1. How gentle or rough do you need to be as you work with the clay?

Sometimes with clay, especially at the start of a project, you have to be a little rough. They don’t call it “throwing the pot” for nothing. But once the clay is in a particular rough shape, you must begin to soften your touch. On the wheel, the slightest touch will cause the shape of your creation to change. Too much pressure will collapse the pot.

2. Have you ever gotten frustrated when working with clay? What led to your frustration?

I once tried to shape a pot with lip that turned out from the opening. The lip kept collapsing against the external side of the pot. I grew more frustrated each time I had to start over.

3. How do you know when to start over with clay that you have worked really hard on but that did not come out the way you had intended?

When the clay is too moist that the consistency is too soft, you need to start over with firmer product.