Friday, October 07, 2005

Working On the Potters Wheel

I use a traditional electric potters wheel as a tool to turn a mass of clay from a formless lump shape into a recognizable functional cup, bowl or plate. These are the basic shapes which can be used to make almost all pottery shapes. I sometimes then alter my shapes depending on my creative decision at the time.
I love to teach wheel throwing to all of my students at the Art League of Long Island. I have been a teacher of ceramics for about eleven years. When I sit down to throw, I usually have an idea in mind of what I want to make. When I teach wheel projects to my students I always start with a simple bowl form. We graduate to other forms and sizes over an eight to ten week course.
Someone once made up a time frame of how long it takes to learn how to make a decent bowl shaped pot. This time is twenty hours. I am not sure if we can make an exact time a reality but it may be a goal to have in mind if you are trying to learn to throw a pot.