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Across the globe many of us are either safe at home or are directly dealing with the effects of COVID-19,however you are effected,we here at The Ceramic School are here with you and would like to send positive vibes to everyone,wherever you are. I know that many of us are searching to craft a new normal in the midst of so much unprecedented change. With schools,and studios closed and cities across the globe placing stay at home and shelter in place orders in effect,finding a creative outlet at home can seem difficult. Fortunately,there are a few solutions that can bring your love of clay into your home!



Here are a few tips to get you started:



In order to get going,you will need a place to set up and work. If you are fortunate enough to have a garage,shed,or basement to work in,that is an excellent place to start but if you don’t,any place with a sturdy table works perfectly. (If you’re in a place with good weather,setting up in the sunshine is an excellent remedy for whatever you may be feeling right now!) &nbsp;



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="alignleft size-large is-resized"><img src="https://staging.ceramic.school/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/73E32DAC-D17D-4EB2-89CE-FC1EA96AD6C9.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-25895" width="352" height="255" /><figcaption>This is my set up at home. I have a home studio but I enjoy the flexibility of working inside too. Here I used my desk space as a place to work. I am able to take this down easily and store my work in plastic bins to keep the moisture in. </figcaption></figure></div>



I’d recommend using a kitchen/dining table or desk. These tables are usually sturdy enough to stand up to wedging and rolling out slabs of clay when working on them. You will also need to make this surface porous to keep your clay from sticking. Fortunately there are few options that you can choose from but in an effort to keep things cost efficient,an old cotton duvet/sheet or a <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00TIXP6EU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_RFJIEbB12P9KP" target="_blank">canvas drop cloth</a>* and <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DZZCHJ7/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_0t3JEb75KFHCF" target="_blank">table clamps</a>* (to keep the cloth from moving) are the best options because they offer some flexibility in location and clean up can be a breeze!&nbsp;Here’s <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://staging.ceramic.school/how-to-clean-your-studio/" target="_blank">another article</a> detailing just how to keep your new studio clean!



You’ll also need a set of tools,depending on your level and interest in clay you can go for a standard beginner set of tools or if you’re of the growing population of folks that have unfortunately lost income,you can DIY some yourself! Here is an <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://youtu.be/wQ38Eq2HKAA" target="_blank">awesome video</a> by Captain Mike on YouTube showing you how to make some from items at home!



Now that you have everything else,the last thing that you will need is some clay to work with! Now,there are tons of options to choose from,my personal favorites are richly colored clays,like an earthen red,dark brown,or terra cotta because they offer the most dynamic surface when glazing often because of the iron that is present. If you have access to a kiln and know the temperature that you’re firing to,there’s a ton of variety out there!&nbsp;



I hope that this information helps and gets you all back creating,wherever it may be. I understand that this current period of uncertainty can be overwhelming for many but finding some time to do things you love and keeping your mind and body active can make it a bit easier to cope. 



Looking for more help getting your new studio space in working order? Here’s a <a href="https://staging.ceramic.school/how-to-organize-your-pottery-studio/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">link to our article on studio organization</a>!

Clay In a Crisis: Setting Up a Simple Low Cost Studio Space

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Clay In a Crisis: Setting Up a Simple Low Cost Studio Space

Clay In a Crisis: Setting Up a Simple Low Cost Studio Space

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