Stop Throwing Bowls Like a Beginner

In this pottery wheel tutorial, I’m throwing a rounded bottom bowl step-by-step — showing the exact process I use to get a smooth round bottom (avoiding the beginner bump) and setting it up for a clean trim and foot. Full Throwing Workflow: 1. Slap Centering (low-water centering) 2. Coning Up and Down 3. Opening Wide for a Bowl Form 4. Pulling the Walls 5. Removing Outside Edge Slip 6. Shaping with a Kemper rounded rib 7. Removing the Bowl from the Wheel Head (without using bats) A huge part of this process is using a Kemper rounded rib (or something similar) to round out the interior early and maintain that dome shape. I also teach a shaping method that feels counterintuitive at first — pushing outward from the top first and working down — which keeps the form supported and reduces twisting and collapsing. You’ll also see real-time troubleshooting when the form gets too thin, plus tips for: Throwing bowls with less water Avoiding over-thinning near the base (thick base problems + S-cracks) Scraping slip at the right time (to save effort later) Cutting a foot early to make shaping easier Wiring off cleanly and lifting the bowl without bats (scissor-hand method) If you’re learning wheel throwing, making pottery bowls, or want better consistency with your ceramics forms, this beginner-to-intermediate bowl throwing tutorial will help you level up your process. 🔧 Tools used: **Kemper rounded rib**, sponge, rib for scraping slip, wire tool, and DIY Ziploc plastic smoother 💬 Comment what you want to see next (trimming bowls, foot rings, glazing, etc.) and subscribe for more pottery wheel ceramics tutorials, throwing tips, trimming, glazing, and kiln-firing videos! Backyard Pottery Riley Madsen #pottery #ceramics #potterywheel #wheelthrowing #potterytutorial #ceramicbowl #bowlthrowing #beginnerpottery #studiopottery #handmadeceramics Monetization ID: CRGZNQNDSLWK5Y5G