Since I’ve started ceramics I’ve learned there are 2 types of people, those who love throwing on the wheel and those who love hand building. Although there are times when artists use multiple methods to get their desired final project, I think every ceramic artist has a preference.

Throwing on the wheel is very daunting at first for a lot of beginners. This method takes a lot of skill as well as trail and error. If you are an artist that likes to make things quickly and efficiently this is a great way to go. On the wheel once you understand the basics, you can make any shape fast and uniform. I find the throwing to be really rewarding most days but there are other days when it feels frustrating. Many artists, myself included like to throw a piece on the wheel and add hand built elements after that.

Hand building is great because if someone doesn’t like throwing or doesn’t have access to a wheel they can still make amazing things. Artists who enjoy sculpture and 3D art may enjoy this method more. With hand building there are many more shapes and details you can make with the clay, I think this method adds more ways to be creative. There are many ways to hand build, pinch pots, coil building, slab building. I personally love this method because my favorite part of making art is getting lost in the little details and hand building requires more attention, time and care. You can make pretty much anything you can throw by hand building but it’s not possible to throw all the shapes you can make by hand.

Overall, both methods are great and result in amazing outcomes and it is a personal choice for the artist to decide. Both require and showcase skill. Sometimes the best way to go about it is to do a little of everything. I think it is most helpful as an artist to keep trying and learning new things along the way.

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