Wheel throwing is the foundation of most studio pottery practice. Whether you’re just starting out or working to refine your technique, the guides below cover the wheel throwing essentials — every stage of the process, from preparing your clay to finishing your forms. Work through them in order if you’re a beginner, or jump to the technique you’re working on.
Before You Throw
- The Stages of Clay — understand what clay is doing at each stage so you know when to work it
- How to Spiral Wedge Clay — prepare your clay properly before every throwing session
- Ram’s Head Wedging — an alternative wedging method for removing air bubbles
- How to Make Ware Boards — essential for moving freshly thrown work without distortion
- Damp Box — keep work-in-progress moist between sessions
Core Throwing Techniques
- Step-by-Step Guide to Throwing Clay on the Pottery Wheel — the complete beginner’s overview
- How to Center Clay on the Pottery Wheel — the most critical skill to master first
- How to Open Clay on the Pottery Wheel — creating the base of your vessel
- How to Pull and Shape Clay on the Pottery Wheel — building height and form
- How to Collar the Clay in Wheel Throwing — controlling width and narrowing openings
- Understanding Centrifugal Force in Pottery — how physics affects your clay on the wheel
Throwing Specific Forms
- Throwing a Mug on the Pottery Wheel — step-by-step guide for a classic form
- How to Throw a Ceramic Coffee Pour-Over — a more advanced functional form
- Types of Ceramic Vessels — understanding different forms and their proportions
- Ceramic Forms and Weights — reference guide for consistent sizing
Handles
- Pulling a Handle — the traditional method for pulled clay handles
- How to Make a Handbuilt Handle — for a different look and feel
- Hybrid Handle: Handbuilt and Pulled — combining both approaches
Studio Essentials for Throwing
- Essential Ceramic Materials and Tools — what you need to get started
- Clay Reclaim — how to recycle your trimmings and scraps
- Recycling Clay — reconstituting dry and reclaim clay
- Best iOS Pottery Apps — track your pieces and firing schedules
New to ceramics entirely? Start with our guide on Learning Ceramics: Where to Start.
