SayPro Day 4: Advanced Pottery Techniques: Learn how to throw pottery on a wheel and decorate with advanced textures.

SayPro Day 4: Advanced Pottery Techniques

Theme: Turning Clay into Art – Mastering the Wheel and Texture

🎯 Overview:

Day 4 of the SayPro Creative Workshop series takes participants deeper into the art of ceramics with a focus on wheel-throwing and advanced surface decoration. This session builds upon the foundational pottery skills learned earlier in the week and introduces techniques that require greater control, coordination, and creativity. From learning how to center clay on a wheel to applying intricate textures and finishes, participants will gain hands-on experience that pushes their ceramic artistry to the next level.

🌀 Morning Session: Introduction to Wheel Throwing

1. Understanding the Pottery Wheel:

Parts of the wheel and how it functions
Electric vs. kick wheel – overview and demonstration
Safety tips and posture for throwing

2. Preparing the Clay:

Wedging techniques to remove air bubbles and ensure consistency
Measuring and portioning clay for different projects

3. Centering and Forming Basics:

How to center clay on the wheel (the most essential skill in throwing)
Creating the initial form: pulling up walls and shaping cylinders
Tools used: sponge, rib, needle tool, wire cutter, trimming tools

Hands-on Activity:

Practice centering and throwing basic cylinders
Try shaping simple forms like bowls, cups, and small vases
Individual guidance to help each participant refine their technique

🖌️ Afternoon Session: Advanced Decorative Techniques

1. Exploring Surface Decoration:

Decorating thrown pottery through texture, carving, and additions
Techniques include:

Sgraffito: Scratching designs through contrasting slip layers
Stamping and Imprinting: Using found objects or handmade stamps
Faceting and Altering: Cutting, reshaping, and altering wheel-thrown pieces for added dimension
Slip Trailing: Applying liquid clay in raised patterns for texture and detail

2. Combining Handbuilding and Wheel Techniques:

How to add handles, spouts, or decorative attachments to wheel-thrown items
Best practices for scoring, slipping, and joining clay securely

3. Timing and Drying:

Understanding leather-hard stage for decorating and trimming
How timing affects carving, painting, and attaching features

Project Work:

Project 1: Create a wheel-thrown bowl or cup
Project 2: Apply at least two decorative techniques to your piece
Project 3: Experiment with combining thrown and handbuilt elements

🌟 Inspiration and Creativity Segment:

1. Design Planning:

Sketching out your final piece before starting on the wheel
Thinking through form, function, and decoration

2. Artist Showcase:

Quick look at notable ceramic artists known for throwing and texture
How different cultures and time periods approached wheel-thrown pottery

🧠 Reflection and Group Discussion:

What did you learn about control and patience through wheel throwing?
How does decoration enhance (or change) the function of a piece?
What surface technique do you want to explore more deeply?

📘 Take-Home Resources:

Wheel-throwing guide with illustrations
Clay body and decoration compatibility chart
Texture tool-making DIY guide
Video recommendations for further skill-building

✅ Goals Achieved by End of Day 4:

Understand how to use and maintain a pottery wheel
Successfully throw basic forms (cylinders, bowls, etc.)
Learn and apply advanced texturing techniques
Create a fully decorated ceramic piece, ready for bisque firing

Let me know if you’d like a visual step-by-step guide, video tutorial suggestions, or a digital booklet for participants!