wheel throwing

Wheel throwing is a common skill among potters. It can be used to reach various goals: being a fast production potter, a big pots thrower, a good teacher or demonstrator.

To me the purpose was never to make the highest cylinder, rather than mastering it well enough to express myself, having fun.

Much like improvising in jazz music. You must know your scales, chords, rhythm, and only then you can let your creativity express: in that single, peculiar moment. The finger marks, the pressure applied to the clay, the speed of your wheel and hands will determine a result which can only be the fruit of that moment, but will last forever.

This is the approach I try to have when sitting on the wheel, making a good pot is the priority, but doing it my way. Try to explore new shapes, curves, volumes.

Clay is fundamental: not all of them respond in the same way to the potter’s impulse. Some are more plastic, some have more or bigger particles in them, which with a slight touch can change the shape of the piece being thrown. It could be fun to push one clay to the limit, but it is very important to understand the differences between different bodies and what are they best suited for. That is sharpening the feeling potters refer to as “listening the clay”.