Throwing on the WheelSteps and Techniques

Steps for centering the clay:• Place clay on the wheel, trying to center

the clay in the middle of the wheel• Tap/slap clay to be sure it is stuck to the

wheel• Wet hands and ball of clay with water.• Begin with a high speed and cup the clay.

Anchor you arms on knees or wheel tray• Hold hands steady and try to form clay

into a cone shape• Flatten cone shape by steadying clay

with one hand and flattening with the other hand

• If the clay is centered you hands do not move when you cup the clay.

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9-hAJ8IrmU

Opening the Clay• Cup the clay with both

hands• Find the center with

both thumbs• Use both thumbs to

push down at the same time to form the opening in the clay

• Use sponge or tools to smooth the middle of the pottery

Pulling up the clay• Place one hand on the

inside of the pottery and one hand on the outside

• Your hands should be directly aligned, one on the inside, one on the outside

• Gently use pressure on both knuckles to guide clay in an upwards position

Shaping the Vessel• Your hands are you best tool to

form the shape of your pottery piece. With more experience you can use different tools like a kidney tool to shape.

• When you shape a pottery piece, you want to be sure to always support the clay by having one hand on the outside and one hand supporting the inside.

Assignment• Your goal for this project is to master centering clay and to create

a vessel on the pottery wheel.• The vessel can be a bowl, vase, cup, jar, etc.• The completed project should be glazed and the glaze should

follow the shape of the form.

Glaze following the form: