Re: career in throwing

If you look in the classified ads in Ceramics Monthly, you may find ads
for throwers, if that's all you want to do.
If you want to start your own pottery business, throwing is about 10 % of
it. The rest is taking care of the thrown pots to final firing, and about
50% of the total time is marketing.  It's easier to make a 100 pots than
to sell 100 pots.
It's as easy to make a living as a potter as it is to be a writer or
musician, that is, it is difficult for all but a few.  After 28 years I'm
finally over $25,000 per year in sales (that's before expenses). So from
what I've seen selling peanuts in the ballpark at Shea Stadium pays
better.
I just made up a rule the other day--people are paid in inverse
relationship to how fun it is to do.  Since pottery is fun it doesn't pay
well, or lots of people would do it for living.  Being a proctologist
isn't fun, so they're paid very well.
As to your specific questions,  both functional and decorative pieces are
preferred by consumers, if they like them.  It is a standard axiom that
blue pots sell best.
Is there a market? Yes, though it varies by location, and there are plenty
of potters already in that market.
Whether in a comeback or dying out may also vary by location.  Judging by
the color ads and heft of Ceramics Monthly, the pottery market must be
doing pretty well overall.
To summarize: You can make a living at a potter. It's not easy. It's
competitive. Everything else in the world is also.
Good luck.
Brad Sondahl

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