Is it possible to make a mug in your first pottery lesson?
So you’d like to know if you can make a mug in your first pottery lesson? Well… I guess that does depend…
If you’re after a handle-less drinking vessel, perhaps with purposefully indented sides for ease of grip, or a bowl-like design which fits neatly in the palm of your hand or simply a rounded piece of clay with hole in the middle to contain liquid, then yes, you can make a mug! Any pot you make can function as whatever you want it to because you’ve created it! But in terms of making a mug with a handle, I’m afraid that this is not possible within a two-hour lesson.
Pottery is a slow process with many stages. Clay has to dry to a ‘leather hard’ consistency to attach a handle, and this normally takes a day or two. It also takes a lot of practice and a lot of failed attempts to physically create the amazing design ideas that look so simple on Pinterest. But pottery is so much fun, it’s entertaining and ridiculously addictive. You might not create ‘that’ mug in your first lesson but you will want to learn more (and even come back for a second lesson to attached the handle!).
During the lesson
I teach wheel throwing lessons as private or semi-private sessions. During this time, I will introduce you to the wonderful process of creating a pot. You will learn how to prepare the clay, known as wedging. Then you will move onto the wheel to learn the basic techniques of throwing pots; centring, opening and pulling walls. I will provide demonstrations and be by your side to give you pointers and reign in any of those wobbly pots (but only if you want me to!). Most people usually make two pots within the session, but there is no limit to how many you can make.
I have an electric wheel controlled with a foot pedal in my studio. It’s very simple to use and means that you control the speed of the wheel. If your pot gets enticed by the centrifugal force and is on a wobbly trajectory, just remember that you can stop the wheel at any time!
What makes pottery a great hobby is the fact that (unfired) clay can be recycled again and again. This means you can make a pot and mash it back into a lump of clay, if it doesn’t meet your quality control standards then simply re-throw it on the wheel. You can take risks and try out new ideas and there is no waste.
After the lesson
Once your pot has dried to a ‘leather hard’ consistency, I will tidy it up by the process of ‘turning’. This is where pots get trimmed and details such as foot-rings can be added. After this stage, your pot is ready for it’s first of two firings. It will go in the kiln for approximately 15 hours to a temperature of 1000oC. Once it emerges from the kiln, it is known as ‘bisqueware’. It will then be glazed and put back into the kiln for its final firing at 1250oC. I fire all of my pots to stoneware temperatures because the high temperature allows for pots to be more durable and therefore functional (for example they can be put in a dishwasher). This final firing will take roughly 24 hours.
Hopefully I have convinced how enjoyable wheel throwing is. If you are ready to make your first pot (or mug), would like to learn more or have any more questions, please get in touch by phone or email.