Okay, so I’ve been wanting to get into pottery for, like, forever, and I finally took the plunge! I signed up for a beginner’s wheel-throwing class, and let me tell you, it’s way harder than it looks. But so, so fun.
My first project? A teacup. I figured, how hard could a little cup be, right? Famous last words.
Day 1: Centering is My Nemesis
First, the instructor showed us how to wedge the clay. Basically, you’re kneading it like bread dough to get all the air bubbles out. If you don’t, your piece can explode in the kiln. Yikes!
Then came the real challenge: centering the clay on the wheel. You have to use your hands and body weight to force this lump of clay into a perfectly symmetrical, centered mound. Sounds easy? It’s NOT. My clay was wobbling all over the place. I spent, like, an hour just trying to get it centered. My arms were killing me!
- Wedge the clay thoroughly.
- Center the clay:This takes the lot of time.
Day 2: Pulling Up the Walls (and Lots of Deep Breaths)
Once I (finally) got the clay centered, it was time to “open” it up – basically, making a hole in the middle and starting to shape the walls of the cup. This part felt a little more manageable. You use your fingers to gently pull the clay upwards, making the walls thinner and taller.
I kept having to remind myself to breathe and go slow. If you rush, the walls can collapse, and you have to start all over. I definitely had a few near-collapses, but I managed to salvage it each time.
Day 3: Shaping and Smoothing
My teacup was starting to look like, well, a cup! It was still pretty wonky, but it had the basic shape. Today was all about refining the form. I used a rib (a smooth, curved tool) to smooth out the walls and give the cup a more even curve.
I also used a sponge to remove excess water and keep the clay from getting too sticky. This part was actually pretty relaxing. It felt good to see the cup taking shape.
Day 4: Trimming and Adding a Foot
Once the cup was “leather hard” (meaning it was firm but still slightly damp), it was time to trim the bottom. You put the cup upside down on the wheel and use a sharp tool to carve away excess clay, creating a nice, clean foot.
This was a little nerve-wracking because if you trim too much, you can poke a hole right through the bottom! Luckily, I managed to avoid any major disasters.
Day 5: Glazing and Firing (Fingers Crossed!)
Finally, the fun part – glazing! I chose a simple, speckled white glaze. Applying the glaze was pretty straightforward. I just dipped my cup into a bucket of glaze, making sure to cover the entire surface evenly.
Now, my teacup is sitting in the kiln, slowly heating up to over 2000 degrees Fahrenheit! The firing process takes about 24 hours, and then another 24 hours to cool down. I’m so excited (and a little nervous) to see how it turns out.
Update: It survived! My teacup is out of the kiln, and I’m so happy with how it looks. It’s definitely not perfect – it’s a little lopsided, and the glaze is a bit uneven in places – but it’s mine, and I made it with my own two hands. I can’t wait to use it for my morning tea!
