To actively
participate you will need:
participate you will need:
Pottery wheel (
electric or kick)
electric or kick)
Sponge
Bucket of water
Cutting Wire
Wheel Bat
Use the bucket of
water to keep your clay and
water to keep your clay and
throwing bat moist
during the throwing process.
during the throwing process.
Begin by placing
your bat on the wheel and securing.
your bat on the wheel and securing.
Wet your bat
slightly using your sponge.
slightly using your sponge.
Place your clay
ball firmly in the center of the bat.
ball firmly in the center of the bat.
Using both hands as
shown, begin spinning your wheel while
shown, begin spinning your wheel while
allowing the clay
ball to spin between your hands.
ball to spin between your hands.
Press down in the
center of the clay ball and begin forming
center of the clay ball and begin forming
a center as in
image # 1 (far left) above.
image # 1 (far left) above.
At the same time
pushing slightly inward applying light pressure,
pushing slightly inward applying light pressure,
allowing the clay
to flow freely between your fingers
to flow freely between your fingers
If the clay is
wobbling on the wheel head it is not centered
wobbling on the wheel head it is not centered
Begin the centering
again
again
Be sure to keep
excess water sponged from the clay,
excess water sponged from the clay,
while at the same
time being careful not to dry your clay out too much.
time being careful not to dry your clay out too much.
Finding the right
clay consistency takes practice.
clay consistency takes practice.
Once you have a
center formed,
center formed,
you are ready to
begin pulling the walls up.
begin pulling the walls up.
Position your hands
on your pot as shown above:
on your pot as shown above:
Using the side of
your right thumb as a lever and
your right thumb as a lever and
the left index
knuckle guide your clay upward
knuckle guide your clay upward
with the motion of
your wheel.
your wheel.
Remember to keep your clay moist, not saturated.
To accomplish this,
try using a small flexible sponge.
try using a small flexible sponge.
your shape using your hands to mold and guide your clay.
Use your wire
cutter and gently slide under your pot
cutter and gently slide under your pot
separating the clay
bottom from the bat.
bottom from the bat.
Set the piece aside
and allow to dry on the bat.
and allow to dry on the bat.
Working with clay
is like a dance,
is like a dance,
your clay and hands
have to move together.
have to move together.
Study and practice
the above images.
the above images.
This technique just
like a dance, requires practice.
like a dance, requires practice.