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Throwing on the pottery wheel is exciting and fun. Once you can center, you’ll never get tired of the many things you can create with the potters wheel. Here we’ve gathered some tips and techniques that will show you how to use a pottery wheel in the most efficient and effective ways. If you want to throw sets on the wheel, here are some simple gauges for the potters wheel you can buy or make. Or for duplicating profiles, you can make wheel throwing templates. Another ingenious technique is to facet freshly thrown clay then continue throwing the clay and watch the pattern expand. Finally, you’ll enjoy the survey of trimming accessories for wheel thrown pottery—maybe there’s a tool that’s right for you.
Included in this free PDF:
The What and Why Before You Buy a Potters Wheel
by Bill Jones
When you decide to buy a pottery wheel, you'll be pleasantly surprised at all the options. We've gathered together some of the advice from seasoned experts Jonathan Kaplan and Steven Branfman to shed a little light on which pottery wheel may be best for you.
Gauges for Wheel Throwing
by Bill Jones
Sooner or later every potter wants to make multiples of a form -- a set of bowls, mugs, whatever. Two basic measuring devices for throwing sets on the wheel are the Western pot gauge, which measure pots from the outside and the Eastern tombo, which measures pots from the inside.
The Basics of Pottery Throwing Ribs
by Bill Jones
The best throwing tools around are our fingers but there are just some things they can’t do, and so we have throwing ribs—an essential tool for every potter. Pottery tools like throwing ribs provide an efficient and effective way for potters to remove moisture, control contours, and smooth surfaces. Here’s a look at these tools and where you can find them.
How to Make Custom Pottery Throwing Ribs
Robert Balaban
There are times when you may need a special tool when throwing on the pottery wheel. Robert Balaban solves this problem by making his own tools and here he details how you can do the same.
Throwing on the Potters Wheel with Templates
by William Schran
While throwing gauges can get pots the same height and width, templates will help you get the same profile. This technique involves using templates to repeatedly create an even, symmetrical form. These easy to make templates can be used to scrape the surface as it's rotated on the potters wheel to create a smooth, uniform surface.
10 Tips for Stronger, Smarter Throwing
by Claire O'Conner
Throwing good pots, especially of a larger size, on the pottery wheel is a challenge, but with these tips from Claire O’Connor, it can be easier than you might think.
Trimming Accessories for the Potters Wheel
Frank James Fisher
Trimming the bases of pots on the potter's wheel is another opportunity to bring unity and beauty to your artwork. But different shapes and sizes of work create challenges, and if you throw a lot of large bowls and platters, pots with delicate necks, lids, etc., then you should evaluate trimming accessories for the potter's wheel.
Download the free guide right now, and become a better ceramic artist tomorrow. That’s our promise to you from Ceramic Arts Network!
Best regards,
Jennifer Poellot Harnetty Editor, Ceramic Arts Network
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How to download your Freebie
Click the orange "Download" button to get your copy of this free guide! If you don't see the orange "Download" button below, click "Log in or sign up" button to log in or set up your free Ceramic Arts Network account!
Get more than 25 FREE downloadable guides with recipes, techniques, and studio references—exclusive to Ceramic Arts Network! Sign up or log in to download your Freebie, and you will also receive a free subscription to our email newsletters!
Throwing on the pottery wheel is exciting and fun. Once you can center, you’ll never get tired of the many things you can create with the potters wheel. Here we’ve gathered some tips and techniques that will show you how to use a pottery wheel in the most efficient and effective ways. If you want to throw sets on the wheel, here are some simple gauges for the potters wheel you can buy or make. Or for duplicating profiles, you can make wheel throwing templates. Another ingenious technique is to facet freshly thrown clay then continue throwing the clay and watch the pattern expand. Finally, you’ll enjoy the survey of trimming accessories for wheel thrown pottery—maybe there’s a tool that’s right for you.
Included in this free PDF:
The What and Why Before You Buy a Potters Wheel
by Bill Jones
When you decide to buy a pottery wheel, you'll be pleasantly surprised at all the options. We've gathered together some of the advice from seasoned experts Jonathan Kaplan and Steven Branfman to shed a little light on which pottery wheel may be best for you.
Gauges for Wheel Throwing
by Bill Jones
Sooner or later every potter wants to make multiples of a form -- a set of bowls, mugs, whatever. Two basic measuring devices for throwing sets on the wheel are the Western pot gauge, which measure pots from the outside and the Eastern tombo, which measures pots from the inside.
The Basics of Pottery Throwing Ribs
by Bill Jones
The best throwing tools around are our fingers but there are just some things they can’t do, and so we have throwing ribs—an essential tool for every potter. Pottery tools like throwing ribs provide an efficient and effective way for potters to remove moisture, control contours, and smooth surfaces. Here’s a look at these tools and where you can find them.
How to Make Custom Pottery Throwing Ribs
Robert Balaban
There are times when you may need a special tool when throwing on the pottery wheel. Robert Balaban solves this problem by making his own tools and here he details how you can do the same.
Throwing on the Potters Wheel with Templates
by William Schran
While throwing gauges can get pots the same height and width, templates will help you get the same profile. This technique involves using templates to repeatedly create an even, symmetrical form. These easy to make templates can be used to scrape the surface as it's rotated on the potters wheel to create a smooth, uniform surface.
10 Tips for Stronger, Smarter Throwing
by Claire O'Conner
Throwing good pots, especially of a larger size, on the pottery wheel is a challenge, but with these tips from Claire O’Connor, it can be easier than you might think.
Trimming Accessories for the Potters Wheel
Frank James Fisher
Trimming the bases of pots on the potter's wheel is another opportunity to bring unity and beauty to your artwork. But different shapes and sizes of work create challenges, and if you throw a lot of large bowls and platters, pots with delicate necks, lids, etc., then you should evaluate trimming accessories for the potter's wheel.
Download the free guide right now, and become a better ceramic artist tomorrow. That’s our promise to you from Ceramic Arts Network!
Best regards,
Jennifer Poellot Harnetty
Editor, Ceramic Arts Network