Setting up a clay studio at home

CLAY AT HOME
​It’s really important to try to find a space to make art. For many years, I worked on my dining room table, and cleaned everything up and put it away before meals. It wasn't ideal for me, as I wanted to make art all the time, and meals kept getting in the way! So I decided to find space in my home that would be just for making art, and the laundry room seems like a great place to take over, as it has a sink.

The act of working with clay is different than other forms of art. I recommend a dedicated workspace, or a convertible workstation. It could be in the garage, covered patio, or a spare room. If working over carpet, put down some newspaper or a tarp that you can shake outside.  

At home, I work on top of my washer and dryer. I have a countertop over them that is easy to wipe clean, and the floor is linoleum. I like to work standing up, so it is perfect for me. 

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW: Clay is sticky when wet, can clog sinks, and dries to a powder that should not be airborne. My preferred way to clean up after using clay is with a wet paper towel that can be thrown away. If you use a sponge, set up a large bucket in your sink for rinsing the sponge and washing your tools and hands. The bucket will collect the clay particles that would normally go down your sink and cause or add to a blockage. You can wait for the clay to settle to the bottom of the bucket before dumping off the clear water, and either let the clay dry out or scoop the slip into the trash. I have been known to dump the slip in my garden.

If any clay drops to the floor, pick up scraps, then wipe up with a wet paper towel. Do not sweep or vacuum! The dust is bad for your lungs, even with a HEPA filter.

When you are done working with clay, make sure you wrap your clay up tightly. I tend to either wrap my piece in a plastic produce bag (or double bag it!), or place it in a plastic produce container, with the lid on tightly! Sometimes I do both if I am leaving work for a long time.