What Pottery Technique A Beginner Should Start With?

The goal of this article is to recommend the best pottery technique for a beginner to start with. There are a few main techniques for working with clay, including wheel throwing, handbuilding, and molding. Each technique requires different skills, tools, and levels of creativity. Understanding the differences between these techniques will help determine which is the easiest for a beginner to learn as their first pottery method.

Wheel throwing involves using a potter’s wheel to shape clay into symmetrical pieces like bowls, vases, cups, and more. This technique requires good hand-eye coordination and an understanding of centering and pulling up the walls of the clay. Handbuilding consists of techniques like pinching, coiling, and slab building to create free-form and sculptural works. Molding uses existing forms to create an impression in clay that is then fired.

We will explore the required supplies, ease of learning, and creativity potential for each technique. Based on an analysis of these factors, we will provide a recommendation for the best pottery method for a complete beginner to start with.

Wheel Throwing

Wheel throwing is one of the most popular techniques for creating pottery. It involves using a potter’s wheel to form cylindrical and symmetrical pieces of pottery. The process involves centering a ball of clay on the wheel head, and then using your hands and special tools to pull the clay up into the desired shapes as the wheel spins. According to [source 1], wheel throwing requires a lot of practice and fine motor control, similar to learning to play a musical instrument. However, it allows potters to create pieces with uniform walls and a high level of precision.

Pros:

• Ability to create symmetrical, uniform pieces
• Great for making multiples of items like bowls, vases, cups
• Satisfying feeling when you “center” the clay properly

Cons:

• Difficult technique requiring extensive practice
• Can’t easily make asymmetric or thick pieces
• Requires a pottery wheel and tools

As described on [source 2], factors that make wheel throwing challenging for beginners include getting the clay centered properly, pulling up the walls evenly, maintaining an appropriate thickness, and attaining a clean form. However, with regular practice and persistence, new potters can progressively master the wheel throwing techniques.

Handbuilding

Handbuilding refers to pottery techniques that involve shaping clay by hand rather than using a pottery wheel. The main handbuilding techniques are pinch, coil, and slab construction. With handbuilding, pots are formed by pinching, coiling, or joining slabs of clay.^[1]

A major advantage of handbuilding for beginners is that it has a gentle learning curve compared to wheel throwing. Handbuilding gives you more direct control over the clay as you use your hands, fingers, and simple tools to shape it. This makes it easier for beginners to create basic forms and develop their skills progressively.^[2]

Handbuilding also allows for great creativity, as pieces can be made in endless shapes not possible on the wheel. Intricate sculptural forms, decorative textures, and asymmetrical or geometric designs can all be achieved through handbuilding techniques. The maker has complete freedom to construct clay however they envision.^[3]

A downside is that controlling uniform thickness and achieving precision can be more difficult in handbuilding. Pieces may be prone to cracking or collapse if clay walls are not supported properly. Handbuilding is also time consuming compared to wheel throwing since it involves constructing each piece step-by-step.^[1]

[1] https://www.tanakitaceramics.com/post/handbuilding-vs-wheel-throwing

[2] https://www.reddit.com/r/Ceramics/comments/3j2v04/complete_beginner_question_wheel_throwing_or_hand/

[3] https://potterycrafters.com/wheel-throwing-vs-hand-building-the-differences-explained/

Molding

Molding involves pouring clay into a pre-made mold to create a uniform shape. Some common molds include bowls, cups, plates, and figurines. The clay is pressed into the mold cavity and allowed to dry before removing the finished piece. Molding is a simple process as the mold does all the shaping work, allowing even beginners to make complex forms with ease. According to Guide to pottery techniques: everything you need to know, molding produces uniform pieces quickly.

The main advantage of molding is its simplicity. By pouring clay into a pre-made mold you can create complex, symmetrical shapes with smooth surfaces relatively easily. Molding also allows for consistency and uniformity in production. If you need to make multiple identical pieces, using a mold ensures they will all turn out the same.

The downside is that molding offers limited creativity and customization. The mold determines the shape, so you cannot create as freely. Molding also requires purchasing or making molds, adding time and/or cost. Overall, molding is a great way for beginners to make shapely pottery without advanced skills, but offers less artistic freedom.

Required Supplies

The required supplies for pottery techniques vary. Here’s a quick overview:

Wheel throwing:

• Potter’s wheel
• Clay
• Basic tools like ribs, trimming tools, cutting wire

A wheel and clay are the biggest expenses for wheel throwing. Expect to spend $300+ on a decent starter wheel. Clay costs around $20-$30 for a 25 lb bag.

Handbuilding:

• Clay
• Basic tools like ribs, loop tools, cutting wire

Handbuilding has lower startup costs because no wheel is required. Just the cost of clay and a few tools.

Molding:

• Molds
• Clay
• Tools for smoothing, carving

Molding requires purchasing or making molds, increasing costs. But it doesn’t require a wheel.

Overall, wheel throwing has the highest startup costs for supplies, while handbuilding is the most budget-friendly to start.

Ease of Learning

When considering which pottery technique is easiest for a complete beginner to start with, the general consensus is that handbuilding is the most beginner friendly. Handbuilding techniques like pinch pots, slab building, and coil building allow you to work at your own pace without the need for an expensive pottery wheel or kiln. While throwing on the wheel can produce smooth results, it requires developing muscle memory and takes a lot of practice to master the centering process. According to this source, handbuilding methods like coiling only require some clay, basic tools, and your hands. The wheel throwing technique has a notoriously steep learning curve that can be very frustrating for someone just starting out. For this reason, handbuilding methods are often recommended as the ideal way to get familiar with working with clay as a beginner.

Creativity

When it comes to maximizing creativity, handbuilding and molding techniques allow for the most creative freedom compared to wheel throwing. With handbuilding, you can sculpt pottery and ceramics into any shape imaginable. Pinch pots, coils, slabs – the possibilities are endless. Molding also opens up creative avenues by allowing you to cast unique shapes and textures using found objects and homemade molds. The tactile and hands-on nature of handbuilding and molding enables emerging potters to let their creativity flow freely.

In contrast, wheel throwing constrains creativity to some degree since pieces need to be centered and symmetrical. While beautiful works can be crafted on the wheel, it requires developing muscle memory and skill at centering clay. Beginners may find it rigid compared to the “anything goes” feeling of handbuilding. If you want to make pottery that reflects your wildest artistic visions, handbuilding and molding will allow your creativity to flourish.

Recommendation

Based on the analysis of the different pottery techniques, handbuilding seems to be the best option for a beginner to start with. Handbuilding allows you to work at your own pace without the need for an expensive pottery wheel. The techniques are relatively simple to learn initially compared to throwing on the wheel, which requires more refined motor skills that develop over time. Handbuilding also provides plenty of room for creativity as you can shape the clay into various forms using coils, slabs, and sculpting methods.

Starting with handbuilding enables beginners to get comfortable with the feel and texture of clay. As your skills progress, you can start to incorporate additional techniques like carving, surface decorations, and glazing. Simple handbuilt projects like pinch pots and coils bowls will allow you to master fundamental techniques and gain confidence with the medium before attempting more complex wheel throwing projects. The creative possibilities are endless with handbuilding, allowing you to create functional pieces as well as decorative sculptures.

For both satisfaction and ease of getting started, handbuilding is highly recommended as the first pottery technique beginners should start with. Once you have a good grasp of handbuilding methods, you can then consider expanding your skills into wheel throwing and molding as well.

Next Steps

Once you have mastered the beginner techniques of wheel throwing or handbuilding, there are many additional skills you can explore to take your pottery to the next level. Some suggestions for skills to learn after mastering the basics include:

– Trying out the other main technique – if you started with wheel throwing, try handbuilding and vice versa. Learning both methods will make you a well-rounded potter and allow you to combine techniques for unique pieces.[1]

– Learning to throw larger and more complex forms on the wheel, such as bowls, vases, and teapots. This will build your wheel skills and expand the types of pieces you can create.[2]

– Experimenting with using molds and slipcasting to complement your main technique. Molds allow consistent reproduction and detail.

– Trying different surface decorations like carving, stamping, and sgraffito. Decorating is an key pottery skill and adds uniqueness.

– Learning about the chemistry of glazing and how to mix your own glazes. Glazing is what gives pottery its color and finish.

The key is to keep exploring new techniques even after you have the basics down. Pottery is a lifelong learning process. Stay curious, keep practicing, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes as you grow your skills.

Conclusion

To summarize, wheel throwing, hand building, and molding each have their pros and cons for beginners. Wheel throwing allows you to quickly produce symmetrical pieces, but requires more specialized equipment and a steeper learning curve. Hand building techniques like pinch pots, coils, and slabs give you more creative freedom and are simpler to start with, though pieces may be less uniform. Molding offers consistency and the ability to replicate shapes, but doesn’t teach the fundamentals of working with clay.

For most beginners, starting with hand building is recommended, as it allows you to learn about the properties of clay at a more gradual pace without the added challenge of mastering the pottery wheel right away. Simple techniques like pinch pots and coils help build foundational skills while leaving room for creativity. Once comfortable with hand building, introducing the wheel or exploring molding may open up additional possibilities.

The key for beginners is to not get discouraged – pottery is a hands-on craft that requires patience and practice over perfection. Starting simple, working with earthenware clays, and taking courses are great ways to learn. With some creativity and persistence, hand building provides an accessible, flexible starting point on your pottery journey.