Mastering the Big Pot: A Milestone in Clay

Mastering the Big Pot: A Milestone in Clay

They say it takes thousands of hours to truly master something. When it comes to pottery, I’d say that’s definitely true—and then some. This week, I threw two very large pots in one go. No coiling, no sections—just straight from the wheel, top to bottom. And I think I may have finally cracked it.

Throwing big is a different beast altogether. It tests your whole body, your timing, your patience. It’s about knowing your clay, reading its limits, and staying centered—literally and mentally. You can’t force it. You can’t rush it. Every movement has to be intentional.

When I first started throwing, the idea of centering that much clay was daunting enough. Lifting it? Even harder. Shaping it into something tall, even, and beautiful? That felt almost out of reach. But like anything in pottery, progress comes quietly. It comes in the repetition, in the failures, in the ‘almosts’. And then suddenly—something shifts. You feel the rhythm. Your hands know what to do. Your body moves with the clay, not against it.

These two pots were a turning point for me. The clay responded. The forms held. I could feel the hours of practice coming through in the muscle memory of my hands. It was one of those moments where you realise—yes, this is what all the struggle was for.

“The master has failed more times than the beginner has even tried.” — Stephen McCranie

There’s still more to learn (there always is), but for now, I’m celebrating this win. If you're on your own pottery journey, keep going. The breakthroughs come. Sometimes, they arrive in the form of two very large pots.

Curious to try throwing on the wheel?

I run beginner-friendly workshops in my garden studio, where you can learn handbuilding or wheel throwing in a relaxed, supportive space. Sessions are 2.5 hours, one-to-one or for two people, and include everything you need to get started. Come get your hands in the clay and discover what it’s all about.