Pottery Wheel Throwing Techniques

Pottery wheels are round platforms that spin when engaged by a foot pedal to spin in a circle. This circular motion allows pieces of pottery to be shaped for symmetry. Pottery wheels have been around since before 2500 BC when they were first carved into ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics. The process of making pottery on a pottery wheel is a four-step process with special techniques to make each process easier to complete.

Centering

The technique to centering a ball of clay is to stand above the wheel and use hand-eye coordination to place the clay ball directly over the center of the pottery wheel platform. Holding the ball approximately one foot away from the wheel, the potter will then allow the ball to freely drop from their hands into the approximate center of the wheel. The potter will then pour a little bit of water over the ball and press the pedal to power the wheel. By cupping their hands, the potter will be able to force the clay ball into the direct center of the pottery wheel.

Opening

After the clay has been centered, it will be in a domed shape. To open the clay ball and begin to form the pottery, the potter will begin by placing their thumb in the center of the ball of clay, pressing slowly and allowing his thumb to make an indention in the ball of clay. The potter will stop when he approximates that the bottom of the opening is a piece of clay one fourth of an inch thick. The potter will then use both hands, one over the other, to pull the opening of the clay formation even wider.

Pulling

The technique for pulling up the piece is to start at the bottom of the clay opening, and pinch the clay walls between the thumb and middle finger of the dominate hand. (The other hand will be used to steady the hand and wrist pinching and pulling up on the clay walls.) As the wheel is spun, the potter will pinch and pull up slowly, making the walls of the pottery piece taller. If the pieces become taller than desired, they may be trimmed off easily.

Shaping

To shape the pottery, piece in to form a curvy silhouette. The potter will employ the technique of slowly pushing in on the sides of the piece. To do this, the potter will cup his or her hands around the opened up clay form and slowly push in.

Trimming

Trimming is done after the pottery piece is removed from the pottery wheel and allowed to dry to a leathery texture. At this texture, the piece will be placed back on the wheel in order to trim off imperfections and to cut a footing for the bottom of the pottery piece. The technique to doing this is to place the piece upside down in the center of the pottery wheel and secure into place with sticky balls of clay along the piece's rim.

References

• How to Make Pottery on a Pottery Wheel
• Explanation of the Pottery Throwing process

Resources

• Tips for throwing tall vessels on the pottery wheel