Mastering the Art of Pottery Throwing: Top Tips for Success
Welcome, to our creative haven where clay transforms into art! If you've recently embarked on the mesmerizing journey of pottery throwing, you're in for an exciting ride. Personally, it took me around a year of throwing to become halfway decent and over 4 years to begin to feel like I could create (almost) anything I wanted using the wheel as my tool. Throwing is hard! So please don’t expect to be amazing on your first go, like learning any new skill practice is everything.
But as someone who now teaches throwing I wanted to compile a few basic tips, these are things that I see beginners getting wrong a lot. If you can utilize these basic tips you will see a massive improvement in your throwing skills very quickly, I promise you.
1. Perfecting Your Posture
Before you even touch the clay, consider your posture. A solid foundation begins with your body. I recommend sitting close to the wheel, with your thighs close to or touching the splash pan, then most importantly your elbows should be resting on either your thighs or the splash pan. When centering, and indeed all of throwing, it is essential that your body is stable and firm, you will be pushing against the clay with your hands to center the clay. If you are using the weight of your whole body to lean into the clay it’ll be much easier and quicker, it also allows for much more stability of your hands throughout.
2. Centering: The Heart of It All
Centering is the magical act that sets the stage for your pottery adventure. As you place your clay on the wheel, use gentle pressure to coax it into the center. A well-centered clay mound ensures symmetrical and balanced forms. Don't rush this step; take your time until you feel the clay yield and respond to your touch.
3. Use a soft Clay
If you are really struggling with centering I would recommend trying softer clay, or reclaimed clay. Reclaim clay generally has more elasticity due to the bacteria in it, that eats away at the clay slightly, making it softer and more elastic. Soft clays are easier to center, but do be careful not to use too much water as they clay can become overworked more easily and it can kead to your walls flopping over and difficulty in getting height into your pieces.
4. The Power of Two Hands Together
Now that you're centered, it's time to harness the power of your hands. When pulling up your walls, it’s so important that your two hands move together as one. I like to interlock my two thumbs together to encourage this, you can find your own position that works for you, but having your hands touching each other at all times is so important to getting your walls nice and even.
5. Supporting Your Dominant Hand
In a similar vein supporting your dominant hand with your other hand will make throwing much easier. For example when you’re using a tool such as a rib or needle tool, or you’re using your finger to smooth the rim. Even though only one hand is touching the clay, the other hand is always involved, I will support the wrist of my right hand with my hand, all the while both elbows tucked in and resting on my thighs. This ensures I’m super stable and won’t be knocking the piece and ruining all my hard work. This duality of movement maintains the clay's symmetry and prevents wobbling or collapsing. Remember, teamwork between your hands is the secret sauce to success!
6. Breathe and Take Your Time
I see it time and time again, a newbie on the wheel asking me why their piece has a wonky rim or indeed why the whole piece flew off the wheel and so often the answer is that the clay was not centered from the beginning. I get it, centering is hard, and can be kind of dull. But if your clay wasn’t fully centered to start with you’re making so many problems for yourself down the line. I also see a lot of people touching the clay too quickly or pulling their hands away quickly when the clay is centered, knocking it back off center, I’ve seen so many mistakes from rushing, my biggest piece of advice would just be to slow down and take a breath. Every time you touch the clay or take your hands away, take a breath, slow down, and practice gentleness.
Conclusion
Pottery throwing is an art that requires a blend of skill, patience, and passion. By following these top tips, you're well on your way to becoming a pottery virtuoso. Remember, your journey is as beautiful as the pieces you create, so enjoy every moment at the wheel. With proper posture, centered clay, synchronized hands, mindful breathing, and a patient approach, your pottery will reflect the artistry that resides within you. Happy throwing!