GEP

Follow @goodelephantpottery on Instagram   @catiemillermillerceramics   on Instagram (who just had a great post today about what it takes) and @jenallenceramics and @chandradebuse and so many others as well as @Mark C.    It will give you an idea of what it takes.
Roberta

I think "making a living"  is perhaps not the best way to look at it. Making it "your life" might be more congruent with what it ultimately takes to bring home the bacon in such a tough field and especially in such tough times.  Another important aspect is whether or not one is going for production that sells fairly readily, or is the focus more on higher priced, less quantity, fine art pieces? The markets & marketing are so different. There  are so many ways to generate income from ceramics, but in any circumstance a solid business plan, and an overdose of perseverence, are essential. 
 

How about a video instead? I have an upcoming show where they filmed a Artist Talk with me via Zoom. The point was to give show attendees a look inside my studio:
https://www.pmacraftshow.org/artist-talk/2022/mea-rhee

How about a video instead? I have an upcoming show where they filmed a Artist Talk with me via Zoom. The point was to give show attendees a look inside my studio:
https://www.pmacraftshow.org/artist-talk/2022/mea-rhee

How about a video instead? I have an upcoming show where they filmed a Artist Talk with me via Zoom. The point was to give show attendees a look inside my studio:
https://www.pmacraftshow.org/artist-talk/2022/mea-rhee

How about a video instead? I have an upcoming show where they filmed a Artist Talk with me via Zoom. The point was to give show attendees a look inside my studio:
https://www.pmacraftshow.org/artist-talk/2022/mea-rhee

How about a video instead? I have an upcoming show where they filmed a Artist Talk with me via Zoom. The point was to give show attendees a look inside my studio:
https://www.pmacraftshow.org/artist-talk/2022/mea-rhee

How about a video instead? I have an upcoming show where they filmed a Artist Talk with me via Zoom. The point was to give show attendees a look inside my studio:
https://www.pmacraftshow.org/artist-talk/2022/mea-rhee

How about a video instead? I have an upcoming show where they filmed a Artist Talk with me via Zoom. The point was to give show attendees a look inside my studio:
https://www.pmacraftshow.org/artist-talk/2022/mea-rhee

How about a video instead? I have an upcoming show where they filmed a Artist Talk with me via Zoom. The point was to give show attendees a look inside my studio:
https://www.pmacraftshow.org/artist-talk/2022/mea-rhee

How about a video instead? I have an upcoming show where they filmed a Artist Talk with me via Zoom. The point was to give show attendees a look inside my studio:
https://www.pmacraftshow.org/artist-talk/2022/mea-rhee

Enjoying the studio pics, thanks for sharing!
Open Studios Art Tour just over, here the tables have been put away, some of remaining ware put away, the bikes, buckets, mop, vacuum, etc. that were cleared away brought back in.

Above, from the corner behind the kiln.
The wood shelving typically is encumbered with work in progress - raw clay and/or bisque awaiting next steps, glazed ware awaiting final inspection, polish, wash.
Putting that shelving up makes it easier to reach, and provides bucket, bag, etc. storage below.
Behind the person door is a large cabinet - glaze materials, tools, notebooks.
This space also serves as bike headquarters and general repair/puttering place, but it's mostly pottery.
The Cervelo is #1 bike.

Looking back from the person door.
The shelves behind the kiln are almost always for raw ware.
There's enough counterspace to deal with a full kiln load and still have room for glaze buckets, tools, and some other stuff.
The windows supply nice light. Even so, the two eight-foot bulbs and two four-foot bulbs aren't quite enough, hence the several spot type lights...
The Wilier is #2 bike.
In left corner there's more shelving, wedging area, and the sound equipment - amp, old laptop, subwoofer.
The surround speakers are up high.

Throwing area and slab roller, shelving to the right of the wheel, large drying cupboard on the left beside the pugger. Glazing and kilns in another area.

 

Yes, @oldlady, the phones show pictures the same way your laptop does, just on a tiny screen. But we can zoom in, so it’s not bad at all.
And @LeeU thank you for sharing your space. As soon as Pres posted the question I had that feeling of “Be careful with you wish for, now you have to share too!
Two shots of the same space from different corners. My partner and I have a studio together, which for normal people would be a garage. It does serve some extra functions as a workshop and storage area, but it’s 90% clay studio. The utility sink was a later addition, and what a wonderful day that was. The two kilns are outdoors. 

This is in a 12X14 space. Buckets of clay and greenware shelving are the left of the windows; shelves glazes are to the right of the utility sink. Not shown is shelving for volitiles (glues, mineral spirits etc) , jewelry & wall hanging-making supplies (cords/fittings), markers,  Xactos, enhancements like glitter (yes, I do), a book shelf w/ceramics texts, whiteboard (& whatever that is that is shoved behind the door...oh, it's my invaluable UpCart). The kiln is on the back porch.

This article* might be "the latest" on the subject:
Physicists say they’ve finally solved the teapot effect—for real this time | Ars Technica
where a case is made for the "teapot effect" being related to the flow rate.

To me, it says when the liquid is flowing fast enough to "detach" from that lower edge, there's no dribbling; when the flow rate isn't fast enough to cause detachment, there is dribble.
Hence, design such that
  a) the flow rate required for detachment is lower,
  b) and the transitions between no flow and high flow (and high to none) are very quick.
Seems to me there's still work to be done to share the findings in everyday terms for practical application, heh.
*Actually, the article refers to the latest (link below), which I'd rate as a challenging read:
Developed liquid film passing a smoothed and wedge-shaped trailing edge: small-scale analysis and the ‘teapot effect’ at large Reynolds numbers | Journal of Fluid Mechanics | Cambridge Core

This is my finished kiln. The interior is 32 x 32 with a height of 34.  Nine inch wall of IFB . I am only part way through framing the shed around the kiln.  It is a down draft with two power burners.  The bisque firing took 8 hrs and my very first cone 6 firing took  10 hours.  I took it slow with two venturi burners for the first 3 hours before firing up the two power burners.  I was a bit hesitant to go fast from the onset, especially when I am so new to all of this.  The kiln is at about 250 degrees Celsius right now.
Things I've learned so far:
1.  A small adjustment in the damper make a huge difference.
2.  The kiln has it own rate of heating up. Resist the temptation to give it more gas. Instead, be patient.
3. I need better WiFi coverage out by the kiln.
I know this is not earth shattering, but I made it with my own 2 hands. So I am tooting my own  horn. I am excited
 
Jed
 
 
 
 
 

Glazing pots today, couple pictures of things I use that make it easier for dipping and cleaning up plates or other flat(ish) pots.
First one is a tool for lifting plates out of a steamer, I use it for dipping flat things in glaze, doesn't leave any marks on the topside of the pots to clean up. 3 small contact points underneath, my glazes are fairly forgiving so I don't bother wiping them out. It's also good for when you only have a bit of glaze left in the bucket since you dip horizontally and not vertically. The one I have opens to about 12".
Other thing I use is a 5 gallon bucket with the bottom cut off with a jigsaw then squeezed into an oval for pots that are too wide for the buckets or bowls. I line it with 2 kitchen bin bags and tape the outside. First time you use it the air between the bucket walls and the bags will puff inwards so you need to make a tiny incision in the plastic bags near the top then the glaze will push the air out as you fill it up. I put it in a rectangular bin while using it just in case it springs a leak.
    

If these are for jurying, they look “proper” to me. 
My one suggestion, invest in a backdrop that gradates with more contrast. Whiter in the front/bottom and much darker in the back/top. It will give the photo more depth, and make the pot stand out more. I like the Flotone “Thunder Gray” backdrop. 

If these are for jurying, they look “proper” to me. 
My one suggestion, invest in a backdrop that gradates with more contrast. Whiter in the front/bottom and much darker in the back/top. It will give the photo more depth, and make the pot stand out more. I like the Flotone “Thunder Gray” backdrop. 

If these are for jurying, they look “proper” to me. 
My one suggestion, invest in a backdrop that gradates with more contrast. Whiter in the front/bottom and much darker in the back/top. It will give the photo more depth, and make the pot stand out more. I like the Flotone “Thunder Gray” backdrop. 

If these are for jurying, they look “proper” to me. 
My one suggestion, invest in a backdrop that gradates with more contrast. Whiter in the front/bottom and much darker in the back/top. It will give the photo more depth, and make the pot stand out more. I like the Flotone “Thunder Gray” backdrop. 

Hi Mea,
Thank you so much! I just ordered the background. 
I just to tell you that I love your work and I also loved your online glaze courses.
Thank you again!
Lucia
 

If these are for jurying, they look “proper” to me. 
My one suggestion, invest in a backdrop that gradates with more contrast. Whiter in the front/bottom and much darker in the back/top. It will give the photo more depth, and make the pot stand out more. I like the Flotone “Thunder Gray” backdrop. 

I started out in a community studio, so did not need either piece, but was feeling like I was ready to put together my own space, at the same time ambivalent about leaving. 
A chance conversation ended in somebody gifting me a kiln, and I took that as a sign, so I bought the wheel.