Wheel Throwing Level 2

Ready to level up your pottery skills? Our Wheel Throwing Level 2 class is designed for potters with previous wheel experience who are ready to move beyond the basics and tackle more advanced forms and techniques. Over five engaging weeks, you'll refine your skills, improve consistency, and gain the confidence needed to create larger, more complex, and more intentional pieces on the wheel.

What you'll learn:

Week 1: Throwing Bigger

• Techniques: Working with larger amounts of clay, improving body mechanics, refining hand positions, and maintaining consistent wall thickness.

• Projects: Taller cylinders, larger bowls, and bigger forms than those explored in Level 1.

• Focus: Building confidence with larger pieces while learning techniques that improve control and reduce collapse.

• Outcome: Students gain a deeper understanding of clay movement, wall thickness, and the physical techniques required for larger forms.

Week 2: The Art of Repeat Throwing

• Techniques: Throwing to a gauge, creating consistency in height and width, and throwing off the hump.

• Projects: Matching mugs, bowls, cups, or small sets.

• Focus: Developing accuracy, efficiency, and repeatability.

• Outcome: Students learn how to create cohesive collections and matching functional ware.

Week 3: Closed Forms, Bottles & Vases

• Techniques: Creating closed forms, narrowing necks, shaping bottles, and forming elegant vase profiles.

• Projects: Bottles, bud vases, and closed vessels.

• Focus: Understanding form, volume, proportion, and controlled shaping.

• Outcome: Students gain confidence creating forms that move beyond open bowls and cylinders.

Week 4: Plates & Wide Forms

• Techniques: Throwing plates, platters, and wide bowls while minimizing warping and preventing S-cracks.

• Projects: Dinner plates, serving platters, and large shallow bowls.

• Focus: Mastering techniques unique to wide forms, including compression, shaping, trimming, and finishing.

• Outcome: Students develop the skills needed to successfully create functional flatware and serving pieces.

Week 5: Glazing & Finishing Your Work

• Techniques: Advanced glazing approaches, layering glazes, glaze combinations, and troubleshooting common glazing issues.

• Projects: Glazing all completed work from the course.

• Decorative Add-Ons: Explore how different glaze combinations enhance form, texture, and surface detail.

• Focus: Bringing your pottery to life through thoughtful glaze selection and application.

• Outcome: Students finish with a collection of advanced wheel-thrown pieces and a stronger understanding of both form and finish.

• Prerequisite: Completion of a beginner wheel throwing course or equivalent wheel throwing experience.