Beginner's Guide to Throwing Clay | Sunrise Pottery Studio

[Artenen]

I wanted to share an incredible experience we had recently—our first full pottery lesson at Sunrise Pottery Studio! Jess, Tara, Jason, and I spent the day learning wheel throwing, and let’s just say it was a mix of excitement, frustration, and plenty of laughs. Whether you're completely new to pottery or just looking to brush up on your skills, this is something worth trying.




This post is going to walk you through everything we learned from our instructor, step by step, so you can get a feel for what it's like to shape clay from raw earth into something functional. Pottery is one of the oldest forms of craftsmanship, deeply tied to self-sufficiency, and it’s amazing to experience firsthand.

Getting Started: The Studio & Our Instructor​

When we arrived at Sunrise Pottery Studio, we were immediately greeted by an incredible space filled with handcrafted pottery, a wheel-throwing area, and a gallery upstairs showcasing completed works. It was clear that this wasn’t just about making a clay mug—it was about connecting with a timeless craft.

Our instructor, Dawn, walked us through the basics of wheel throwing, giving us a quick tour of the tools we'd be using. If you've never done pottery before, there’s a lot more to it than just spinning clay—there’s an art to the preparation, shaping, and even the way you touch the clay.

Step 1: Preparing the Clay​

The first thing we learned was wedging—this is where you knead the clay to remove air bubbles and get an even texture. If you don’t do this properly, trapped air can cause your piece to explode in the kiln later. None of us wanted to deal with a surprise pottery bomb, so we took our time getting this right.

Once the clay was properly prepped, we moved on to the most challenging part: centering the clay on the wheel.

Step 2: Centering the Clay​

Now, if you’ve never tried this before, let me tell you—centering clay on a wheel is way harder than it looks! The goal is to get your lump of clay spinning smoothly in the center of the wheel without wobbling.

Dawn made it look effortless, pressing down with just the right amount of pressure. When it was our turn? Well… let’s just say things got messy.

• If you press too hard, the clay spins out of control and flies off the wheel.
• If you don’t press hard enough, the clay stays wobbly, and you’ll end up with a lopsided piece.
• The trick? Steady hands and a lot of patience.

After a few failed attempts (and a lot of clay-covered hands), we finally got the clay centered, meaning we were ready to shape it into something recognizable.

Step 3: Opening & Pulling Up the Walls​

Once our clay was centered, it was time to open up the form—this is where you press into the middle of the clay to create a hollow space.

From there, we started pulling up the walls, using our fingers and tools to slowly shape the piece into a cup or bowl. This part was tricky because if you pull too fast, the walls get too thin and collapse, but if you don’t pull at all, you end up with a solid lump of clay that looks like a pancake.

Jason had a near-perfect piece going… until a little too much pressure caused it to cave in at the last second. R.I.P., future coffee mug.

Meanwhile, Tara’s piece actually looked pretty good, and mine? Well, let’s just say I made an abstract design.

Step 4: Trimming & Finishing Touches​

Once we were happy with our basic forms (or as happy as we could be for first-timers), we moved on to trimming the edges and smoothing everything out.

This is where you use special pottery tools to refine the shape and make sure the walls are even and symmetrical. It’s also where you can add textures or designs before setting the piece aside for drying.

Dawn explained that once our pieces were completely dry, they’d be fired in the kiln and then ready for glazing. We’re definitely planning on coming back for the glazing step because that’s where the magic really happens.

Final Thoughts & What We Learned​

Pottery is so much more than just making cups and bowls—it’s a skill that connects us to our ancestors. For thousands of years, people have relied on handmade pottery for food storage, cooking, and daily life. In today’s world, where everything is mass-produced, there’s something incredibly rewarding about making something with your own hands.

Here are a few takeaways from our first lesson:
Patience is key – Rushing the process only leads to disaster.
Failure is part of learning – If your piece collapses, just start again.
Pottery is meditative – There’s something calming about working with clay.
It’s a survival skill – If you’re into self-sufficiency, this is a craft worth learning.

If you’ve ever thought about trying pottery, I highly recommend it! Whether it’s for practical homesteading, creative expression, or just a fun day out, it’s a fantastic way to build a skill that has been part of human history for millennia.

Have you ever tried pottery? What was your experience like? Drop a comment and let’s talk about it!

 

[Artenen]

Jason and Tara of @Whiterock also make a video which rocks on this one! Figured I'd post them together, maybe Jason can add some wording to the post at a later date.