3
Seeking tips for lighter pottery after a year of bulky hand-built work
I've been making pottery as a hobby for about a year now. Most of my pieces are hand-built, and they always end up feeling bulky and heavy. When I try wheel-throwing, the clay often collapses or doesn't center right. I watch videos online, but it's not the same as getting real feedback. Has anyone else dealt with this? I'd like some ideas on methods or tools that could help. I want to make lighter, prettier pieces.
3 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In3 Comments
piperm381mo ago
Wait though, doesn't some stuff need that heavy, solid feel? I've got a hand built mug from a market that weighs a ton, but it's my favorite because it feels honest and it never tips over. Chasing lightness might just mean you end up with a bunch of thin, wobbly plates that chip if you look at them wrong. That collapse on the wheel? Maybe the clay's telling you it wants to be something sturdy. Bulk can mean strength, and there's a real beauty in a piece that feels grounded and present, not like it's going to float away.
4
derekbell1mo ago
Man, you really got me rethinking things... I always pushed to make my walls paper thin, like it was some kind of achievement. But you're right, that heavy mug just feels honest in your hand, like it's built to last. I guess I was so focused on not wasting clay that I forgot something solid has its own kind of beauty. That weight makes it feel real, not just fragile.
4