The Art of Throwing: How We Shape Clay on the Wheel

Introduction

There's something almost magical about watching a lump of clay transform into a vessel before your eyes. Throwing is where your morning mug or dinner plate truly begins to take shape – the moment when formless clay becomes something with purpose and personality.

Quick Summary:

• Throwing is the process of shaping clay on a spinning pottery wheel
• Before throwing begins, proper clay preparation is essential
• The process includes centering, opening, pulling, and shaping
• Different forms require different techniques and tool approaches
• Throwing is as much about feeling and listening to the clay as it is about technique

Preparation: Before the Wheel Spins

Selecting the Right Clay

In our workshop, we carefully select stoneware clay bodies that provide the perfect balance of plasticity (how easily the clay moves), strength, and firing characteristics. Different pieces might require slightly different clay compositions – mugs need clay that's forgiving to throw but strong enough to support handles, while plates benefit from clay with less shrinkage to prevent warping.

Weighing and Wedging

Consistency is crucial in ceramic work. We weigh each ball of clay precisely depending on the intended piece – a standard mug might start with 400 grams of clay, while a larger bowl could require 1200 grams or more.

Once weighed, the clay needs wedging – a kneading process that:

• Removes air bubbles that could cause explosions in the kiln
• Aligns the clay particles to improve workability
• Creates a uniform consistency throughout the ball

We typically use the spiral wedging technique, rolling the clay in a spiral pattern while applying pressure to compress it. For a single piece, we might wedge for 2-5 minutes – seemingly small effort that makes all the difference in the throwing process.

The Dance Begins: Throwing on the Wheel

Centering: Finding Perfect Balance

Centering is the crucial first step that many beginners struggle with, yet it determines the success of everything that follows. A perfectly centered ball of clay spins without wobble, allowing for symmetrical forms and even walls.

The process involves:

1. Securing the clay to the wheel head with firm pressure
2. Wetting the clay to reduce friction
3. Bracing your arms against your body for stability
4. Applying controlled pressure while the wheel spins
5. Gradually moving the clay into perfect rotation

It sounds simple but requires a sensitivity to the clay's movement and resistance. When properly centered, the clay spins as if motionless – a perfect axis of rotation has been found.

Opening: Creating the Initial Void

After centering comes opening – the first step in transforming a solid clay ball into a hollow form. With thumbs or fingers, we press down into the center of the rotating clay, stopping short of the bottom to leave enough clay for the base.

The width of this opening determines the initial floor diameter of the piece. For a mug, we might create a relatively narrow opening, while a bowl requires a broader initial void.

Pulling: Building the Walls

Now comes the most recognizable part of throwing – pulling the walls upward and outward. Using our fingers on both the inside and outside of the clay, we apply gentle pressure to thin and raise the walls.

This pulling process requires:

• Even pressure to maintain uniform thickness
• Controlled speed to prevent wobbling or collapsing
• Attention to the clay's moisture level
• Sensitivity to the clay's limits – when it's time to stop pulling

Most forms require multiple pulls, gradually thinning and raising the walls to their desired height. Between pulls, we often compress the rim to prevent cracking and add structural strength.

Shaping: Finding the Form

With the basic cylinder established, we begin shaping the specific form. This is where our design sensibility comes into play:

• For mugs, we might create a slight curve or taper
• Bowls require careful outward shaping to create graceful curves
• Plates need methodical compression and flattening

We use a variety of tools at this stage – wooden ribs to smooth surfaces, metal ribs to create sharp angles, and our fingers to add subtle details or textures.

Refining: The Final Touches

Before removing the piece from the wheel, we refine the form with:

• Cleaning up the transition between the wall and base
• Smoothing the rim using a damp sponge or chamois
• Adding any wheel-thrown details like foot rings or decorative ridges

The Skilled Touch: What Makes Hand-Thrown Different

What distinguishes our hand-thrown ceramics from machine-made alternatives isn't just the process – it's the sensitivity and responsiveness inherent in handwork.

When throwing, we're constantly making micro-adjustments based on:

• How the clay feels beneath our fingers
• The sound it makes as the wheel spins
• Visual cues about thickness and form
• Our experience with how the piece will change during drying and firing

These subtle adjustments create pieces with:

• Intentional variation that shows the human touch
• Ergonomic considerations that mass production misses
• Balanced proportions based on aesthetic judgment
• Thoughtful details like the perfect curve where a thumb rests on a mug

Common Challenges and How We Overcome Them

When Clay Gets Too Wet

Clay can quickly become too saturated with water during throwing, making it soft and difficult to work with. When this happens, we:

• Use a heat gun carefully to remove excess moisture
• Take breaks to let the piece firm up slightly
• Use techniques that minimize water introduction

Maintaining Even Thickness

Uneven walls can lead to problems during drying and firing. We ensure consistency by:

• Using calipers to check thickness at various points
• Developing sensitivity in our fingers to feel subtle differences
• Making targeted pulls to address thicker areas

Large Forms and Structural Support

Larger pieces present unique challenges as they're more prone to collapse. For these items, we might:

• Throw in stages, allowing the bottom to firm up before adding height
• Use supportive tools during the throwing process
• Move more slowly and deliberately to maintain control

From Our Hands to Yours

Every thrown piece in our collection has spent time spinning between our hands, shaped one at a time with attention to both function and beauty. The thousands of hours we've spent at the wheel translate into pieces that:

• Feel right in your hands
• Perform their function with grace
• Carry the subtle evidence of their handmade origin
• Connect you to an ancient tradition of craft

The next time you pick up one of our mugs or bowls, run your fingers along the surface and appreciate the journey it took – from a lump of clay to a centered form, pulled and shaped on the wheel before moving on to the next crucial stage: trimming.

What Comes Next?

After throwing, our pieces rest until they reach the perfect moisture level for trimming. In our next post, we'll explore how trimming transforms these raw forms into refined pieces with elegant details and perfect balance.