What Can I Make With Wheel Throwing?

Wheel throwing is a process for shaping pottery by shaping clay on a wheel. The process has been used for thousands of years, with early examples dating back to ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt [1]. Wheel throwing revolutionized pottery making by allowing artisans to quickly and symmetrically shape clay into a variety of forms.

Wheel throwing refers to the process of using a potter’s wheel to shape clay. The clay is centered on the wheel and then pushed, pulled, and shaped using tools and the potter’s hands as the wheel spins [1]. The spinning wheel provides centrifugal force that allows the clay to be shaped into symmetrical forms. Wheel throwing requires practice and skill to master, but allows potters to quickly create identical pieces.

The basic process of wheel throwing involves wedging the clay, centering it on the wheel, opening up the form, raising the walls, and finishing the foot and rim. Additional techniques can be used to further shape and decorate the pottery. Once complete, the pieces are dried, fired in a kiln, and finished with glazes or decorations if desired. Wheel throwing is an essential pottery technique that allows for incredible creativity combined with efficiency and consistency.

Types of Clay for Wheel Throwing

There are three main types of clay used for wheel throwing: stoneware clay, porcelain clay, and earthenware clay. Each type has unique properties that make it suitable for certain applications.

Stoneware Clay

Stoneware clay is very strong and durable with excellent plasticity that makes it ideal for throwing on the wheel. According to Pottery for Beginners: The 4 Main Types of Clay, stoneware fires to a high temperature between 1200-1300°C which results in a non-porous finish that holds liquid well. It comes in a range of colors including grey, buff, red, and brown. Stoneware is commonly used to make mugs, plates, bowls, and other functional pottery.

Porcelain Clay

Porcelain clay, sometimes called kaolin clay, is the purest and most refined type of clay. As noted on Things to Consider Before Buying Clay for Pottery, porcelain is highly plastic and flexible when moist but becomes extremely dense and strong when fired to over 1200°C. It fires to a bright white color. The fine texture of porcelain allows for thin, delicate shapes and intricate detailing. Porcelain is ideal for tableware, art pieces, and decorative objects.

Earthenware Clay

Earthenware is a lower-fired clay that only reaches temperatures up to 1100°C. According to The 5 Main Types of Ceramic Clay – The Pottery Wheel, earthenware has good workability but is quite porous and fragile after firing. It comes in a range of colors including red, brown, buff, orange, and white. Earthenware can be decorated with colored glazes. It is commonly used for flower pots, tiles, and decorative pieces.

Tools and Equipment

There are a few key tools and pieces of equipment needed for successful wheel throwing. The most essential is the potter’s wheel. This spinning device allows you to center and shape clay into symmetrical forms. Electric, kick, or treadle wheels offer variable speed control for throwing clay of different weights. Popular brands include Brent, Shimpo, and Soldner.

Clay tools are used to shape, trim, carve, and smooth clay on the wheel. Basic tools include wood modeling sticks, ribs, loop tools, trimming tools, and wire tools. Investing in a quality starter set like from Mudtools provides beginners with the essentials.

Finally, a kiln is necessary for firing and hardening finished clay pieces. Electric kilns allow precise control over temperature and firing speed. Top loading or front loading kilns can handle various capacities. Consult with knowledgeable ceramic suppliers to select the appropriate kiln for your needs.

Sources:
https://www.theceramicshop.com/store/category/11/95/throwing/
https://ceramicartsnetwork.org/daily/wheel-throwing-tools

Basic Forms

When first learning wheel throwing, it’s best to start with some basic forms to develop fundamental skills. These include cylinders, bowls, plates, and vases. Mastering basic shapes allows you to understand how clay moves under your hands and how to center and raise clay on the wheel. Once you have these basics down, you can then move on to more complex forms and pieces.

Cylinders are a great foundational form in wheel throwing. To make a cylinder, you center a ball of clay on the wheel and push your thumbs into the center to create an open center. Then place both hands on the outside and gently push the clay upwards while applying pressure from the base with your fingers. Use your thumbs to shape and refine the walls. Open the cylinder wider with upward and outward pressure. A cylinder helps teach beginning wheel throwers how to center, shape vertical walls, and refine rim thickness ¹.

Bowls are another essential basic on the wheel. To make a bowl, start with a cylinder then push your hands down along the inside to widen it. Curve your fingers gently to shape the bowl contours. Refine the rim for an even thickness. Learn to raise the walls to different heights and experiment with different curves. Consider adding a foot or base. Bowls allow you to practice an open form and controlling wall thickness ².

Plates are a good basic shape as they are flat and wide. To make a plate, begin with a cylinder, then use your thumbs to push the clay outwards while supporting the base. Widen the form by firmly pressing down and out with your fingers and palms. Refine the rim and add detailing like trim if desired. Plates teach control over a flat, spreading form.

Vases involve narrowing and curving the form. Start with a cylinder, then gently push your hands in to curve the walls inward. Refine the shape and alter the proportions to create different styles of vases. Consider adding a foot, handles, or decorative elements. Vases help practice controlling vertical walls and slim, tapered forms.

Mastering these four basic shapes will provide a strong foundation in wheel skills to advance to more complex forms and pieces down the road.

Intermediate Forms

Once you’ve mastered basic forms like bowls, cups and vases on the wheel, you can move on to some more complex intermediate projects. Some popular intermediate wheel throwing projects include pitchers, teapots, and lidded jars.

Pitchers allow you to practice spouts and handles – two very useful skills in wheel throwing. When making a pitcher, start with a basic cylinder form. Then use your fingers or a rib tool to create a curved spout on one side. Let the piece firm up a bit before attaching a pulled handle on the opposite side. Pitchers are great for holding and pouring liquids.

Teapots are a classic intermediate project combining a main vessel, spout, handle, and lid. As with pitchers, start with a basic cylinder for the main body. Create the spout next, then attach a handle once the clay has firmed up a bit. The lid can be made separately on the wheel or hand-shaped. Cut notches so the lid rests snugly on the pot. The handle and spout should align when the lid is in place. Teapots are ideal for brewing and serving tea.

Lidded jars allow you to practice lids that neatly fit the opening of a vessel. Throw a simple cylindrical jar, then use calipers to measure the diameter of the opening. Create a matching lid, allowing for a little extra clay so the lid overhangs slightly. Trim excess clay off the base of the lid after attaching it. The lid can be decorated to complement the jar’s design.

Trying more complex projects like these will expand your wheel throwing skills. With practice, you’ll be able to make functional and decorative ceramic pieces at the intermediate level.

Advanced Forms

Once you have mastered the basics, you can start creating more complex and sculptural pieces on the wheel. Advanced throwers aim to push the limits of what can be achieved with wheel throwing. Some advanced forms to try include:

Sculptural Pieces: Many advanced artists use the wheel as a starting point and then alter the form after it has been thrown. Pieces can be manipulated, trimmed, carved, and combined with handbuilt elements to create complex sculptural works. The rotating wheel head allows flexibility in changing the orientation of the piece to add asymmetrical or intricate components.

Sets/Collections: Throwing multiples of the same form is common in production pottery, but advanced ceramicists also create matched sets with variations in design, color, and texture. For example, a collection of vases, bowls, or cups with subtle differences can have a lovely uniformity while maintaining uniqueness.

Multi-Part Works: Combining thrown components into multi-part pieces takes skill and planning. For instance, masters may throw and then assemble separate thrown vessel forms to build elaborate covered jars, tiered sets, teapots with cups, or modular sculpture. Handles, lids, feet, and connectors can be fashioned to bring separate thrown forms together.

When transitioning to advanced wheel projects, be patient with yourself as you problem solve more complex constructions. Note challenges along the way to improve technique. With persistence and ingenuity, ceramic artists can find endless possibilities for one-of-a-kind works using the wheel.

Decorating and Glazing

Once your thrown pieces are leather hard or bone dry, it’s time to decorate and glaze them before firing. There are many techniques to add beautiful colors, textures, and designs to your wheel thrown pottery.

Glazes

Glazes are glass-like coatings that are applied to bisqueware and melted in the kiln to create a glossy, non-porous surface. Glazes come in endless colors and effects like glossy, satin, matte, crystalline, or crackled finishes. Popular glaze techniques for wheel thrown pieces include dipping, pouring, brushing, and spraying. Make sure your glazes are food-safe if making functional ware. Some beautiful glaze colors and textures can be seen in this example of small handmade bowls [1].

Incising

Incising involves using sharp tools to cut designs, patterns, or words into the surface of the clay. Leather hard is the ideal stage for incising. Cutting into colored slips or underglazes to reveal the clay color underneath is called sgraffito. Incising allows you to add personalized designs and textures.

Coloring

Underglazes, colored slips, engobes, and stains can be used to hand paint designs or fully color wheel thrown pieces. Underglazes come in wide varieties of colors that become permanent after firing. They work well for brushwork, detailed patterns, or writing. Colored slips are liquefied clay that can be combined, layered, and used to coat thrown forms.

Texturing

Interesting textures can be achieved by impressing objects into the clay surface, carving patterns, or adding slip trail designs. Sponges, texture mats, paddles, or handmade stamps work well. You can also use the pottery wheel to add concentric rings or other patterns. The options are endless for personalizing your wheel thrown pottery.

Firing and Finishing

Firing is the process of hardening clay objects in a kiln. There are two main types of kiln firing for wheel-thrown pottery: bisque firing and glaze firing.

Bisque firing is the first firing process and transforms unglazed clay into a permanent ceramic material. During bisque firing, chemically bound water and other organic materials are driven off around red heat (1000-1100°F). This makes the clay harder and prepares it for the application of glaze. Bisque firing is done slowly to avoid cracking and warping the pottery. Typical bisque firing takes 6-12 hours or more depending on the size of the load.

After bisque firing, clay objects are glazed to create a decorative, waterproof coating. The pottery is loaded into the kiln and fired to an even higher temperature around 2200°F. During glaze firing, the glaze melts and fuses with the clay body to form a smooth, glassy surface. Glaze firing usually takes 4-10 hours. Different glaze materials produce a huge variety of colors, textures, and effects on the finished pottery.

After firing is complete, there are additional finishing techniques that can enhance the look of wheel-thrown pieces:

– Sanding or polishing to smooth rough spots and round sharp edges

– Waxing for added luster

– Antiquing stains to accentuate carved textures

– Decorating with underglazes, overglazes, lusters, and decals

Proper firing and finishing transforms humble lumps of clay into stunning works of art. With the right techniques, patience, and practice, wheel-thrown pottery can exhibit incredible depth, color, and beauty. Firing and finishing truly bring handcrafted pieces to life.

Tips and Techniques

Some key tips and techniques for successful wheel throwing include:

Centering the clay properly is crucial. Make sure to consecutively center the clay at least 3 times before opening it up. Using both hands, apply even pressure as you compress the clay into a conical shape. Refer to this helpful video on centering techniques: How to Center Clay on the Pottery Wheel.

Trimming the bottom of the piece can refine it and create a nice foot. Using a trimming tool, remove any excess clay and shape the bottom into a neat, even surface. Cut ribbed lines for drainage. Work at a 45 degree angle. For guidance, see this trimming tutorial: How to Trim a Thrown Pottery Piece.

Throwing rings allows you to build up sides evenly. Once centered, compress the clay into a thick pancake shape. Use fingers on the inside to support the clay as you pull the walls up using steady, even pressure. Keep the walls uniform as you build height. Refer to: Building Even Walls with Clay Rings.

Attachments like handles, spouts, and feet can add interest. Allow pieces to stiffen slightly before attaching separate parts. Score and slip areas for adhesion. Blend seams smoothly. Let dry before continuing to shape. See: Tips for Attaching Handles and Spouts.

Conclusion

In summary, wheel throwing is an incredibly versatile technique that allows potters to create a wide range of forms from mugs to vases to sculptures. By mastering the basics and advancing your skills, you can make everything from simple bowls to intricate lidded jars. The process requires patience, practice and an understanding of the characteristics of clay, but it is immensely rewarding to center a lump of clay and transform it into an elegant object.

For beginners interested in learning more, excellent resources include local pottery classes, books like Mastering the Potter’s Wheel by Ben Carter, online video tutorials, and joining a ceramic arts community. Start with basic forms like cylinders and bowls to develop essential techniques like centering, opening and raising the walls. As you advance, experiment with altering forms, decorating with slips and glazes, creating sets and exploring your own artistic voice through wheel-thrown pottery.

The world of wheel throwing has so much to offer at every skill level. With the right tools, practice and persistence, you can discover the joy of creating beautiful, functional ceramic pieces.