Throwing Plates

In this workshop, we’re tackling wheel-thrown plates — a completely different challenge from throwing taller forms.

Plates might look simple, but throwing clay wide and flat requires a different set of movements, along with plenty of control and compression. You’ll learn how to push your clay down and out, rather than upwards, while keeping enough body in the piece for it to stay strong through drying and firing.

We’ll work through the process of throwing a large plate, starting with preparing and centring your clay before creating a strong, sloped edge and opening the form outwards. You’ll learn how to control the thickness of the plate floor, compress the clay and refine the surface so your plate stays flat and stable.

From there, we’ll shape and refine the rim, with options for creating anything from a low, flat plate to a deeper, more dish-like form. We’ll also explore adding an optional spiral detail to the surface and how to trim the edge for a clean, even shape.

Once your plate reaches leather hard, you’ll learn how to trim and create a supportive foot ring, including additional concentric rings for wider plates. We’ll also cover the all-important drying process and how to keep your plate flat and evenly supported to help prevent warping.

This workshop is ideal for intermediate potters who are already confident with the fundamentals of wheel throwing and want to develop their skills with wider, flatter forms.

What you'll learn

• How throwing a plate differs from throwing taller forms
• How to prepare and centre a larger amount of clay
• How to push clay down and out to create a wide, flat form
• How to create a strong, sloped edge before opening
• Techniques for controlling the thickness of the plate floor
• How to compress the clay to help maintain a flat surface
• How to refine and check the flatness of your plate
• How to trim the edge for a clean, even shape
• How to shape and lift the rim for different plate styles
• How to add an optional spiral detail to the surface
• How to wire your plate off the bat safely
• How to trim a stable foot ring once leather hard
• How to use additional foot rings to support wider plates
• How to dry your plate slowly and evenly to help prevent warping