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Exploring My Favorite Techniques and Tips for Pottery Beginners
When it comes to working with clay, there’s one technique that always draws me back—the wheel. While I’ve experimented with hand-building here and there, throwing on the wheel is where I feel the most connected and in control. Recently, I’ve been challenging myself to throw larger pieces, which has been a big step out of my comfort zone.
Why I Love Throwing on the Wheel
There’s something meditative about throwing clay on the wheel. I love the rhythmic motions of centering the clay, pulling it up
wards, and shaping it into something new. It’s a dance between me and the clay—one where I control the form (unless the clay decides to get too wet or dry, of course!). It’s a technique that allows me to feel fully present in the moment, and
I get to see the immediate results of my hands working with the clay.
I’ve been focusing on larger bowls recently. Honestly, I never liked working with bigger amounts of clay—it used to intimidate me. But as I’ve grown my business and my variety of pieces, I’ve been pushing myself to throw larger, more intricate pieces. Sometimes the pieces flop, but with every flop, I learn something new. The more I throw, the better I become.
The Struggle (and Growth) of Hand-Building
While I love throwing on the wheel, I’m not going to pretend I’ve mastered everything in ceramics. Hand-building has been a technique I’ve struggled with, but it’s one I’m determined to explore more in the future. There’s so much potential for creativity with hand-building, and I want to push my boundaries by learning more about it. For now, though, the wheel is my go-to.
Tips for Beginners
If you're just getting started with pottery or thinking about trying it out, here are a few things I wish I knew when I began:
Pottery is Expensive: Before you dive in and start buying all the equipment, I recommend taking local classes. They’ll give you a strong knowledge base, and you’ll connect with a community of like-minded people learning alongside you.
Centering is Everything: If you can’t center the clay, your piece will be wonky, and nothing can fix it later. Gaining strength has really helped me center larger amounts of clay—so don’t be afraid to build up your muscles!
Practice, Practice, Practice: Just like anything worth mastering, pottery takes practice. Whether it’s throwing on the wheel, hand-building, glazing, or trimming (especially trimming), the more you do it, the better you’ll get. Don’t be afraid to fail because it’s all part of the process.
Featured Piece: The Stoned Denim Large Bowl
One of my favorite pieces that showcases my growth in throwing larger work is the Stoned Denim Large Bowl. I love how the texture at the bottom of the bowl adds a tactile element, and the way the glaze broke beautifully over the surface feels like a reward for all the effort I’ve put into mastering this technique. It’s a piece that represents the journey I’ve been on with clay—constantly pushing myself and learning through every new challenge.
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