2026 New Skills
My Journey into Pottery: From Hand Building to Throwing
Since 2017, I’ve been hand-building pottery, captivated by the versatility of clay. Over the years, I’ve learned many techniques and even purchased a pottery wheel. However, I never used it because I found joy in working by hand with a rolling pin instead. After several house moves, I kept transporting the wheel until Summer 2025 when I finally decided it was time to learn how to throw. I signed up for a weekend throwing workshop in Carmarthenshire with Siramik.
Getting Started
The first hurdle was that my wheel didn’t work; it had sat unused for so long that I had to get the electrics repaired. When I finally sat down at my own wheel, I found it challenging. My initial thoughts were filled with frustration—"I could be hand-building instead of struggling to create wonky pots and buckets of slop!" Despite this, I pressed on, practicing whenever I could spare a few hours.
Balancing Time and Progress
Progress was slow, especially since I was working as a Finance Manager for forty hours a week, leaving me with very limited time for pottery. Months went by, but I finally managed to conquer the art of centering my clay. Still, there was always a temptation to return to hand-building instead of focusing solely on the wheel.
Reflection
Now, as I write this blog seven months into my throwing journey, things are finally starting to make sense. I can proudly say that I’m able to fire some pieces! I’m very proud of how far I’ve come and am excited to combine this new skill with my first love—hand-building.
