figure out mistakes on your own. For functional ceramics, you'll also need access to a kiln.
Our conclusion at Formwerk Berlin: If possible, combine both approaches! Perhaps take a short introductory course to learn the basics and get inspired – and then continue practicing at home.
Many of our customers, for example, attend a weekend workshop and then rent space in our open workshop to work independently on projects. This way you benefit from both: the expertise gained in the course and the freedom to work at home.
Tips on drying, firing and painting
Once the shape and decoration of your piece are complete, the first step is to let it dry! Fresh clay contains a lot of water, which needs to evaporate slowly. Dry your piece evenly in the air, ideally at room temperature – not on a radiator or in direct sunlight to prevent cracking. You can loosely cover thicker pieces to slow down the drying process. A plasterboard or wooden board will help to wick away moisture. Depending on the size, drying will take anywhere from a few days to about a week. If the clay still feels cool to the touch, there's moisture inside – in that case, please wait a little longer.
With air-drying clay, once it's hardened, you can simply paint or varnish the piece. However, for dishes and waterproof items, you'll need ceramic clay and a kiln.
Ceramics are fired twice:
➜ Bisque firing at approx. 900 °C: the clay becomes stable
➜ Glaze firing at 1050–1250 °C: the glaze fuses to form a smooth, dense surface.
You should allow 1-2 weeks for the entire process – patience is worthwhile!
Painting & Glazing:
You can paint air-dry clay with acrylic paints and protect it with clear varnish – but it won't remain waterproof or food-safe. With fired clay, you can glaze it: apply the paint, let it dry, and fire it again. Don't worry, the glaze often looks different before firing – the magic happens in the kiln ✨
Our experience at Formwerk Berlin: Even the first glaze firing brings a sparkle to eyes – every piece is a unique original!
Typical beginner mistakes and how to avoid them
No one is born a master – mistakes are part of pottery and are actually a good thing because you learn from them. However, you don't have to make every beginner's mistake yourself. Here are some typical pitfalls in pottery and how to avoid them:
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Unprepared clay: Don't jump straight into modeling; always knead your clay thoroughly before you begin. Vigorous kneading (also called "waving ") removes air bubbles from the clay and makes it more homogeneous. Air bubbles in the clay can later lead to unsightly cracks or even explosions during firing – so it's better to invest a few minutes until the clay is nice and pliable.
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Working with too dry or too wet clay: Keep the clay supple and moist throughout your work, but not dripping wet. A common mistake is either using no water at all (which causes the clay to crack when shaping) or adding far too much water (making it mushy and unstable). Occasionally spray or dab the clay with a little water to prevent it from drying out. If it feels slippery , give it a short time to dry. This feel for the right clay consistency will come with practice.
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Uneven wall thicknesses: Ensure that the walls and bases are of uniform thickness. Very thin areas are prone to breakage, while extremely thick sections take longer to dry and develop tension. Therefore, try to avoid extreme differences in material thickness. For larger pieces, you can, for example, leave the base slightly thicker than the walls, but overall, the thickness should be consistent. Use a needle tool to check the thickness occasionally (simply insert the needle until just before piercing the surface, then read the thickness on the outside).
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Parts not properly joined: When attaching handles, decorations, or other parts, roughen both contact surfaces and use slip (clay mud) as an adhesive. Beginners often simply press parts on without preparation – this causes handles or decorations to fall off during drying or firing. So take the time to make cross-hatched scratches on both sides with a needle or knife and apply wet slip before attaching them.
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Drying too quickly: As mentioned above, haste is your enemy when it comes to drying. A common beginner mistake is placing the freshly made pottery on the radiator or trying to speed up the drying process with a hairdryer. This causes it to dry too quickly and unevenly – and cracks are practically guaranteed. It's better to let your pieces air dry slowly and, at most, cover them with a cloth if you want to prevent cracking. Turn the piece occasionally so that all sides get air. Patience really pays off here.
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Impatience during firing: It's equally important not to rush the firing process. Give your piece enough time in the bisque firing and adhere to the firing curves (slow heating and cooling phases) if you're firing it yourself. Never open the kiln while it's still hot – the temperature shock could cause the ceramic to crack. If you're having it fired at a workshop, trust that they know what they're doing. And if a piece does happen to break in the kiln, take heart: even professionals experience this occasionally.
- Glazing mistakes: The most common mistakes when glazing are that the pieces aren't clean (grease or dust -> glaze won't adhere) or that the glaze is applied too thickly or too thinly. When in doubt, it's better to apply two thin coats of glaze than one thick one. Also, make sure to leave the base glaze-free, otherwise your piece will stick to the firing plate in the kiln! Keeping a little space from the edge or applying wax to the base will help. And as mentioned before: Don't be surprised if the color looks different in its raw state – the final result will only be visible after firing.
Don't worry if you make one of these mistakes – it's normal! The important thing is to learn from it and do things differently next time. Every failed attempt actually takes you a step further on your pottery journey. At Formwerk Berlin, we always encourage our workshop participants: Have fun with the process and see mistakes as experiments. Often, unexpected effects emerge that give your pieces character. So: just do it, try things out, and don't be too perfectionistic!
Conclusion: Stick with it and enjoy pottery!
You see, learning pottery is a journey that begins with the first step – or rather, the first lump of clay . 💚 Don't let perceived obstacles discourage you. Anyone can learn pottery if they're willing to practice and embrace the adventure. Curiosity and enjoyment are key. Enjoy the calming process of working with your hands and celebrate your progress – whether it's your first hand-shaped bowl or a mug that might be a little crooked but made with love.
We at Formwerk Berlin hope these tips will make it easier for you to get started. In our community, we're happy to offer advice and support – whether in our courses, through discussions on social media, or in person at our pottery shop in Berlin.
Keep at it and, above all, have fun experimenting! With each piece, you'll gain confidence, and who knows – perhaps your very first simple attempts will soon lead to your very own ceramic collection. We at Formwerk Berlin are excited to see your creations and wish you much success and enjoyment on your pottery journey.
Happy Pottery Ring! 👐🏼👩🏻🎨