8-week Introduction to Wheel Throwing Course

About this course

The course develops wheel-throwing skills through repeated practice, beginning with wedging, studio safety and centring before progressing to cylinders, cups and bowls. Participants also work on trimming, turning, pulling and attaching handles, and finishing pieces with slip and sgraffito decoration. Each session takes place at the wheel, with no hand-building component. Teaching follows a staged progression, allowing participants to revisit core techniques before preparing selected work for bisque firing, glazing and a further firing.

What you'll learn

• Prepare clay for throwing by wedging and centre it on the wheel.
• Throw basic cylindrical, cup and bowl forms.
• Trim pots, turn foot rings and refine finished forms.
• Pull and attach handles to thrown pieces.
• Apply slip and sgraffito as surface decoration.

Is this course right for you?

The course is intended for complete beginners who want to focus specifically on the wheel, as well as learners returning from a general pottery course for more concentrated wheel practice. The beginner label indicates an introductory level, and the course includes repeated practice of fundamental techniques.

• Focused entirely on wheel throwing rather than hand-building.
• Suitable for learners returning after a general pottery course who want dedicated wheel time.

Before you go

• Clay, studio glazes and use of studio equipment are included.
• Finished work is bisque-fired, glazed and fired again before collection; firing is charged separately.
• Participants should bring an apron.
• Personal tools may be brought, although they are optional; a starter toolkit is available from the studio.