Mastering the Wheel: The Art of Practice in Pottery

Even though I started my journey in pottery as a hand builder, when I first sat down at a pottery wheel, I was convinced I’d found my calling. In my mind, I was moments away from effortlessly crafting a stunning bowl—something straight out of a high-end artisan shop. Reality, however, had other plans. My first attempt resulted in a lopsided lump that looked more like a rejected garden gnome than a functional dish.

The truth is, throwing pottery on the wheel is one of those skills that requires patience, persistence, and an uncanny ability to laugh at yourself. If you’re just getting started, expect to make a lot of wonky bowls, wobbly cylinders, and the occasional piece that collapses in spectacular fashion. But here’s the secret: every failed attempt is a step closer to mastery.

The Learning Curve (Or Spiral, in This Case) Much like learning to ride a bike or bake the perfect sourdough, using the pottery wheel is all about muscle memory. At first, your hands won’t quite know what to do. You’ll either press too hard, not hard enough, or somehow both at the same time. But over time, your fingers will start to understand the clay, guiding it into shape with more confidence and control.

Centering: The Ultimate Test of Patience If pottery has a rite of passage; it’s centering clay on the wheel. It looks so effortless when professionals do it, but in reality, it feels like wrestling a very stubborn, very muddy opponent. Some days, your clay will behave; other days, it will absolutely refuse to cooperate. That’s just part of the journey. Stick with it, and one day you’ll suddenly realize that your hands know exactly what to do, and that lump of clay is perfectly centered before you even know it.

Embracing the Mess and the Mistakes Spoiler alert: pottery is messy. You will have clay in places you didn’t think possible. Your clothes, your floor, and possibly your pets will all bear evidence of your practice sessions. But that’s half the fun! Each splatter of clay is proof that you’re learning, experimenting, and improving.

So, if you’re struggling to get the hang of the wheel, don’t give up. Keep practicing, keep laughing at your failed creations, and most importantly, keep throwing. Because the more you do it, the closer you get to that moment when everything clicks—and trust me, that moment is worth every wonky pot along the way.