10 Beginner Pottery Mistakes & How to Avoid Them

Stephen Jepson has taught thousands of students at the University of Central Florida over 50+ years. He's seen every beginner mistake in the book. Here are the top 10 — and how to skip them entirely.

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The Mistakes Every Beginner Potter Makes

After 50 years of teaching ceramics at UCF, Stephen Jepson can spot a beginner's mistake before it happens. The good news: every single one of these is fixable. Most disappear within weeks once you know what to watch for.

#1

Using Too Much Water

Beginners drown their clay. Water is a lubricant, not a tool — too much weakens the walls and causes collapse. Your clay should feel slippery, not soggy.

Fix: Use a sponge, not a stream. One quick wipe is enough per pull.
#2

Skipping Wedging

Unwedged clay has trapped air bubbles and inconsistent moisture. Air pockets cause explosions in the kiln and weak spots on the wheel. There are no shortcuts here.

Fix: Wedge every piece of clay 30-50 times before throwing. Ram's head or spiral — either works.
#3

Pulling Walls Too Thin Too Fast

New potters want thin, elegant walls immediately. But pulling too aggressively stretches the clay past its limit — and once it wobbles, there's no saving it.

Fix: Make 3-4 gentle pulls instead of one heroic pull. Patience builds better pots.
#4

Wrong Wheel Speed

Too fast during shaping tears the clay. Too slow during centering means you're fighting gravity. Speed should change with every phase of throwing.

Fix: Fast for centering, medium for opening, slow for pulling and shaping.
#5

Not Cleaning the Foot Before Glazing

Glaze on the bottom of your pot will fuse it permanently to the kiln shelf. This is an expensive, embarrassing mistake that's completely avoidable.

Fix: Wax or wipe the bottom 1/4 inch of every piece before glazing. Always.
#6

Inconsistent Wall Thickness

One side thick, one side thin. The thick side dries slower, creating tension that leads to cracks or warping. Even walls are structural walls.

Fix: Use a needle tool to check thickness. Close your eyes and feel — your fingers know more than your eyes.
#7

Rushing the Drying Process

Drying pottery too fast causes cracking. Setting a fresh piece in sunlight or near a heater is tempting but destructive. Clay needs to dry slowly and evenly.

Fix: Cover pieces loosely with plastic. Dry in a cool, even-temperature area. Thin parts dry first — slow them down.
#8

Choosing the Wrong Clay Body

Not all clay is the same. Porcelain is beautiful but unforgiving for beginners. Terracotta is soft but limited. Starting with the wrong clay adds frustration to an already steep learning curve.

Fix: Start with a mid-range stoneware (cone 6). It's forgiving, versatile, and food-safe when glazed.
#9

Fighting the Clay

Pottery is a conversation, not a fight. Gripping too hard, forcing shapes, and muscling through problems always makes things worse. The clay responds to guidance, not force.

Fix: Relax your hands. Let the wheel do the work. If it's going wrong, start over — fresh clay costs nothing.
#10

Giving Up Too Soon

The first 20 pots are learning pots. They'll wobble, crack, and collapse. That's not failure — that's the process. Every master potter has a graveyard of first attempts.

Fix: Commit to making 50 pots before judging yourself. The learning is in the making.

"The clay doesn't make mistakes — it just responds to what you do."

— Stephen Jepson, 93 years old, retired UCF ceramics professor, Geneva, Florida

Why Learn From Stephen Jepson?

Stephen Jepson isn't a YouTube personality who learned pottery last year. He's a retired University of Central Florida ceramics professor who has been teaching for over five decades. At 93, he still throws pots daily in his Geneva, Florida studio.

His video lessons are structured around the mistakes he's watched thousands of students make — and the specific corrections that fix them fastest. You get the benefit of 50 years of teaching distilled into clear, watchable instruction.

What You'll Learn in the Video Course

Skip the Beginner Mistakes

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common beginner pottery mistake?
Using too much water on the wheel. Beginners instinctively add water whenever clay feels sticky, but excess water weakens the clay walls and causes collapse. Use just enough to keep your hands sliding — a thin film, not a puddle.
Why does my pottery keep collapsing on the wheel?
Three common causes: too much water weakening the clay, walls pulled too thin too fast, or clay that wasn't properly centered before opening. Master centering first, use minimal water, and pull walls gradually over multiple passes.
How long does it take to get good at pottery?
Most beginners can throw a basic cylinder in 4-6 weeks of regular practice. Centering usually clicks within 2-3 weeks. Becoming truly skilled takes years, but you'll make usable pieces within your first few months.
Should I start with a pottery wheel or hand-building?
Either works. Hand-building (pinch pots, coils, slabs) teaches you how clay behaves with less frustration. Wheel throwing is more dramatic but has a steeper learning curve. Stephen recommends trying both early on to see what excites you.