Let's ask it!
I posed the question: What are the basics of throwing in pottery? I also prompted Chat GPT to focus on body mechanics and the best tips for making a successful potter. Chat GPT's responses below are in BLUE.
Scroll down to read my takeaways and follow up questions to ChatGPT!
Basics of Throwing in Pottery
Throwing pottery on a wheel is a skill that takes practice, patience, and the development of muscle memory. Here is a step-by-step guide to get you started:
Prepare the Clay:
Wedging: Knead the clay to remove air bubbles and create an even consistency.
Cut and Weigh: Cut off a manageable amount of clay (typically 1-2 pounds for beginners) and shape it into a ball.
Center the Clay on the Wheel:
Position the Clay: Place the clay ball firmly in the center of the wheel head.
Secure Your Posture: Sit close to the wheel with your feet flat on the ground. Your legs should straddle the wheel, and your back should be straight.
Elbows Anchored: Rest your elbows on your thighs or on the splash pan to stay grounded. This provides stability and control while centering the clay.
Start the Wheel and Center the Clay:
Wet the Clay: Use water to keep the clay slippery and reduce friction.
Hand Positioning: Use both hands to guide the clay. Apply even pressure with one hand on the side and the other on top of the clay.
Apply Pressure: Push the clay inward and upward with your dominant hand while pressing down with your other hand. The goal is to create a centered, symmetrical mound of clay.
Maintain Steadiness: Keep your body steady and your elbows braced. Use your core muscles to help stay balanced and centered over the wheel.
Open the Clay:
Slow Down the Wheel: Reduce the speed to gain more control.
Thumb or Finger Press: Use your thumbs or fingers to press down in the center of the clay mound, creating a hole. Keep your hands steady and use both thumbs together for stability.
Widen the Opening: Gradually widen the hole by pulling the clay outwards with your fingers. Ensure the base is even by keeping the pressure consistent.
Pull Up the Walls:
Wheel Speed: Increase the wheel speed slightly.
Hand Positioning: Place one hand inside the pot and the other on the outside. Pinch gently and start pulling upward, squeezing the clay between your fingers.
Consistent Movement: Move slowly and steadily from the base to the top, applying even pressure. Repeat this step to thin and raise the walls, keeping them symmetrical.
Stay Grounded: Keep your elbows braced to maintain control and avoid wobbling.
Shape the Pot:
Use Both Hands: One hand should be inside for support, and the other should shape the outside.
Adjust the Shape: Gradually refine the shape as the clay spins, using sponges, ribs, or your hands to create curves or straight sides.
Finish the Rim:
Compress the Rim: Use your fingers or a sponge to gently compress and smooth the rim. This prevents cracks and ensures a strong edge.
Trim and Cut Off the Pot:
Undercut the Base: Use a wooden or metal tool to create a slight undercut at the base.
Wire Cut: Use a wire cutter to carefully slice through the base of the pot while the wheel is spinning slowly. Remove the pot gently and set it aside to dry.
Important Tips:
Practice and Muscle Memory: Throwing pottery takes time to master. Repetition builds muscle memory, allowing you to develop a feel for the clay.
Stay Relaxed and Focused: Tension in your body can affect your control over the clay. Keep a relaxed posture and focus on your breathing.
Body Positioning: Always be aware of your body positioning. Staying grounded with braced elbows is crucial for control and consistency.
By practicing these steps and maintaining a steady, grounded approach, you will gradually build the skills needed to throw pottery effectively.
Some takeaways:
It is more thorough than I expected but is definitely missing some subtleties.
From Bullet Point 2. I feel that Chat GPT could have covered centering better by explaining coning and compression. It also failed to mention that coning/compression help remove air pockets (if any exist).
From Bullet Point 4. I actually speed up the wheel at this part and don't slow down to open up my clay. I find that speed and water help quite a bit in opening the middle.
I followed up my original prompt with the following request to incorporate this information: in pottery throwing, the hands must work together in a coordinated and supportive manner to shape the clay effectively. The concept of hand support is crucial for maintaining control, stability, and even pressure when throwing on the wheel.
The below, How Hands Support Each Other in Throwing was the response and I would have liked to have seen it incorporated into the first answer!
How Hands Support Each Other in Throwing
Centering the Clay:
Hand Positioning: One hand (usually the non-dominant hand) is positioned on the side of the clay mound, while the other hand (usually the dominant hand) is on top. The side hand pushes the clay inward, while the top hand presses down.
Supporting Pressure: The top hand provides downward pressure to compress the clay, while the side hand pushes inward to keep the clay from spreading out. These forces must balance each other to center the clay smoothly.
Interlocked Thumbs: Often, potters interlock their thumbs or touch their fingers to create a unified, steady motion. This ensures that the pressure from both hands is coordinated, allowing for more control over the clay.
Opening the Clay:
Stabilizing the Hands: As you press down in the center to create an opening, one hand (usually dominant) presses down with the thumb or fingers, while the other hand (non-dominant) supports the side of the clay to keep it stable.
Mutual Support: The hand on the side prevents the clay from wobbling or collapsing, while the opening hand slowly pulls the clay outward to widen the hole.
Pulling Up the Walls:
Inside Hand and Outside Hand: One hand (usually the inside hand) is placed inside the pot to support the wall, while the other hand (outside hand) gently pulls up from the outside.
Consistent Pressure: The inside hand provides counter-pressure against the outside hand’s pull, ensuring the walls rise evenly without collapsing. The hands work together to squeeze the clay and gradually pull it upward, thinning and raising the walls.
Finger Overlap: Often, the fingers of the inside and outside hands are positioned directly opposite each other with slight overlap. This alignment helps distribute pressure evenly through the clay wall.
Shaping the Pot:
Refining Shape with Tools: When shaping, the hands still work together. If one hand is using a rib tool to shape the outside, the other hand inside supports the wall to prevent it from bending or buckling.
Gentle and Coordinated Movements: Both hands move together in sync, following the wheel's rotation and adjusting pressure to refine the pot’s shape. The inside hand is crucial for supporting the form being shaped by the outside hand.
Finishing the Rim:
Compressing and Smoothing: To finish the rim, both hands often work together to compress and smooth it. For example, one hand might hold a sponge while the other supports the clay from underneath, keeping the rim even and smooth.
Key Points to Remember:
Hands Work as a Team: The inside and outside hands always support each other. They should never act independently, as this can lead to uneven walls or loss of control.
Anchored Movement: Keep your elbows anchored on your thighs or the splash pan for stability. This anchoring helps the hands work more effectively together.
Even Pressure and Gentle Movements: The key to successful throwing is applying even, consistent pressure and moving the hands gently in unison.
Understanding how the hands support each other will help you gain more control over the clay and develop smoother, more consistent shapes. It takes practice and awareness, but mastering this coordination is crucial for advancing in pottery throwing!
I also prompted Chat GPT to better explain how the ribs are used. This was the response:
Ribs are essential tools in wheel throwing that help potters refine and shape their pieces. They come in various materials (wood, metal, rubber, plastic) and shapes, each serving different purposes. Ribs help smooth surfaces, create consistent shapes, compress the clay, and add finishing touches to a thrown pot. Here's how ribs come into play in wheel throwing:
How Ribs Are Used in Wheel Throwing
Shaping the Pot:
Outside Shaping: Ribs are often used to define the exterior shape of a pot. After the walls have been pulled up, an external rib (typically a curved or straight one) is held against the outside of the pot to create a smooth surface, refine curves, or straighten the sides.
Inside Support with Opposite Hand: While the rib is applied to the outside, the opposite hand or a sponge is usually placed inside the pot to provide counter-pressure and prevent the wall from collapsing. This helps create more defined and symmetrical shapes.
Smoothing and Compressing:
Compressing the Clay: As the rib moves along the surface, it compresses the clay particles. This compression is essential for removing throwing lines and reducing the risk of cracking during drying and firing.
Smoothing Surfaces: Ribs are used to smooth and refine the pot's surface, removing any unevenness, finger marks, or small imperfections that may have been created during throwing. Rubber or flexible ribs are particularly good for creating smooth finishes without dragging the clay.
Creating Consistent Forms:
Guiding the Shape: When throwing multiple pots of the same form, a rib can be used to guide the shape of each piece, ensuring consistency in size and contour. The rib becomes a template that defines the desired curve or angle.
Refining Profiles: Wooden or metal ribs can create sharp, clean lines or specific profiles, like straight walls, gentle curves, or distinct shoulders.
Adding Decorative Textures:
Textured Ribs: Some ribs have textured patterns or notches that can be used to add decorative designs to the pot's surface. Applying a textured rib while the wheel is spinning can create unique effects, such as waves, grooves, or ribbed lines.
Varied Effects: Different types of ribs (e.g., serrated, smooth, flexible, or stiff) can be combined to create varied surface effects, enhancing the aesthetic of the finished piece.
Finishing the Rim:
Smoothing the Rim: Ribs can be used to compress and smooth the rim of a pot, ensuring it is even and refined. This helps prevent chipping or cracking during drying and firing.
Creating a Beveled Edge: A stiff rib can also be used to slightly bevel or angle the rim, adding a professional and polished look to the finished pot.
Undercutting and Trimming:
Defining the Base: Ribs can be used to create a clean undercut at the base of the pot while it's still on the wheel. This undercut helps in separating the pot from the wheel more cleanly and makes trimming easier.
Clean Base Trim: Some potters use ribs to gently trim or refine the base edge while the wheel is moving slowly, achieving a cleaner, more finished look.
Key Tips for Using Ribs:
Hold Steadily: When using ribs, keep your hands steady and maintain even pressure. Your elbows should be anchored to your body or the splash pan to provide stability.
Use Water Sparingly: When smoothing with a rib, be mindful of the amount of water you use. Too much water can weaken the clay and lead to collapse.
Choose the Right Rib: Different ribs serve different purposes. Experiment with materials (rubber, wood, metal) and shapes to find which works best for specific tasks like smoothing, compressing, or adding texture.
Ribs are versatile tools that significantly enhance the potter's ability to create refined, consistent, and aesthetically pleasing pottery. Mastering the use of ribs takes practice, but they are invaluable for achieving professional results.
Overall, I am pleasantly surprised by most of the answers but as we know, putting this all into practice is the real test! What would you ask Chat GPT to answer next?
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