Potter’s Wheel Basics
Learn the Foundations of Wheel Throwing
Experience the rhythm and focus of creating pottery on the wheel.
This four-week beginner course introduces the essential skills used to prepare, centre, open, shape and finish wheel-thrown forms. With three hours in the studio each week, you will have time to practise techniques, build confidence and develop your work from one session to the next.
- Four weekly sessions
- Three hours each week
- Materials included
- $240
About the Course
Potter’s Wheel Basics is a hands-on introduction to wheel throwing for beginners.
Working step by step across four weekly sessions, you will learn how clay behaves on the wheel and develop the core techniques required to create balanced, functional forms.
The course is structured to give you time to practise. Rather than trying the wheel for only one session, you will return each week to reinforce what you have learned, refine your technique and continue working on selected pieces.
No previous wheel-throwing experience is required.
What You Will Learn
During the course, your instructor will introduce you to:
- Studio orientation, equipment and safe working practices
- Preparing and wedging clay
- Positioning your body and hands at the wheel
- Centring clay
- Opening a centred form
- Pulling and controlling walls
- Shaping cylinders and simple functional forms
- Removing work safely from the wheel
- Assessing pieces for trimming
- Trimming and refining leather-hard work
- Preparing selected pieces for glazing
- An introduction to basic glazing and finishing
The exact pieces completed will vary between students. Pottery is a process-led practice, and the focus of this beginner course is developing sound foundational techniques rather than producing a guaranteed number of finished items.
Your Four-Week Course
Week One — Meeting the Wheel
Meet your instructor, become familiar with the studio and learn how to prepare and centre clay. You will begin practising the fundamental movements used to open and shape a simple form.
Week Two — Building Form
Continue developing your centring technique and learn how to pull and control clay walls. You will explore cylinders and simple functional shapes while working towards greater consistency.
Week Three — Refining Your Work
Learn how to assess leather-hard work, trim selected pieces and refine their shape, weight and base. You may also continue throwing additional forms where time permits.
Week Four — Surface and Finish
Prepare suitable pieces for glazing and explore basic finishing choices. Your instructor will guide you through the final stages and explain what happens during drying and firing.
