Traditional Hobby Ceramics

Hobby Ceramics was originally an American concept dating back some 90 years, introducing the general public to the unique craft of creating versatile, individual and beautiful real Ceramics, rather than the brown lumpy items so often produced at conventional "Pottery Classes". Massively successful, it spread across the world , but in recent years popularity has waned in favour of the more "instant" Contemporary Ceramics which evolved from it. Nevertheless, we believe this is but a temporary trend and that in time people will rediscover the vastly greater range of creativity and variation that the basic Hobby Ceramics permits. It is still useful to understand something of the process, as it is the basis behind our modern process, and some of the same techniques can still be incorporated into the cafe environment.

A liquid 'White Earthenware' clay called 'Slip' is poured into a plaster mould and left a while for the water from the slip to absorb into the plaster, forming a layer of clay on the inside surface of the mould. The excess slip is then poured out and the clay is allowed to dry. After a few hours the mould can be dismantled and the clay shape (or Greenware) is removed. The greenware is then left to dry and the visible seam lines are removed, called fettling. At the greenware stage the ware is quite fragile and can be easily broken by the novice, however if designwork is to be carried out on the piece this is usually the best point to do so, due to the greenware's smooth texture and absorption qualities. A little simple training and slight practice soon results in breakages becoming rare events. The greenware is then fired in a kiln to well over 1000 degrees Celsius. This results in an harder, stronger and more porous piece which is referred to as 'Bisque'. At this stage the bisque can, if not already decorated as greenware, be 'stained' with colours that require no further firing. Otherwise it is finished with special glazes that need to be fired in the kiln to achieve the rich and glossy, real ceramic look we are so familiar with. What draws people to Hobby Ceramics is that anyone with a little help can do it, creating pieces that compare with, if not shame, the ceramics they already have at home. No prior experience of clay, pottery or artistry is required, or necessary.

Aha! this is where we come in! Our hobby ceramic business is centered around setting up 'Dealers', or 'Studios'; teaching, helping and supplying you with the skills, products and knowledge to find, equip, open and operate your own independent friendly local studio where the public are able to come and spend a session, most often an evening, under your tuition creating beautiful ceramics. They purchase the greenware from you, (profit 1), decorate it with colours, glazes, etc. which they buy from you, (profit 2), and you do the firing for them in your kiln, (profit 3), paying a small class fee for their studio time, (profit 4). Although this may seem a lot of profits, which it is, you are giving very good value and creative pleasure for money, and you do not meet customer price resistance. Your customer always has a choice, in a hard up week they may choose a small inexpensive item, although mostly they choose bigger and bigger items as their skills, (and your profits!), grow. This is all usually done in an 'evening' class environment at your premises in a very relaxed and social atmosphere. The creative satisfaction and social friendship becomes very addictive, your 'Customers' soon become your, and each others, friends, and their regular weekly Ceramics Class 'fix' is something they will go through Hell and high water to get to. The average 'customer life' in a good studio is literally 6 - 8 years, on a regular weekly basis!!!!! What more could you ask for in an independent business; regular, dedicated, CASH customers? In time there is additional business to be had supplying some of your Ceramists who discover they can get profit and pleasure as they decorate items at home to sell at craft fairs, offices, various shows. or by Party Plan. These you supply at a discount, but still very profitably, with greenware, product and firing, eventually even selling them their own kiln.(Yes, you guessed it, more profit!) Larger studios in recent years have also found business supplying the Ceramic Cafés with special or unusual bisque, (giving more profit from your stock of moulds.) Everything necessary for your Hobby Ceramic studio is available from Hobby Ceramicraft, from slip to kilns, books to brushes, colour to equipment; along with, most importantly all the support, education and backup needed to build and establish a successful business.

In the past most Hobby Ceramic studios started with a kiln, some moulds, slip , and quite a large range of 'colours', (onestrokes, underglazes, glazes and stains etc.) Often in a garage or shed, with a few friends coming along to discover the magic. A very intensive 6 day course was considered an essential to grasp just a little of the wide variety of products and techniques used in this fascinating business. As demand grew, they were virtually forced to find bigger premises, converted farm buildings, light industrial estate units, even small shops in a village or fringe of town. Profits grow only slowly, as takings were constantly ploughed back in to buy more and more moulds and wider colour ranges, but that slow growth is sound and solid, the friendship and business satisfaction absolutely enormous. With the growth of the Ceramic Cafés and the high demand for training courses, it is no longer viable for us to run full 6 day courses, instead we have one and two day mini courses mentioned below. Today there is another route also open to you. Flip in a minute to the Pottery Painting Parties pages and look at that idea. The advantage in starting as a Pottery Painting Party Person is that with just a kiln, one colour line, glaze and a selection of ready made bisque, 2 days training, and you are in business! No moulds, no slip, no messy pouring, small colour product range, no customer studio premises, yet instant income! You can always grow further into a full Hobby Ceramics business in time if you wish. Once established as a profitable business we find many people and their customers want to learn more! This is exactly what is not normally available at the Ceramic Cafes yet something the Party People are soon hungry for. Instead of the expense and hard work of the old 6 or 8 day concentrated courses covering the whole range of products and techniques of Hobby Ceramics, Hobby Ceramicraft has our "Show Me Some More" seminars. These are one day events for our trade customers, Hobby Ceramic, Party People, or Ceramic Café. Each seminar is held on a Sunday, repeated on the Monday, and takes just one product range / style or technique of decorating / or different material, (clay, slip, or whatever), and each is a different hands on one day of adding just a bit more to your ceramic knowledge. This way you can start off with the simple Part Type business, and then add a bit more and a bit more, growing at your own speed, until maybe you now encompass the full large Hobby Ceramic range of products and techniques. The choice is yours! See our Special Events page. Please contact us for more specific information for your individual requirements. (If you live in America, please contact a U.S.A. distributor, we would not wish to poach their customers).