Teach Yourself To Throw On The Potter’s Wheel

My career as a ceramic artist span 46 years.

I am not a production potter but use the wheel to create sculptural forms.
During the late eighties I contracted by the Canadian Training Awards Project-CTAP- to work as a ceramic consultant and teach pottery throughout the Eastern Caribbean.

I was hired because of the speed I taught students to throw on the wheel.

My first wheel was the lower end Electric wheel by Robert Brent.
I use his name, as a reference whenever Schools talk to me about the not so bright students should take art rather than academic subjects.

I usually ask them to do a survey of the best artists in the school and they will see that they are the top academics also.

Brent was a potter as well as an Engineer.

Lesson 1
Before you start the wheel,
(1)Practice some arm wrestling with a friend or family;
(2)Place your hands –palm to palm and push them against each other using your maximum strength without the hands moving from a stationary position.
(3)Sit in a chair or stool and place your hands firmly down on a flat surface-or wheel head; clasp your hands and open about three to four inches at the heel of the hands; while’s pressing down put pressure on the hands and bring the heel of the hands together; always keep the hands steady and firm.
Practice these exercises for two weeks.

Lesson 2-Soon come.