Wheel throwing

Working on the wheel – two visits

Work on the potter's wheel always takes two studio visits:

1. Throwing – the first visit, where you throw your pieces.
2. Trimming – the second visit, where you finish your pieces, trim them and prepare them for glazing and firing.

Space and equipment

• 2 potter's wheels
• A shared table for preparing clay behind the wheel
• All the tools needed for throwing and trimming ceramics
• Aprons

Clays

You'll find 3 types of clay meant for throwing here:

• 930 – beige clay with speckles
• 254 – plain beige clay
• 371 – smooth black clay

How to start throwing on the potter's wheel

Before you get to work on the wheel, just go through a few simple steps:

Registration – first register in our system.

Booking a slot – pick a day and time that suits you in the calendar.

Studio access – after booking, a numeric code or QR code for entering the studio will arrive in your e-mail.

Choosing clay – pick a clay using the sample board available in the studio.

Weighing clay – take the amount of clay you need from the pack and weigh out 2.5 kg per hour of reservation. Each additional kilogram is charged and paid by card at the payment terminal. Return the rest of the clay to the pack and tape it shut carefully so the clay doesn't dry out.

Throwing on the wheel

Before throwing, prepare a wooden board by the wheel — you'll find one right in the studio. It's used for setting aside your finished thrown pieces.

Once a piece is done, leave it on the wooden board, wrap it in plastic and mark it with your customer number and the date it was made. The piece needs to firm up under the plastic so you can come back to it later and continue with trimming. Leave it under the plastic for 3–5 days at most.

Trimming on the wheel

Book another slot for trimming, and when you arrive at the studio, prepare all the tools you need. Unwrap your pieces from the plastic from your previous throwing reservation and carry on working.

After trimming, mark each piece with your customer number by carving it legibly into the bottom. Then place the finished pieces on the designated spot in the studio for firing.

Firing and glazing

You don't operate the kiln here — the staff does that.

We fire pieces meant for glazing within 14 days. As soon as they're ready, we'll send you an e-mail saying "TIME TO GLAZE".

After receiving the e-mail you have 7 days for decorating and glazing. Please book your glazing reservation only after this e-mail arrives.

After the final firing you'll find your finished pieces on the shelf marked with your customer number. We'll let you know they're ready for pickup by e-mail: "ALL DONE".

Self-service pickup is possible within 4 days, daily from 8:00 to 22:00. You'll also receive an access code for pickup by e-mail.

Ending your reservation

• Clean up your workspace (the potter's wheel including the splash pan).
• Wash the tools and return them to their place; don't leave them lying by the sink.
• Put clay scraps into the appropriate recycling box (marked with the clay number).
• Turn off the potter's wheel on its side and unplug it from the socket.
• Check your personal belongings.
• Turn off the speaker if you were playing music.
• Check that no water is running and turn off the lights.
• Make sure you've closed the door behind you.

Enjoy the rest of your day and inspiration for your next creation!

Consultation hours with an instructor

This is neither a workshop nor an individual lesson. Consultations are purely for advice and help with your work on the wheel. The instructor will advise you on throwing and trimming your pieces and help solve specific problems in your work.

• Brno: every Monday in the studio, 16:00–20:00
• Prague: every Monday in the studio, 18:00–21:00

Practice lessons with an instructor

If working on the wheel still isn't going your way, you can arrange individual practice lessons with us via the inquiry form. The instructor will be there for you, show you what you're doing wrong and advise you on what to improve.

And if you already feel confident at the wheel and want to push your work further, the lessons will help you develop your technique individually and create more demanding pieces.