Common Mistakes to Avoid in Pottery Classes

Pottery has become increasingly popular as a creative, mindful and therapeutic activity, providing a hands-on and calming experience. Many beginners are drawn to the art of pottery but often encounter common obstacles along the way. These challenges may include issues with centring the clay, incorrect wedging techniques, and difficulties in achieving consistent wall thickness.

Why is it important to address these mistakes? By understanding and learning from these errors, you can greatly improve your pottery skills and create successful and well-constructed pieces.

Remember that making mistakes is an integral part of the learning process. Pottery is not just about the end result; it's also about enjoying the process. Being patient and practicing regularly are key factors in mastering this craft

For those seeking to expand their knowledge further, Atelier Forma offers valuable resources for learning pottery. At both studios, various workshops are hosted for beginners and advanced students. Some of them are the Plant and Planter Workshop where participants can learn how to make planters through guided handbuilding demonstrations or the Intro to Wheel Throwing Workshop where learning is focused on wheel throwing techniques.

 If you're interested in acquiring one-of-a-kind pottery pieces from the boutique, made by some of the local artists and teachers at the studio, Atelier Forma offers a selection of handmade ceramic items for sale.

Before attending any session at Atelier Forma, it's important to review the studio protocols and safety guidelines to ensure a safe and smooth experience.

Understanding Pottery Techniques

Pottery Techniques for Beginners

Mastering pottery techniques, whether handbuilding or wheel throwing, is crucial for anyone aiming to create aesthetic and functional pieces. Two foundational skills are proper clay wedging and selecting the right type of clay. These skills set the stage for successful pottery projects.

Clay Wedging

Wedging clay removes air bubbles and ensures uniform consistency. Here’s a basic process:

1. Cutting: Slice the clay block into smaller, manageable pieces.
2. Slamming: Slam each piece onto a hard surface to start removing air pockets.
3. Rolling: Roll the clay back into a cohesive mass. Repeat until the texture is smooth.

Consistent pressure and technique during wedging prevent air bubbles, which can weaken your pottery.

Types of Clay and Their Uses

As we discussed in our previous blog Choosing the Right Clay for Your Pottery Project, there are many types of clay available to potters. Selecting appropriate clay is vital for different types of pottery works. Here are the most common clays used in the studios: 

• Earthenware: Characteristics: Soft, porous, fired at lower temperatures.
• Stoneware: Characteristics: More durable, fired at higher temperatures, which makes fired clay less porous than earthenware.
• Porcelain: Characteristics: Very fine, highly plastic, fired at the highest temperatures. Most studios in North America use cone 6 porcelain, but some also use high fire (cone 9 and above) porcelain as well.

Understanding these essential pottery essentials helps beginners avoid common pitfalls in their creative journey. To further enhance your skills, consider joining one of the introductory workshops where you can learn basic wheel-throwing and handbuilding techniques in a family-friendly environment.

Common Mistakes Made by Beginners in Pottery Classes

Many beginners face a range of common pottery errors that hinder their progress. Some of the mistakes to avoid in pottery include:

• Inadequate wedging of clay: This often results in air bubbles and weak pieces.
• Water-related issues with consistency: Too much or too little water disrupts the clay's texture.
• Incorrect centering technique: Leads to lopsided and uneven work.
• Neglecting the trimming process after drying: Can cause structural weaknesses and uneven surfaces.
• Improper drying or firing techniques: If not properly bisqued clay can result in cracks, bloating on the surface, and even explosions or unwanted distortions, which could also affect other work in the kiln.

Additionally, it's crucial to adhere to certain guidelines for a successful pottery experience. Therefore, understanding these common errors and following proper studio rules helps create smoother, more successful pottery projects and a better working atmosphere for all students and members.

Mistake 1: Incorrect Clay Preparation

What Happens

Many beginners fail to wedge the clay properly, leading to air bubbles and weak pieces. These air pockets can cause significant problems during the firing process, such as unexpected cracks or even explosions in the kiln.

How to Avoid

There are a few wedging techniques that can help you prepare the clay. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

• Spiral wedging: Wedging the clay while slowly spinning it in the circle, will create a spiral within the clay and give structure to the clay that is now ready for use. 
• Bull’s head:  Another technique commonly used by ceramic artists, where clay is compressed from each end, then rolled forward and pressed multiple times. 

Other things to watch for are:

• Cutting: Slice the clay into manageable pieces using a wire cutter.
• Slamming: Forcefully slam the pieces together on a hard surface to help remove any trapped air.

Pro Tip

While wheel throwing, consistent pressure and technique are key to avoiding air bubbles. During handbuilding try to keep the walls the same thickness which will ensure even and consistent drying.  Focus on maintaining uniformity in your movements. Practicing these techniques regularly will help you develop a feel for well-prepared clay.

 

Mistake 2: Skipping the Centering Process

What Happens

Improperly centered clay leads to lopsided and uneven pots. This foundational error can affect the symmetry and structural integrity of your pottery, resulting in pieces that wobble or collapse during shaping.

How to Avoid

• Preparation: Start by thoroughly wedging your clay to remove air bubbles.
• Positioning: Place the clay firmly on the center of the wheel.
• Initial Coning:
1. Apply even pressure with both hands while pushing down.
2. Use your thumbs to press into the center, creating a cone shape.
• Second Coning:
1. Press clay down to form a low cylinder. 
2. Make sure to keep the wheel spinning at all times. 
• Final Check:
1. Ensure the clay is spinning without wobbling.

Pro Tip

Patience is crucial, but also proper use of your body. Try to lean and use the weight of your whole body, instead of only using your arm muscles. Centered clay is the foundation of a well-made piece. Take your time to perfect this step before moving forward with your design.

Mistake 3: Overly Thin or Thick Walls

What Happens

Thin walls can collapse during the shaping process, leading to misshapen or wasted pieces. On the other hand, overly thick walls may crack during drying or firing, and they can also result in uneven drying that compromises the final product.

How to Avoid

Maintaining even wall thickness is crucial for creating stable and well structured pieces. Here are some tips:

• Use Calipers: These tools help measure the thickness of your pottery walls accurately. Adjust as necessary to ensure uniformity.
• Pressure Distribution: Apply consistent pressure with your hands while shaping on the wheel. Uneven pressure can lead to unbalanced walls.
• Slow and Steady: It cannot be repeated enough times! Take your time to breathe and to move your fingers slowly across the clay body. Work methodically, taking time to check your progress regularly. Rushing often leads to errors.

Pro Tip

Constantly check wall thickness using your fingers or calipers. Experienced potters develop a feel for this through practice, but beginners should rely on both tactile feedback and measurement tools to perfect their technique.

If you're looking to improve your pottery skills, consider enrolling in a multi-week class at Atelier Forma, where you can gain hands-on experience and receive expert guidance from highly trained pottery teachers.

Mistake 4: Not Controlling Moisture Levels

What Happens:

Too much or too little water can ruin your piece, leading to cracks or sagging. Excessive moisture makes the clay overly soft and unstable, while insufficient water causes dryness and cracking during shaping.

How to Avoid:

• Control the Amount of Water Used: Especially when working on the wheel, aim for just enough water to keep the clay smooth but not oversaturated. This helps maintain the right consistency for shaping.
• Monitor Consistency: Periodically check the clay's texture. If it becomes too sticky or too dry, adjust your water usage or leave the piece to spin on the wheel for a few minutes to dry accordingly.

Pro Tip

Use a Sponge: A sponge is an excellent tool for managing moisture levels on the wheel. Lightly dab it in water and gently apply to your piece to achieve the desired consistency without over-saturating. If you're looking to improve your skills in wheel throwing, consider enrolling in a class like the Intermediate Wheel Throwing class, which spans over 4 weeks and includes 2 hours of open studio on the weekend.

Mistake 5: Improper Use of Pottery Tools

What Happens

Using the wrong tool or not understanding its function can cause damage to your piece. This might result in unintended marks or uneven surfaces (which can sometimes produce unexpected positive results) but also  it could create structural weaknesses to your work.

How to Avoid

Understanding the use of essential pottery tools is crucial. Here are some key tools and their proper usage:

• Ribs: Used for shaping and smoothing the clay surface. Hold the rib with a steady hand and gently press against the clay, moving it in a consistent motion.
• Sponges: Essential for adding or removing water from the clay. Lightly dab the sponge on the surface to control moisture levels without oversaturating.
• Trimming Tools: Vital for refining the shape after initial throwing. Use these tools when the clay is leather-hard to carve out (remove) excess material and create a smooth finish.

Pro Tip

Practice with each tool on a test piece before using them on your main projects. This helps build familiarity and confidence, minimizing mistakes while working on your final piece.

In our next blog we will continue to discuss a few more mistakes that are often seen in the beginners classes. But remember all of these mistakes can be avoided with practice if students are receptive to adopt proper instructions!