Cara Harmanson - 5 Tips

After watching the video and trying for the first time to throw in class today, I think that the 5 most important tips for throwing are:

1. Keep your hands and the clay wet - friction is your enemy! If the clay is too dry against your hands you could rip or tear the clay and it would be hard to fix, or you may have to start over.
2. Don't lean your left hand too much on the wheel head because the friction can cause painful problems for first time throwers.
3. Use equal pressure on both hands when throwing. Putting too much pressure on either hand can cause the clay to be off center and wobbly.
4. You want to maintain the same speed while throwing - faster for coneing, and slower for pulling up the walls of the clay.
5. And finally, use the rib when you're finished pulling up the sides to shape the cylinder, add strength to the clay, and pull out any extra water from the clay.