What Can You Make On A Pottery Wheel?
A pottery wheel, also known as a potter’s wheel, is a device used to shape rounded ceramic ware. It consists of a rotating disk known as the “head” or “bat” attached to a stand. A lump of clay is placed in the center of the head and shaped by the potter’s hands as it spins.
The earliest known use of the pottery wheel dates back to Mesopotamia around 3500 BCE. However, the technique of throwing clay vessels on a wheel was not perfected until around 3000 BCE [1]. This revolutionized pottery production and allowed potters to create symmetrical finished wares much more quickly and efficiently than hand building. The basic mechanics of the pottery wheel have remained largely unchanged over the past 5,000+ years.
During throwing, the centrifugal force of the spinning clay allows potters to shape it into cylinders, bowls, plates, cups and other round objects. The speed of the wheel, positioning of the hands, and amount of pressure enables different shapes and sizes to be formed. The potter’s wheel has become an iconic symbol of the ceramic arts and is still widely used today.
[1] https://discover.hubpages.com/education/pottery-wheel
Types of Items Made on Pottery Wheels
A pottery wheel allows for the creation of a wide variety of objects out of clay. Some of the most common items made using a pottery wheel include:
Pots – From small decorative pots to large functional pots for plants or storage, pots of all shapes and sizes can be thrown on a wheel. The clay can be shaped into rounded, square, or unique freeform pots.
Vases – Graceful and elegant vases ranging from slender to curvy can be made on the wheel. Vases are a great way to display flowers or other objects. The neck and shape of the vase can be customized.
Bowls – Both decorative and functional bowls are very popular pottery wheel items. Bowls can be sculpted in numerous sizes and depths depending on their intended purpose. Serving bowls, salad bowls, and cereal bowls are often made on the wheel.
Plates – Plates are another functional pottery wheel item that are made in a vast range of sizes and styles. Dinner plates, salad plates, dessert plates, and decorative plates can all begin as a lump of clay shaped on the wheel.
Cups – Cups and mugs of all types are created on pottery wheels. The handle can be added after shaping the original form. Cups and mugs make great gifts.
Figurines – Small hand sculpted animal figurines, abstract shapes, and decorative objects can be shaped on the wheel. These pieces showcase the creative potential of pottery.
Clay Types Used on Pottery Wheels
Potters can choose from several different types of clay to use on the pottery wheel, each with their own unique properties that affect the finished product. The four main types of clay used are:
Stoneware
Stoneware clays are very strong and durable. When fired to a high temperature, stoneware becomes fully vitrified, resulting in a waterproof final product. These dense clays are excellent for functional pieces like mugs, plates, and bowls that will withstand daily use. The color range of fired stoneware spans from light grey to brown.
Earthenware
Earthenware encompasses a wide range of low-fire clays that mature at lower temperatures than stoneware. When fired, earthenware is porous and less durable than stoneware. However, earthenware clays tend to have excellent working properties. Their open porosity allows glazes to fuse and achieve bright colors. Earthenware clays are commonly used for decorative, hand-built pieces.
Porcelain
Porcelain clays are extremely fine and smooth, with excellent white color when fired. But porcelain can be challenging to center and shape on the wheel without experience. The appeal of porcelain is its translucency and glass-like quality when thinly thrown and fired. Porcelain becomes vitrified and watertight at high kiln temperatures.
Terracotta
Terracotta is an earthenware clay that fires to a distinct orange color. Because of its low firing temperature, terracotta retains its raw coarse texture. Historically, terracotta clay has been widely used for pottery due to its accessibility and workability. When left unglazed, terracotta clay is porous. Terracotta pots and sculptures are admired for their rustic natural finish.
Shaping and Molding the Clay
Centering the clay on the pottery wheel is one of the most important initial steps in shaping and molding. This involves getting the clay centered and secured on the wheel before beginning to shape it. The clay must be perfectly centered or it will wobble as the wheel spins. To center, place a ball of clay on the wheel, wet your hands, and gently press down while squeezing the clay. Start the wheel on slow speed and use your thumbs to gradually mold the clay into a cone shape while keeping pressure on top. Once centered, the clay should spin smoothly without wobbling.
Opening up the centered clay involves using your thumbs to press down into the center while keeping pressure on the outside. This opens up the ball of clay while keeping the walls even. Open the clay slowly, supporting the walls as you shape it. Use your fingers and palms to gently smooth the inside walls. Opening up the clay forms the basic interior shape for items like bowls, vases, and cups.
Raising the clay involves using your fingers and palms to pull the walls upwards while maintaining an even thickness. Place one hand inside and one hand outside the piece, and push outwards while moving upwards. Do this slowly and gently to raise the walls to the desired height without tearing the clay. Raising gives more height to pieces like vases, bowls, and cylinders.
Finishing involves final shaping and smoothing to complete the piece. Use a rib tool, scraper, or sponge to smooth away imperfections on the inside and outside surfaces. Refine the lip or rim as needed, and add any decorative elements before the final firing. Let the shaped clay sit before firing to ensure it holds its form.
Proper centering and opening are crucial first steps. Raising the walls and finishing require practice to perfect smooth, even pieces. Having patience and working deliberately allows potters to shape beautiful works of art on the wheel. As Welsh potter David Lloyd says, “The wheel helps compress your thoughts into a physical moment.”
Decorating Pottery Wheel Pieces
After shaping your pottery on the wheel, there are many decorating techniques to make your piece truly unique. Some of the most popular decorating methods include:
Glazing
Glazes provide a glass-like coating that can come in any color and finish imaginable. They not only decorate the pottery but also make it waterproof. Glazes are applied either by brushing, pouring, or dipping before the final firing. There are various types of glazes to experiment with including colored, crackle, matte, glossy, and clear.
Carving
Potters can use various metal tools to carve patterns and designs into leather-hard clay. Carving gives an interesting decorative texture and allows you to add very precise detailing. You can carve geometrical patterns, animals, leaves, letters, or anything else you can dream up.
Textures
Adding texture gives interest and depth to pottery pieces. There are many ways to achieve different textures such as paddling the clay with a wooden tool, impressing with stamps or found objects, scraping with serrated tools, or rolling over the surface with a rolling pin. Experiment with different textures like dimples, ridges, dots, waves, etc.
Coloring
Leather-hard clay can be colored with colored clay slips, underglazes, mason stains, or acrylic paints. These coloring agents soak into the surface differently to achieve effects like smooth saturated color, pooling in cracks, color gradients, and more. Coloring allows for unlimited creativity in decoration.
Firing and Baking
After a piece has been shaped on the pottery wheel, it must be fired in a high temperature oven known as a kiln to harden the clay through a process called sintering. Proper firing is crucial for pottery to become durable and water resistant.
Kilns heat pieces to temperatures between 1,652°F to 2,482°F. Different clays require different temperatures – earthenware clay is fired between 1,832°F to 2,192°F, stoneware clays between 2,192°F to 2,372°F, and porcelain clays between 2,282°F to 2,482°F.
Kilns allow control over temperature ramp rates to heat and cool the clay at the proper pace to prevent cracking. The final firing temperature and the length of time held at that peak temperature depend on the clay type, desired hardness, and features like glazes.
Firing can be done in either an oxidizing or reducing atmosphere. Oxidation happens when there is an ample supply of oxygen in the kiln. This causes clays and glazes to retain their natural colors. Reduction happens when oxygen is limited, which can alter colors like turning red iron oxide to black. The atmosphere changes the aesthetics and is an artistic choice.
After the final firing, pottery becomes fully ceramic and ready for any finishing steps like polishing before use. Firing pottery is a precise science that provides strength and unique visual effects.
Beginner Pottery Wheel Projects
When first learning how to use a pottery wheel, it’s best to start with some simple beginner projects to get familiar with the process. Some classic beginner items to make on a wheel include basic bowls, mugs, vases, and plates.
Bowls are one of the easiest and most versatile items to make as a beginner. Start with a simple rounded bowl shape without handles or details. Focus on centering the clay properly and achieving an even wall thickness. Bowls can be glazed in endless ways to create anything from a cereal bowl to a decorative accent piece. For a beginner bowl project, check out this tutorial video: How to Make a Simple Thrown Pottery Bowl.
Mugs are another useful beginner project to try on the wheel. Start with a basic straight-walled mug shape before attempting more complex handles or curves. Remember to leave a thicker base for stability. Decorate with simple glazing or carving techniques. For step-by-step instructions on throwing a basic mug, see this guide: Beginner Pottery Wheel Mug.
Vases are a common starter project and help teachcylinder shaping skills. Try a rounded vase or an elongated version. Focus on centering, opening the clay, and creating straight walls. Add interest with different glazes, textures, or decorative elements like ribbon handles. Check out this easy beginner vase tutorial: How to Throw a Simple Vase.
Finally, hand-thrown plates are very satisfying beginner projects. Keep the rim simple and work on throwing an even plate shape. Add decorative touches like stamping or carved designs after leather hard. Learn how to center the clay and shape a basic plate with this video: How to Throw a Plate on the Potter’s Wheel.
Intermediate Pottery Wheel Projects
Intermediate potters can create more complex objects on the wheel after gaining experience with basic techniques and forms. Some common intermediate pottery wheel projects include taller vases, sets of matching bowls, pitchers, and teapots.
Taller vases allow potters to practice pulling taller cylinders and shaping graceful necks and lips. Maintaining an even wall thickness while pulling upwards takes coordination. Decorative techniques like ribs and faceting can add visual interest to basic vase forms.
Creating sets of bowls, cups, or plates is a good intermediate exercise for throwing consistent sizes and shapes. Teapot forms combine basic shapes like cylinders, bowls, and handles into functional vessels with lids. Pitchers allow intermediate potters to practice their pouring spouts and curved handle attachments. Glazing sets in coordinating colors can give handmade dishware a polished finished look.
As potters advance beyond beginner forms, they gain better clay centering skills, refine their shaping techniques, and learn to successfully join basic forms together into more complex creations. With practice, intermediate potters gain mastery over taller, thinner, and more intricate pottery wheel projects.
Sources:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/buckland-ceramics–567946203020791506/
Advanced Pottery Wheel Techniques
Once potters have mastered basic techniques on the wheel, they can move on to more advanced methods for throwing larger, more complex pieces. Some advanced techniques include:
Throwing Large Pieces – Creating large pots, vases or bowls requires patience and practice. Potters need to properly center large lumps of clay on the wheel and open thick walls slowly to maintain an even shape and thickness.
Handles – Handles can be thrown directly onto the sides of pots and attached once leather hard. Another option is to throw handles separately, let them firm up to leather hard, then attach them by scoring and slipping the clay surfaces. [1]
Lids – Lids can be shaped using slabs or thrown on the wheel, often with a knob at the top. Cutting notches in the lip of the pot and lid ensure a tight fit after firing.
Sculpting – While most wheel-throwing focuses on symmetry, advanced potters can shape more organic, asymmetrical forms. Pinching, carving and smoothing the surface while the clay is still soft produces one-of-a-kind sculptural pieces.
Notable Pottery Wheel Artists
Some of the most famous and skilled pottery artists have used the pottery wheel to create stunning works. Here are a few examples of renowned pottery wheel artists and their creations:
Yoshimura Shōzō was a Japanese ceramic artist known for his skillful pottery wheel techniques. He created thin, translucent pottery often with radial or vertical patterns. His works are admired for their intricate shapes and forms, created through his exceptional control of the wheel.
Bernard Leach was an influential British studio potter who helped pioneer the revival of traditional Japanese pottery wheel methods in the West. He created simple, functional stoneware pieces like vases, bowls, and plates with beautiful glazes and markings.
Eva Zeisel was a Hungarian-American ceramicist known for her curving, sensual pottery wheel designs for tableware and decor. She created elegant, ergonomic pieces for major manufactures like Hall and Schleiger.
Marshall Fredericks was an American sculptor who created massive freeform pottery pieces on the wheel. His large-scale vases and urns with fluid, asymmetric shapes push the limits of what’s possible on the pottery wheel.
For more examples, see this list of famous pottery wheel artists.
