Wheel Thrown Mugs
Artist Statement
For this project, the whole class worked on wheel throwing to make cups and pots. To make the cup, I had to first cup up the stoneware clay and put it on the wheel. Then, using my hands, I had to center my clay after starting my wheel (slow speed) with my feet. After the clay is centered, I took my thumb and made a deep hole into my clay. During this process, I had to add water, continuously, in order to keep the clay moisturized while I dug a hole. After a deep enough hole was created, I took my right hand and put it into the inner part of the clay (where the hole had been created) and placed my left hand on the outside of the clay and built up the wall for my cup. I had to control the amount of strength that I was putting into my hands to make sure that the walls of my cup was not getting too thin, and that they were even. After the cup had its basic shape, I took it off the wheel by using the cutting wire to detach the bottom of the cup from the wheel and dried it. When the clay dried a little bit, I took the cup and placed the open side placed down. After I attached the upper part of the cup to the wheel by using some excess clay, I started the wheel and trimmed bottom of the cup to make a foot. Then, I used my unique handle (twisted shape, created by using to strands of clay) and attached it in order to make a good set. When my cup dried, I used the high fire glaze, and by dipping it into the bucket with the glaze in it, I glazed by cups.
In the beginning, it was really difficult for me to create a pot. It was my first time throwing something on to the wheel and it, honestly, did get a little frustrating when my clay went all over the place. Controlling the clay on the moving wheel was really difficult at first, however, I got better at making things on the wheel by learning how to stabilize my hands and make use of my tools. Even though I was intimidated and unable to make anything on the wheel in the beginning, now, I am able to confidently make cups and pots on the wheel. Definitely getting used to the whole process of using my tools, stabilizing my hands, and controlling the speed of my wheel helped me to improve my wheel throwing skills.
In the beginning, it was really difficult for me to create a pot. It was my first time throwing something on to the wheel and it, honestly, did get a little frustrating when my clay went all over the place. Controlling the clay on the moving wheel was really difficult at first, however, I got better at making things on the wheel by learning how to stabilize my hands and make use of my tools. Even though I was intimidated and unable to make anything on the wheel in the beginning, now, I am able to confidently make cups and pots on the wheel. Definitely getting used to the whole process of using my tools, stabilizing my hands, and controlling the speed of my wheel helped me to improve my wheel throwing skills.