About Wheel Thrown Pottery

Welcome to my Fort Walton Beach Pottery Studio, where I am excited to take you through the fascinating process of wheel throwing! This technique is the initial stage in producing a beautifully crafted pottery piece that involves various steps to achieve the desired shape and texture.

First, I measure and wedge the clay, which involves a process similar to kneading bread but with a much denser and stiffer material. Next, I place a lump of clay onto a circular item called a bat, where I center the clay – a process that requires a great deal of arm strength. This is when the real magic happens, pulling the clay up until the desired height is reached, all while skillfully shaping the piece on the wheel.

During this stage, any further shaping or texturing is done while the pottery piece is still on the wheel. It is also at this point that any hand carving can be added.

Afterward, the piece is left to slowly dry to the leather-hard stage (which usually takes about a week), followed by trimming and foot-making, if desired. 

Once the piece is complete, it is left to finish drying slowly to avoid any cracking or warping, and referred to as greenware.

Finally, the greenware is ready to be bisque fired in the kiln before the glazing and refiring process begins, which ultimately produces an exquisite finished pottery piece of unmatched beauty and charm.