Coil Throwing Workshop with Mark Lester

This coil throwing workshop is designed for those with intermediate skill level or above. Participants should be able to comfortably throw 3 to 4 pounds of clay and keep it on center, as well as have some skill with getting a piece back on track if it gets off center during the throwing process. More advanced throwers will be able to make larger forms using this technique. Coil throwing is an exciting and extremely versatile method, and carries some unique advantages over other options. For one, it allows an artist to throw large forms with thinner walls than if only one piece of clay was used. It also makes it possible to throw much larger forms in general than one could reasonably achieve with one piece of clay. An added benefit, and one that we will explore in this workshop, is that coil throwing allows an artist to throw forms with complex contours that would likely collapse if thrown using traditional methods. Coil throwing is a great skill to add to your repertoire, and will allow you to improvise more while throwing on the wheel. I regularly use this technique to throw large or oddly shaped work, and even more frequently to save pieces that are on the edge of failure, bringing them back to life in such a way that the initial mistake becomes negligible. Learning this skill is a strong step towards building genuine confidence in your throwing practice. Note: Having a propane torch is necessary for coil throwing in a timely manner. One will be provided for this workshop, but if you have your own it is recommended that you bring it. Other necessary tools are just your normal preferred tools for throwing. A large and rigid rib is nice to have for this method. A wooden paddle is also useful.