In her porcelain workshops at TeachinArt, Antoinette Badenhorst demonstrates how excessive water during wheel throwing can quickly cause porcelain clay - which she calls the “Diva of Clay” - to weaken and collapse.
Porcelain requires careful moisture control because of its fine particle structure and delicate balance between strength and softness. During wheel throwing, too much water can oversaturate the clay body, reducing stability and making walls soft, uneven, or unable to support their own weight.
Antoinette explains how beginners often rely on excess water while centering and pulling clay, not realizing that porcelain absorbs moisture rapidly. As the clay becomes overly saturated, forms begin to slump, lose definition, or completely collapse on the wheel.
In her demonstrations, students learn:

• How to control water usage while throwing porcelain
• Proper hand pressure and wheel speed
• Techniques for maintaining wall strength
• How to recognize signs of oversaturation
• Methods for preserving clean forms and elegant lines

By understanding the sensitive nature of translucent porcelain, ceramic artists can develop stronger wheel-throwing skills and greater confidence when working with this demanding but rewarding clay body.
Through detailed online instruction, Antoinette helps potters understand not only how porcelain behaves, but why proper technique is essential for successful wheel-thrown ceramics.