Things You'll Need:
- Clay Water Pottery wheel Sponge Wood tool Needle tool Wire or fishing line Trimming tools
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Step 1
Wet your hands and knead a piece of clay into a ball. To start, you should use a piece of clay about the size of a softball, but you can use a bigger ball as you get more experienced.
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Step 2
Throw the clay down on the wheel as close to the center as possible. You want it to stick to the wheel, so use a little force.
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Step 3
Start the wheel spinning. With one hand (usually your dominant hand, but it can be either hand), cup the clay so that it is moving smoothly on the wheel. Your elbow should be firmly pressed on your thigh to aid stability. At the same time, use the other hand to push the clay down.
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Step 4
Cup both of your hands around the clay and press inward, forcing the clay upwards, into a cone shape. Use even, slow pressure.
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Step 5
Press the clay downward again, and repeat this process at least three times. This "centering" process is not just making the ball of clay centered on the wheel; it is also changing the clay molecules so they're all moving in the same direction and forcing air bubbles out of the clay.
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Step 1
Press the clay into the base size you want, when forcing the clay cone down during the centering process for the last time.
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Step 2
Use one hand as a guide again, but don't use pressure, which will force the clay inward. Rest your other hand on top of the guide hand and slowly use a finger to create a hole in the clay. Add more water as necessary to keep the clay slick, and use a sponge to suck up water that forms in a pool. Make sure you leave at least a 1/2 inch thickness of clay at the base for the bottom of the bowl or plate.
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Step 3
Use both hands to draw the clay outward. For a bowl, you want to create the size of the opening you want at the base, while for a plate, you want a wider base.
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Step 4
Begin to draw the sides of the walls up using your thumb and pointer finger in a pinching motion. Even with a plate, you want to draw the walls up before you lay them over. Slowly draw your hand up, keeping the light force even. Repeat this process until your walls are about 1/4 inch thick. You should now have a cylinder shape.
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Step 5
Use the wood tool to trim the base of the cylinder. To do this, hold the diagonal side against the bottom, which will cause the clay to come away from your plate or bowl. Discard the excess clay.
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Step 6
Use a needle tool to trim the top. Push the point of the needle into the clay just a few millimeters below the top and hold it steady as the wheel spins. The wheel will do the cutting work for you.
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Step 1
Shape your plate or bowl by applying even pressure inward or outward. For a plate, you'll want all of your pressure to be applied outward, essentially laying down the walls of the cylinder. Work slowly to prevent the clay from falling.
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Step 2
Use clay tools to add details when shaping the clay.
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Step 3
Use your finger to smooth the lip of the piece.
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Step 1
Stop the wheel and use a wire or fishing line to cut the piece from the wheel.
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Step 2
Set the clay or bowl aside, covered, for a few days until it air dries to a leather-hard state.
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Step 3
Turn the piece upside down and place it on a clean wheel. As the wheel turns slowly, move the plate or bowl to center it on the wheel.
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Step 4
Use small bits of wet clay to stick your clay piece securely in place on the wheel for trimming.
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Step 5
Use a needle tool to draw a ring on the base lightly as the wheel is spinning. This will serve as the foot of the piece.
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Step 6
Trim away the outside and inside of the ring with a trimming tool, but be careful not to go completely through the bottom.
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Step 7
Wet your finger and use it to smooth the edges of the foot. You may also want to use a sponge to smooth the bowl or plate.
