If you’ve landed here because you’re want to learn more about ‘how to throw pottery’, I think you’ll enjoy the collection of videos below. I’ve grouped these pottery how to videos, roughly by experience level, from beginner to intermediate and advanced/expert. I hope they will address some of the frequent how-to questions Potters have; all on one convenient page.
These Potters are incredible, and demonstrate techniques for a wide range of topics. From beginner basics to more advanced techniques, browse my curated collection of Ceramic Pottery How To videos… and prepare to be inspired. Don’t forget to check out the links to each artist, if you want to see take a look at their websites and wares!
Pottery Technique Demos / How-To Videos For Beginners
Pottery How To For Beginners # 1:
How To Center Clay On The Potters Wheel
(Courtesy of Florian Gadsby):
This video is of interest if you want to see the following: recommended shaping of lumps of clay for throwing, ideal body position for throwing and specifically centering, tips on getting the clay to adhere to your wheel or bat, thoughts on when and how much water to use when centering, coning technique to align clay molecules before centering.
Pottery How To For Beginners # 2:
How To Glaze Pottery and Prepare It For The Kiln
(Courtesy of Florian Gadsby):
This video is of interest if you want to see the following: Unpacking of bisqueware from an electric kiln, clips showing the waxing of bowl bases before being glazed, use of tongs for dip glazing, tips for reducing the amount of glaze that’s wasted, prepping pieces for the kiln to help achieve more professional looking pieces, an impressive collection of glaze sample tiles, thoughts on glaze thickness, side by side look at a glazed and finished bowl (to show shrinkage), and ultimately, you should watch simply if you want to be impressed by Florian moving large numbers of finished pots stacked on a single board. Personally, I hold my breath each time he does it!
Beginner Topics:
How To Center Clay?
How To Learn Pottery
How To Glaze Pottery
Pottery Technique Demos / How-To Videos For Intermediate Potters
Pottery How To For Intermediate Potters # 1:
Throwing A Spherical Shaped Vase On The Potter’s Wheel
(Courtesy of Ingleton Pottery):
This video is of interest if you want to see the following: Watching an expert’s technique for pulling a spherical shape, while keeping the top opening narrow, and his expert use of a sponge on a stick to draw the excess water out of the base of the pot interior after he narrows the opening to a width smaller than his hand.
Pottery How To For Intermediate Potters # 2:
How To Test Glaze Thickness
(Courtesy of Jon The Potter):
This video is of interest if you want to see the following: 6 easy and non technical ways to test your glaze to get the proper consistency for best results. This video is fun and entertaining to watch!
Intermediate Topics:
How To Fire Clay Without Kiln?
How To Make Pottery At Home?
How To Test Glaze Thickness?
Pottery Technique Demos / How-To Videos Topics For Advanced and Expert Potters
Pottery How To For Expert Potters # 1:
Creating A Casserole w/ Lid On The Potters Wheel
(Courtesy of Ingleton Pottery):
This video is of interest if you want to see the following: Creating a ledge for a lid (and making it look super easy!), using calipers to measure the width for a lidded piece, throwing a lid, next-day trimming of casserole and lid for fit, a variety of trimming tools in action, attaching a lid handle, and finally, the craft of pulling and attaching handles.
Advanced Topics:
How To Make Pottery Glaze?