When throwing on a wheel, the potter uses their hands to center the clay, open it into a vessel, and shape it.
Handbuilding pottery does not use a wheel to shape the clay, while wheel throwing does. When handbuilding, a ceramic artist may use a slab roller, or simply sculpt with their hands to shape the clay. Wheel throwing pottery uses an electric or a manual pottery wheel to spin the clay while the potter shapes it. When throwing on a wheel, the potter uses their hands to center the clay, open it into a vessel, and shape it.