Throwing on Potter's Wheel - Beginner Level

This course is suitable for those who want to learn the fundamental of making pottery on the potter's wheel. It is suggested (but not mandatory) that you finish the Hand-building Course before you take this course.

In this course, you will progressively learn the fundamental techniques of wheel throwing and use them to create a range of forms - from basic cylinders and V-shaped forms to mugs, bowls, plates and pitchers.

You will learn to: 

• Center a lump of clay on the potter's wheel.
• Open the lump and pull the walls to create cylinders.
• Control the width of the form and thickness of the walls as you throw.
• Trim the base of your forms.
• Modify a cylinder to create a V-shaped form.
• Pull and attach handles to your forms, so that you can make useful pieces such as mugs.
• Throw bowl forms using different bowl-opening techniques.
• Trim bowl forms.
• Create altered rims on bowls.
• Pull and attach handles at the rims of bowls.
• Throw small plates and trim them.
• Throw a pitcher form by combining cylinder and bowl throwing techniques.
• Create a spout or pouring lip on the pitcher.
• Pull and attach a handle to the pitcher.
• You will keep up to 10 objects for firing and glazing.
  
• Glaze your objects using simple glazing techniques suitable for the beginner level.
• Understand what is required to set up a small home studio space to practice throwing on a potter's wheel, including the basics of recycling clay, etc.

No. of objects to be kept for firing and glazing - 10

Age group - 15 years and above

No. of students in a batch - 3

Duration - 16 sessions with the instructor (3 hours per session) + 2 practice sessions

Practice sessions - In addition to the 16 instructor-led sessions, you will have 2 practice sessions (without the instructor) at the studio. These practice sessions can be used to hone your throwing skills, check on your progress, increase the weight of the clay lump, and push your limits.

These 2 practice sessions - 

• Are to be scheduled at the mutual convenience of the student and the studio 
• Can be used during your batch or within 2 months of the last session of the batch. 
• Include studio time and clay only. Glazing, firing and shelf storage space are not included. 
  

 

Weekday and Weekend Formats

We offer weekday and weekend options for learning wheel throwing.

This Throwing on Potter's Wheel - Beginner Level course is offered as a 16-session course in the weekday format.

If you prefer a weekend format, you can take the same curriculum in two parts:

• Throwing on Potter's Wheel - Beginner Level - Part 1 -  focuses on the fundamental throwing techniques, cylinders and cylinder-based forms.
• Throwing on Potter's Wheel - Beginner Level - Part 2 - builds on Part 1 and focuses on bowls, plates and more complex forms such as pitchers.

The two parts can be taken separately, allowing you to spread the learning over a longer period.

Select the format that suits you best.