Throwing Pottery on the Wheel: How to make ceramic clay mugs from Udemy

Welcome, in this class we'll be learning how to throw, shape, and put handles on three basic mug shapes. Using one pound of clay we'll make a cylinder shape, a cone shape, and a funnel shaped mug. Then using one piece of clay we will shape, and then pull handles for each and attach them to each mug, going over how to do each task efficiently and effectively. Then if there are any finishing touches concerning the handles or trimming we will go over that. While also covering the tools required and how to prepare, from the wheel itself to my preferred hand tools for working on the wheel. I usually keep it simple with tools, and much prefer to use my hands as much as possible as it helps develop my sensitivity working with clay. Which is something I also recommend to my students as they learn how to work with clay on the wheel and with hand building.

My goal with this class is to help you get a better understanding of how to make a mug, and demonstrate what can be accomplished with basic skills on the wheel, and communicating the aesthetic properties that make a mug nice to look at, and to use.

What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction

Preparation

Centering

Throwing and Shaping

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Provides a foundational understanding of wheel throwing, focusing on essential techniques like centering, shaping, and handle attachment

Emphasizes the aesthetic properties of mugs, which helps learners create visually appealing and functional ceramic pieces

Focuses on using hands as much as possible, which helps develop sensitivity when working with clay on the wheel and with hand building

Covers the preparation of the wheel and preferred hand tools, which helps learners set up their workspace efficiently

Reviews summary

Introduction to wheel thrown mugs

According to learners, this course is a great starting point for anyone interested in learning wheel throwing, specifically focusing on ceramic mugs. Students appreciate the instructor's clear and patient demonstrations which break down the process into manageable steps. The focus on fundamental techniques like centering, throwing basic shapes, and attaching handles is seen as a major strength, making the skill feel accessible even to complete novices. While it provides a solid foundation in throwing, learners note that the course primarily covers the wheel-throwing process and does not delve into post-throwing stages like glazing or firing, which are necessary for finished pieces.

Hands-on, applicable skills taught.

"Learned practical techniques for making different mug shapes right away."

"The section on pulling and attaching handles was particularly useful and well-explained."

"The specific methods for centering and shaping were really helpful in practice."

"Focuses on the essential skills needed to actually make a mug."

Instructor shows steps effectively.

"The instructor's demonstrations were incredibly helpful and easy to replicate."

"He explains each step thoroughly and shows you exactly what to do."

"Seeing the process demonstrated so clearly made a big difference in my learning."

"Patiently shows techniques for centering and shaping."

Ideal introduction to pottery wheel.

"This course is perfect for absolute beginners wanting to try the wheel."

"I had never touched clay on a wheel before and felt comfortable learning with this."

"Explains everything clearly, making it easy to follow along as a first-timer."

"It's a wonderful starting point if you're new to throwing mugs."

Covers wheel work primarily.

"This course focuses only on the throwing aspect; don't expect to learn glazing or firing."

"It's important to know this class is specifically about throwing on the wheel, not finishing."

"Excellent for the physical act of throwing, but you'll need other resources for post-kiln steps."

"The content is strictly centered on the mechanics of wheel throwing."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Throwing Pottery on the Wheel: How to make ceramic clay mugs with these activities:

Practice Centering Clay

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Practice centering clay on the wheel to build a strong foundation for throwing consistent mug shapes.

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Prepare clay by wedging to remove air bubbles.
Secure clay to the wheel head.
Use water and consistent pressure to center the clay.

The Potter's Wheel: A Complete Course

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Supplement the course with a comprehensive guide to pottery techniques.

View The Complete Potter: The Complete Reference to... on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'The Potter's Wheel: A Complete Course'.
Read chapters related to centering, throwing, and shaping.
Compare the book's techniques with the course's methods.

Document Your Mug-Making Process

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Create a visual journal documenting each step of the mug-making process to reinforce learning and identify areas for improvement.

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Take photos or videos of each stage of mug creation.
Write captions describing the techniques used and challenges faced.
Organize the content into a digital journal or blog post.

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Throwing Cylinders Repeatedly

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Practice throwing cylinders repeatedly to improve consistency and muscle memory.

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Prepare several balls of clay, each weighing one pound.
Throw a cylinder, focusing on consistent wall thickness and height.
Repeat the process, aiming for improvement with each attempt.

Design a Mug Collection

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Design a collection of mugs with varying shapes, sizes, and handle styles to explore creative possibilities.

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Sketch different mug designs, considering form and function.
Throw the mugs on the wheel, experimenting with different techniques.
Attach handles and add decorative elements to each mug.

Mastering the Potter's Wheel

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Explore advanced pottery techniques and concepts to expand your skills.

View The Complete Guide to Low-Fire Glazes for... on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'Mastering the Potter's Wheel'.
Read chapters related to advanced throwing techniques and design.
Experiment with the techniques described in the book.

Create a Production Mug

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Create a production mug that can be replicated multiple times to test and solidify skills and knowledge.

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Design a mug that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing.
Create a template or mold to ensure consistency in shape and size.
Throw multiple mugs using the template or mold.
Glaze and fire the mugs, paying attention to detail.

Career center

Learners who complete Throwing Pottery on the Wheel: How to make ceramic clay mugs will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Pottery Instructor

A pottery instructor teaches the art of pottery to students of all levels. This course directly prepares individuals to instruct others by covering the fundamentals of creating clay mugs. The course's systematic approach to teaching how to throw, shape, and attach handles makes it a valuable resource for instructors. The emphasis on aesthetic properties and sensitivity in working with clay allows an instructor to communicate these concepts effectively to students. The syllabus, including sections on preparation, centering, and shaping, mirrors the topics that any pottery instructor will need to teach.

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Potter

Potters specialize in creating functional and decorative objects from clay. This course focuses on the core skills a potter needs, specifically the ability to throw, shape, and add handles to mugs. The course covers the effective use of tools and emphasizes hands-on experience, which is vital for any potter. The syllabus, including sections on centering, shaping, pulling, and attaching handles, mirrors the daily tasks of a potter. An understanding of how to make mugs, and an appreciation for the aesthetic elements that make a mug appealing, as taught in this course, may set a potter apart.

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Ceramic Artist

A ceramic artist creates original artwork using clay and other ceramic materials. This course directly addresses the fundamental skills needed to begin a journey as a ceramic artist, focusing on the creation of mugs on a pottery wheel. The emphasis on shaping clay, pulling handles, and attaching them efficiently provides a foundation in essential techniques. The course's focus on aesthetic properties and sensitivity in working with clay may further help develop the artistic vision that is vital for a ceramic artist. Specifically, learning to throw cylinder, cone, and funnel shapes, as well as handle creation, is a great introduction to more complex forms.

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Studio Assistant

A studio assistant supports a lead artist or potter by performing various tasks in a ceramic studio. This course provides foundational skills that are directly applicable to working in a ceramic studio environment. The course focuses on mug creation, covering techniques for shaping, handling, and attaching. Practice with these techniques may make you a more valuable asset in a studio setting. Learning to shape clay cylinders, cones, and funnels, as well as preparing tools, mirrors the kind of preparation any studio assistant does.

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Production Potter

A production potter creates large quantities of similar ceramic items, often for commercial sale. The course emphasizes efficiency in processes like shaping and attaching handles, which may be a key skill for a production potter. The focus on producing cylinder, cone, and funnel shapes directly mirrors the kind of repetitive work that a production potter does. Additionally, an understanding of tools, and a sensitivity to clay preparation, helps one to maintain a steady output of ceramic products.

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Ceramic Designer

Ceramic designers create designs for ceramic products, often working in collaboration with manufacturers. The course focuses on designing and creating mugs, which may be a relevant skill for a ceramic designer. The specific techniques taught, such as shaping cylinders, cones, and funnels, may provide a foundation for designing more complex ceramic forms. The course's emphasis on aesthetic properties and sensitivity in working with clay may further enhance the designer's creative vision.

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Art teacher

An art teacher instructs students in various artistic techniques and concepts. This course provides a practical introduction to pottery, specifically mug making, which may be useful for an art teacher. Learning the techniques for throwing, shaping, and adding handles provides a concrete skillset that can be shared with students. The syllabus, including sections on centering and shaping helps one to develop the step-by-step skills needed for teaching. Instruction in aesthetics may help communicate to students what makes a mug beautiful.

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Ceramic Technician

A ceramic technician maintains kilns, mixes glazes, and manages the technical aspects of ceramic production. While this course focuses on the art of throwing mugs, it helps build a strong foundation in clay handling that may be useful for anyone working with ceramics. Familiarity with the tools and processes involved in shaping clay, as covered in the course, may allow for a deeper understanding of the materials that a ceramic technician works with. Additionally, the course's emphasis on the details of handle creation and attachment may cultivate the technician's eye for detail.

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Sculptor

Sculptors create three-dimensional artworks from various materials, including clay. The course covers fundamental skills in shaping clay on a pottery wheel, which may be useful for sculptors. The syllabus may help to build a sculptor's foundational skills of clay preparation and centering. Understanding the aesthetics of mug design may translate to sculpting larger, more complex forms.

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Studio Manager

Studio managers oversee the daily operations of an art studio, including managing supplies, equipment, and coordinating schedules. While this course focuses on the art of creating mugs, it helps develop a familiarity with the tools and processes involved in ceramics, which may be useful for a studio manager. Having hands-on experience with shaping, handling, and attaching clay may allow for better management of studio resources. Additionally, understanding the aesthetics of pottery may contribute to a more creative studio environment.

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Industrial Designer

Industrial designers focus on the design and development of manufactured products, typically with an emphasis on mass production and functionality. While this course focuses specifically on the creation of hand-thrown ceramic mugs, it may be helpful for industrial designers. Learning how to prepare, center, shape, and handle clay may help industrial designers to broaden their understanding of the materials that make up ceramics. The focus on the aesthetic properties of a mug may contribute to a more creative industrial designer.

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Product Designer

Product designers are involved in the creation and development of new products, focusing on both aesthetics and functionality. While this course specifically teaches how to make ceramic mugs, it may still be useful for product designers seeking to broaden their understanding of design principles and material properties. Gaining insight into the techniques of shaping clay on a pottery wheel and attaching handles may inform their approach to designing other types of products. Also, learning about the aesthetic properties that make a mug appealing may translate to other areas of design.

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Arts Administrator

Arts administrators work in nonprofit organizations to manage finances, plan events and coordinate outreach. While this course focuses on throwing mugs, it helps develop an understanding of the artistic process, which may be valuable for an arts administrator working with ceramic artists. Familiarity with pottery techniques and the aesthetic considerations involved in creating ceramic art may allow for a more informed approach to managing artistic projects. Preparation, centering, shaping, and pulling handles may help one to understand the process behind pottery.

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Museum curator

Museum curators oversee collections of art or historical artifacts, conducting research and planning exhibitions. While this course focuses specifically on the creation of ceramic mugs, it helps develop a deeper understanding of ceramic art and the techniques involved, which may be useful for a museum curator. The focus on aesthetic properties and the importance of sensitivity when working with clay as mentioned in the course may provide valuable insights for curating ceramic collections. It may also allow for a more informed approach to interpreting and presenting ceramic art to the public.

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Retail Display Artist

A retail display artist designs and arranges visual displays in retail stores to attract customers and promote products. While this course specifically focuses on throwing pottery and making mugs, it may be useful for retail display artists. The techniques of preparing, centering, and shaping may help one to design thoughtful displays. Also, the aesthetic properties of mugs may inspire a retail display artist to create better displays.

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Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Throwing Pottery on the Wheel: How to make ceramic clay mugs.

The Complete Potter

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Provides a comprehensive guide to pottery techniques, including centering, throwing, and shaping. It offers detailed instructions and illustrations that complement the course's lessons on mug making. The book valuable reference for understanding the nuances of wheel throwing and troubleshooting common issues. It is commonly used as a textbook in introductory pottery courses.

The Complete Potter: The Complete Reference to...

Paperback

The Complete Guide to Low-Fire Glazes for Potters...

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Delves into advanced techniques and concepts for wheel throwing. It explores various forms, surface treatments, and firing methods. While not essential for the basic mug-making skills taught in the course, it provides valuable insights for students who wish to further develop their pottery skills. This book is more valuable as additional reading than it is as a current reference.

The Complete Guide to Low-Fire Glazes for Potters...

Kindle Edition

Throwing Pottery on the Wheel

How to make ceramic clay mugs

What's inside

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Introduction to wheel thrown mugs

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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