In this video, I'm going to show you how easy it is
to throw a bowl on the wheel.
Hi Marie here back with another informative video for you.
As a new potter making bowls is one of the easiest techniques.
After all, the spin of the wheel can accidentally turn
anything into a bowl. I'm going to show you how to stop
making accidents and make a bowl on purpose every time.
And it's easier than you think. Once you learn the technique of throwing a bowl
it's going to get easier and easier and the bowls are going to get bigger and
bigger. All the supplies needed are listed for
you in the description below. Let's start throwing. As you can see the
clay is already centered. If you're having any trouble centering I
have two centering videos for you in the links below.
For this demonstration, I have two pounds of Amaco 11 a mix stoneware white clay.
This is a nice smooth clay that's easy to work with.
I'll be making the bowl about four inches high
and six inches across.
Let your thumbs find the center. The spinning of the wheel will draw your
thumbs in the center. Now press down.
If you feel any friction, add more water to your clay.
Once your thumbs can't go any further take your
index finger and your middle finger, place your anchor hand on the side
and continue to open your clay.
Go a little further down.
Stop to check the thickness with your needle tool.
Stick the needle tool in the bottom and place your finger on the needle tool
next to the clay. This shows how much clay is on the bottom.
I'm trimming the bottom so I'll leave at least a half an inch of clay.
That looks good.
Introduce more water.
Oops, not that much more.
Introduce more water
and bring out your base. That looks good.
Now compress the bottom before pulling up the walls.
You don't want your wheel to go too fast or too slow
right in between is good. Pull your walls straight up first to
form a cylinder. This keeps the wall stronger longer.
You can use a thin sponge with a little water.
This gives you a little more control over the clay.
Your outside fingers are going to be pushing up the clay
while the inside fingers are going to be guiding the clay upward.
Nice medium speed.
Any new viewers to the channel feel free to introduce yourself down below in the
comments section. Your questions and comments are always
welcome.
Compress the rim.
When introducing water on the inside squeeze your sponge on your finger
so the water cascades down onto the side of the cylinder
and slowly spin the wheel. And introduce it on the outside also.
A little faster. As you're pulling up the walls
you want to lighten the pressure of your fingers as you get to the top
area. This should be thicker so you have enough clay
when you expand to form your bowl.
After every two or three pulls remove the
water and compress the bottom and the rim. This helps to keep the clay
stronger by compressing the clay particles together
and stopping the water from penetrating and weakening your clay.
Now you can introduce more water.
See how the clay is thicker on the top. Compress your rim.
One more time.
Make sure your wheel rotates at least once around before
moving your fingers up.
And lighten the pressure.
And compress your rim. Get that extra water out from time to time.
Now that we have the height we can push outward on the inside with your fingers
while supporting on the outside.
And you don't have to do this in one pull.
Of course, professionals do.
There we go
Notice how the rim is getting thinner.
So you have enough clay. Get the extra water out.
What's your favorite thing to throw you can let me know in the comment section
below.
Mine are actually bowls. I like the different sizes and shapes and thickness
of them. You can make Berry Bowls and all kinds
of different bowls.
Compress the rim.
Let's
do it again.
That's a nice size bowl.
Get rid of that extra water.
And let's do one more pull.
Keep your fingers consistent now throughout,
nice and even.
And compress the rim.
Compress the bottom, get rid of all that water.
You can choose a soft rubber rib or a metal scraper.
and a smoothing sponge to get rid of any slip
and smooth out your bowl. I'm going to use the metal scraper.
Gently place your sponge inside as you're rotating your wheel slowly
and press
the middle scraper up against your bowl.
Now compress the rim.
And I have a little piece of chammy to smooth out the rim.
Get rid of any extra clay on the bottom with the modeling tool.
Now that's a nice size bowl. Now that you've learned how to throw a
bowl, you can make a mixing bowl, a yarn bowl,
a berry bowl, and a baby bowl. Make sure you leave your
questions and comments down below. You watching helps me to make more
videos like this one. Don't forget to like and subscribe if
you haven't already. Share with a friend and hit the bell
icon to get notified whenever I upload a new video. Now you can head on
over to How to Make a Yarn Bowl and How to make
a Berry Bowl. If you do, I get to play with more clay.
Let's stay dirty.