A Novices Guide to Making Pottery

Earlier this week many of you saw my post about my beginning clay pottery class. Thanks to all of you who were very kind and commented on my newly acquired skill. I have since decided to begin a series of posts documenting my endeavors into this brave new world. So here in a succinct series of steps both mishaps and success will be displayed for all to see.

First acquire the clay, remove the air from the chunk of clay by rolling and kneading it like homemade bread. Use about 2 pounds to start.

Make sure the wheel is dry! Sit down at the wheel (get comfy) then smack the softened clay down in the general direction of the wheel. Aim is important and hitting the center like a "bullseye" on a target is preferred. This must be done while the wheel is moving at a relatively fast speed. You must add water and use your hands to cup the chunk into what may become a rounded mass on the wheel. Not enough water and the clay sticks to your hands making rotation of the wheel quite difficult.

Once the lump of clay is centered, meaning it no longer wobbles to and fro, but moves with a graceful circular motion. Use your thumbs begin to press a hole into the middle of the clump. Do this carefully! This will become the bottom of your piece. Whoa! Not too much pressure or it will be to thin or rather like a donut.

Now it is time to form the sides. This part is easier said than done! Using one hand or fingers pull out while the other hand holds the piece steady. Several perfectly good already centered pieces were wasted on this step. Note this step requires great fortitude as well as strength in your hands and forearms.

Pulling the clay up slowly and evenly is the art of the clay master. Lots of splish splashing of water onto the clay while the wheel is turning. Walls become thinner with each pull. Lots of stopping and starting the wheel at this stage. Often times the foot pedal has a mind of its own. Be warned disaster can strike suddenly causing the wheel to take off like a rocket while you struggle to save the pot from flying off the wheel.

Very tricky this pot making. The walls got too thin and collapse on themselves. Below is a example of a ruined pot that became a silly cat bowl instead. Sales are now surging throughout the neighborhood from crazy cat ladies wanting lousy cat bowls! Not quite the success I had hoped and 2 hours were used to make a mistake!

Not quite what I had in mind, see below for example

What cat bowl should have looked like

Next time I will discuss glazing this thing!

TaDa! Presto chango! 🐓🐓