Just a little tip: when you cut the previous creation out of the wheel there should be a thin layer of clay left and leaving it actually helps the next chunk of clay stick to the wheel.
Tips: - Literally throw the clay agains the wheel to make it stick. The momentum really adds to the grab. - Throwing isn't so using lots of force with your hands as it is keeping your elbows stable. Pushing your elbows into your legs or sides will keep your hands far more steady. The only time I really press is when my hands basically hug the clay to help make it even and centered. Evening coning is more so guiding the clay rather than forcing it. - Dip the heck out of your hands into the water. If your hands don't glide, nothing will come out great. - It's harder to go slow than it is fast, as far as the spinning goes. Mistakes happen all the time in throwing, but they look like it was meant to happen because the mistake spins all the way through and you just work with it. When it goes slow, your mistake sticks to that one section since you stop entirely. - Always get the wire for cutting. Whether that's to take it off the wheel or to even out the top, it's essential. That being said, it's best to even out with a sort of molding knife while it is spinning. Overall, I haven't done tons of spinning, I'm by no means a pro. But back in my first year of high school... (9 years ago?) my teacher managed to get all of us to make a decent bowl in a day. There really is a difference watching someone physically. You can see everything way better and they can help you with pressure. So, for your first try without being able to ask questions, you did pretty good!
Exactly! This comment has done an excellent job of laying out tips to deal with the most common beginner problems.👍Also, if there is a pottery store nearby, it really is invaluable to just be able to talk to someone experienced!
Are you left handed? You might have the wheel spinning in the wrong direction, it's surprising how much of a difference this makes. Which ever is your dominant hand you want the wheel spinning towards it and use that hand to push in and rest it on the bowl of the wheel. This gives you stability. To centre the clay, make that arm as stiff as possible as you gently push inwards and cup the clay with your other hand. You also need full speed for centering, the speed definitely helps, but you might get sprayed with water. Go slower when shaping. The reason you're ending up with blobs on top is you are squeezing too hard or pushing the heel of your hand in underneath. Also make sure your hands don't get too dry, the clay will stick to them. Throwing isn't easy, especially without a teacher, you didn't do too bad for your first attempt :)
It doesn't matter which hand is dominant - you can learn to work in any direction. In East Asia they work with the wheel going clockwise regardless of which hand is dominant... People pick up throwing at different rates and some people can make a reasonable bowl first time. This lady has the disadvantage of using one of those cheap wheels which a kid can stop with their hands; it's very hard to learn on these wheels.
OK I did this for three years in high school here are some tips that help me. 1: start off with more clay then you think you’ll need for the project. You will lose about 30 to 40% in between your fingers when you’re new. Also don’t add more clay to the wheel after you started. That can form air pockets in between the original clay and what you add later. 2: in your non-dominant hand you can keep a small strip of sponge it will help lessen the amount of goop all over your hands. 3: don’t skip pulling the clay up and down. Helps eliminate air pockets. Air pockets will explode when you fire the pottery. 4: Leave the pottery walls of your pottery thicker than you think you want them to be. Around 50%-100% thicker. After you let it air dry for a bit and it firms up you could go in with the tools and slowly shave off the excess clay. Then with the moist sponge you could erase all the shaving marks. This keeps the walls from of your pottery from collapsing. 5: save all your clay scraps this includes all the goopy water and stuff you washed off your hands into a water bowl. If you let it sit overnight you could drain the water the clay settles to the bottom. Don’t know if this will help.
I would enjoy a part 2 pottery video. I was considering learning to do this but see already I would start with a hands on class to see how it went before investing in all the supplies. Thank you for sharing this!
Okay I haven't made ceramics since middle school but I also tend to retain info like an encyclopedia so: 1. Knead your clay before you use it; the same way you'd knead bread dough. This helps get rid of any large air pockets, and will also warm the clay to your body temp, therefore making it easier to use and manipulate. 2. SPONGE. Use this to clean your wheel in between pieces, clean your hands during, and add *way more* water while you're making your piece. We used to keep small gallon-pails next to the wheel because you need a lot of water in the spinning process. 2a. You want the clay to be slippery, it needs to stay wet. If it's too dry, the friction between your hands and the clay will pull the clay off the wheel, and when you're trying to form it, it will cause the clay to catch and basically collapse. You don't want any puddles, but you want the clay to slide through your hands easily. 3. It's not the best position health-wise, but you *want* to be hunched over the wheel because you need your whole body to make anything, basically. Elbows pressed into your hips/sides will keep your arms and hands steady. 4. Just *S L A M* the clay down as close to center as you can. Force is your friend. You can center it better after you get it stuck to the wheel. 5. Any clay you mess up or don't use, just keep it in the bag so it doesn't dry out. You can use it over and over again. Any clay in your water bucket will also settle to the bottom and can be used as slip* or left to dry _a little bit_ and added to your scraps. *Slip is basically what you're getting on your hands. It's super wet, goopy clay that is usually used to "glue" two pieces together, or to add decoration to a piece.
Ah Chloe I feel you!! I started pottery a while ago and it is still something I’m getting familiar with but I definitely recommend going to a potters club because they have so many tips that aren’t in every video. You did absolutely incredible!!
With getting it to stick I literally throw the pottery on to the wheel because the gravity helps, and also you want to get the air bubbles out of the clay at first (how it breaks apart when your molding it) and don’t be afraid to use a lot of water!
I highly recommend Earth Nation Ceramics' beginner playlist. It goes in a lot of detail but it's super helpful! Some basics that will help: 1. Your lap needs to be level with the wheel and both legs at 90° (i recommend using a brick for the foot that isn't using the pedal to even your legs) Also you need to be sitting right up against the wheel to have more control and stability. 2. Stabilizing your arms/elbows on your legs helps control your movements, hence why #1 is important to have your legs even. 3. Wedge your clay before putting on the wheel. This gets air pockets out. (Tutorial video in playlist i mentioned earlier) 4. Smack the clay on to the wheel hard and then press down to get it really stuck. You want a clean dry wheel for this. 5. Start with fist sized amount of clay and the first thing you should learn to throw is a cylinder as its the base of almost all forms. And starting with fist sized you help manage how much you can control at first. 6. You are using too much water. Water makes the clay soft which will cause it to flop and tear more easily. You only want to use enough water so your hands don't stick. 7. To keep things even try focusing your work zone in one area on the wheel. Such as 5 o'clock if you're right handed and 7 if you're left. (If you're left you need to flip the direction your wheel spins. You need to work with the direction the wheel spins or you're fighting against it) 8. If you're touching the clay, the wheel needs to be moving otherwise the clay becomes uneven. Also the wheel needs to spin faster then your hands are moving. Because if you move your hands before the wheel completes a rotation, then whatever you did becomes uneven. 9. To add on to the last point remove your hands very slowly before slowing or stopping the wheel. Not doing this makes the clay un-center and cause unevenness. 10. You need to focus on one step at a time or it just makes the following step so much harder. So for now just practice centering clay. Then making a hole. Then clawing open. Then pulling. After pulling is just finishing steps like cleaning up the lip, base, and adding any shape or design. I hope these tips helped!
Choleee! Please do a part 2!! I was reading all the comments and there's a ton of good advice! I love it. I recommend watching AmandaRachLees pottery vlog from last week and then give it another go! I love your videos so much! I want to see your hard work paying off! I'm sure I'd be on your level my first try too! Have you ever tried a little meditation? I think connecting with your breath could really help you with this. Anyway, I'd like to see you try again! Please
Kneading the clay first will get it in a workable mode. Sometimes right off the block it's too stiff to manipulate. Keep practicing you'll get the pot of your dreams 😁
As someone who has done pottery for years... this is painful to watch. BUT... I love you. 1. Kneed the clay to get air out of it... 2. Center the clay. Smack it down in the middle.. as you spin the wheel about medium fast push the clay slowly with both your palms toward the center until it stops wobbling or else everything will always pull and be wonkey...
Would you recommend taking a class for those who wish to learn? Or is it just as easy at home learning by trial and error. Especially since clay can be used over and over
Classes are fun and helpful, but if you're just trying to have fun just go for it. There are lots of steps to "do it right" but I mean... its super cathartic to just be hands on and play with it.
I’d love a second video! And a pot painting video too?? Watching you learn new skills and seeing you be realistic and honest about the struggles of each one is so interesting
I tried ceramics but I didn't do throwing. I do have a few tips though. 1- Yes, it is that messy. You will end up with clay everywhere. It drys out your hands really quickly so keep lotion nearby. 2- You can't just add more clay. You need to incorporate the clay together using a ram head method or shell method. 3- If you do end up firing it, make sure there's a hole if it's hollow in the middle. 4- A good thing about ceramics is you can reuse the material a lot. 5- Elbow your legs to create a triangle anchor. Then you can add more control and pressure instead of your arms being up in the air.
I would love to see a part 2! I love pottery videos but so rarely see people starting with little to no experience which is far more relatable and giving me an idea of a realistic first start as I hope to try pottery out myself some day it is nice to see as I feel I am learning along with you. Plus I want to see how much you improve and finally make that vase you want!
I took a throwing class last year at my university. It took an entire week just to learn to center properly. Once you get past the frustration stage of throwing and it just clicks, it's super fun and relaxing. Also, ALWAYS WEDGE YOUR CLAY!
I’m in a ceramics class at my university right now.. you’re supposed to dampen the wheel with the sponge.. form the clay into a ball and throw it down in the center. 🙂
watch The Great British Pottery Throwdown, then you can see what hard work pottery can be, even if your good at it. Cantering is important. Clay is reusable. Good luck
Make some that are wobbly/wonky on purpose! Perfect for hanging bracelets or necklaces over the edge decoratively. You've got this Chloe! Keep going! ❤️
My mom's a professional potter and I've been surrounded by clay and Pottery wheels my whole life but can imagine I would be the exact same as you Chloe when it comes to doing it on my own!! It takes lots of time, patience and practice to do wheel thrown Pottery! Would love to see a part 2!
You want the surface of your wheel to be at or a little below knee height. Pin your elbow against the inside of your leg, just up from your knee, and use your leg strength to keep your arm as still as possible. The first goal should always be centering the clay on the wheel. if it's not centered, then it will be very difficult to do anything else. Also, you're using too much water. you want just enough that the friction doesn't hurt your skin and you get slightly slippery clay, but not muddy.
Wait, two hours? You already improved so much in two hours!! Don't give yourself such a hard time. I see so many good tips and tricks in the comments, clearly, we all want to see you try again!
When the top bit of your pot gets lacey and uneven you can just cut it off to look more even! Just turn the wheel on to a comfortable speed, and use a potters needle or a regular butter knife to cut the top part off while supporting the rim on the inside. Once you've cut it all the way around just lift it off with the tool or your hand. If it falls in or on the pot, just stop the wheel and carefully pick it out :)
Yes would love to see this as a series! Don’t be mad at yourself, it’s your first time and it’s incredibly hard, these potters make it look easy, but think how long it must’ve taken them to learn. I love your wonky bowls, paint them and use them with pride 😄🙂🦋💕
I'd love to see a part 2! I have absolutely no idea how to throw pottery, I've only ever worked with greenware, which is essentially pre-fired ceramics. And even that, the shop I got stuff from closed before I even learned to drive, and I'm 31 now so that was years and years ago. Honestly, I can't imagine this being easy, I know we're all our own worst critic but please don't be too hard on yourself. Learning something like this is probably not something you can manage in a reasonable time to appease the algorithm gods.
Tip that I learned in college and in high school in ceramics classes is that the clay mirrors how you feel if your in a good mood it will turn out better if your mad the clay will feel it too also knead it like you would pizza dough and shape it into a cone shape then slap it in the middle of the wheel also use a good amount of water. Edit: chole, I’m in school to be a high school art teacher in ceramics. If you need any tips I’m here to help. Also have a towel on your lap for wiping your hands as needed and an apron. Because clay is every hard to get out of clothes when it drys and only use that towel when your using clay. It’s much easier to learn the wheel when you learn to do other stuff with the clay first like a coil pot and learning how to knead. Slab projects etc. Good luck
Aw, don't be too hard on yourself. At least you're trying, and you are making progress. You're a beginner. I'm sure everyone who starts starts off this way. Just take your time and be patient with yourself. You've got this!
I would definitely love to see a part 2 of this. I'm sure you will eventually get it with practice and with some advice and I'm so down to watch you learn how to do it slowly even if it takes like 10 episodes!!
A few days ago, I watched a video by a someone with a channel named "Natasha Elle" in Singapore, where she went and had an in-person lesson at a ceramics school from an expert, and Ms. Elle had a lot of the same difficulty you had in this. The hands-on guidance seemed to make a difference though, to help her to feel how to keep the clay steady. The teacher showed Ms. Elle how to remove the piece at the end, using some sort of wire to cut it off the wheel.
I took a ceramics class in high school. I not only had the teacher and an advanced student friend helping when I was using the wheel. My little pot is way too thick but I still have it and the color it was fired with was awesome. Joni (my friend) gave me one of her projects and I have it in my kitchen. My first plate was beautiful and perfect but someone took it from the wrong drying rack for firing and it blew up. My second plate wasn't nearly as nice so it takes lots of practice. Don't be afraid to use water. You absolutely can reuse clay if it isn't dry. Slam your clay down on the wheel to adhere it, even harder then you did. Keep trying and go with very simple shapes at first until you get the hang of it.
PLEASE do a part two!!! I was legit laughing so hard I was crying 😂. BTW considering that it was your first time properly trying pottery I think you actually did pretty well.
Clay is one of the most difficult art mediums to work with. I am a ceramics artist and I don't usually throw my pieces -using a wheel - because the clay needs a lot of prep and keeping it centered is difficult for me. Instead, I hand build my pieces. Roll the clay out evenly and then proceed with building. A lot less stress involved. You did pretty good for a first try though. 🙂
Kneed the clay like a dough, it eliminates air bubbles and gets a good consistency going. On a wheel you have better control using your thumbs rather than your index finger. Also I believe the first vase is actually made without a wheel, the neck looks like it was coiled and the bottom looks like a pinch pot to me. Id like to see you try and hand sculpt the vase in another video
when the clay comes up when you didn't expect it, it might be because your hands aren't wet enough (tip if you feel the clay rubbing against your hands and it hurts, you need to wet your hands.) Edit: also you should invest in a clay cutter which is a metal string thing with 2 handles on each end and you can use it to cut off your pieces easier (make sure the cutter is flat against the wheel when you do so or else your pot will probably get a hole in the bottom.)
Watching this was a tiny bit painful but it's reminding me of when I took ceramics in high school and how much I liked it. I wish I had room for a wheel. Maybe someday :) Kneading the clay before putting it on the wheel might help you manipulate and center it easier!
Its nice to see you uploading this even after not being satisfied with the results, id love to see more of this and see you learn ( even is it may be slower then you would like)
To get it to stick you gotta really smack that sucker down then smush down the sides around the base to give it kind of a skirt. Also you gotta wash the clay sludge off your hands in the bucket because you don't want it to stick to the clay. Helps to have the pedal on the floor so you can anchor your elbows into your thighs so you can get stability. Also don't add clay onto previous used clay because it'll break off and get air bubbles. Also you want to make the tower with the clay then go into a can shape a couple times to make sure it's centered, then while in the can shape, use your thumbs to make the hole. It takes a lot of trial and error before you can properly get going. I had a lot of struggles in my pottery classes when I first started out. I've had pieces fly at students next to me an such. But I eventually got it and ended up helping a lot of the class out. I love pottery, it's so much fun. But it's also extremely uncomfortable because you have to sit hunched over.
This might be my favorite video on all of UA-cam because it is the most accurate thing I’ve ever seen 😆 this is exactly what it was like trying the wheel for the first time! And I mean it’s fun, I like playing around with the wheel but I’ve never made a successful piece on it lol. I stick to hand building my clay pieces :)
Tip: you have to first make the clay into a ball then slap it onto the wheel. Then you have to keep your hands on either side (3 and 9 if you think of it like a clock) and bang it while the wheel is going, this is without water. Then you have to rly make sure the clay is centered because it’s not only the ball of clay being centered on the wheel but also the clay itself, this will effect the rest of your bowl. You have to go slow and steady when opening the hole, and when you open up the hole put one hand on the other and pull straight back. Then to make the bowl taller you have to throw it which means you put one hand on the outside and one on the inside put pressure and pull up. Also don’t be stingy with the water it helps a lot. Whenever you’re putting pressure make sure that it’s even pressure throughout. Overall you did pretty good I think centering and making sure to bang on the clay (which is also called coning) is the most important for you!
Use one hand to shape it and the other to hold a wet sponge to the outside of your pot/vase. It'll help you not to make it so asymmetrical and wonky. I took a pottery class and that was how they had us shape it once you get past the initial lump stage.
Firstly you gotta knead the clay before throwing it so u won't have to apply that much strength and neither there would be so much clay on your hands Secondly, u gotta put water at the base before throwing the clay so as to keep it still, later you can abosorb the water at the bottom using the sponge. It would be much easier than just smoothing out the clay at the bottom.
From what I learned in my pottery classes . My class had these removable wheel thing where we would put some clay in the metal and put the circle wheel thing ( don’t know the name lol ) on top and use that to throw the clay on . You have the throw the clay in the wheel with force so it sticks . When you are centering the clay don’t worry about making a full on cone jus as long as it goes up then you should be ok . If muscle is an issue when you are centering jab your allows into your side and use your body weight to push yourself into the clay . When making the bowl start with only putting one finger in then slowly stretch out to where you want it and then go to the side either with the sponge inside or outside with little water inside the sponge to pull upwards Side notes . Try not to use to much water . Don’t let your hands get cover in clay . Try to balance the weight/ muscle. Presser Using uneven if that will cause holes and unevenness . Make sure the bowls thickness does not go under 1/8 of an inch ( I could be mistake but I think it’s 1/8 ) And make sure to leave about half an inch on the bottom for easy removal
I think you did a wonderful job! First time? Great! You MUST CENTER the clay on the wheel. I have used the side of the catcher for leverage to get one arm firm and steady. You have your legs so place your elbow inside your knee keeping one hand steady and wedge the clay into the center of the wheel. I saw a lot of other good advice. All clay is re-useable just wedge it back together! Please keep going and keep trying! You are truly inspirational and such a lovely human. Thank you for sharing your art journey with us.
Top tip: to begin with use the wheel slowly and make sure you use your second hand to support the hand you are using You can also lean your elbows/ forearms on the outside ledge to help steady your hands👍
I’m in ceramic school right now and we just started making bowls your doing great pottery is a lot harder than people expect takes a lot of practice. At the beginning you literally gain new muscles because we don’t use them in day to day life.
Chloe, watch the Great Pottery Throw Down on HBO max! It’s super fascinating to see the history behind British pottery and all of the different techniques they use.
You should use a wire to cut the clay creation from the base. There should be a base of clay left behind that will help keep your next ball of clay on the wheel. Also, centure it, i usually give it a good throw down on to the wheel. Spend time rising and lowering your clay before starting to shape it, this ensures the air is expelled from the clay. Yes you get covered in clay till you become more familiar with it. Your wheel must be stable and level as possible, (A spirit level can help to do this,) or you will always throw wonky pots. Plus being left handed on a wheel spinning right handed can cause issues. If its possible you need to reverse the wheel, so your dominant hand controls the hand pressure on the clay. Its a complex process, one that isnt learnt in a day, it takes years, and loads of practice. Good Luck, i would love a second video.. ❤️ From over the pond! 🇬🇧
A little tip from me to you but my pottery teacher always told us the clay should be shiny at all time meaning you need to use more water. When ever the clay goes matte that mean you need more water. Anyway love your vids their super entertaining ❤️
The wheel needs to spin in a different direction depending on if you are left handed or right handed. You also need to keep your elbows against your hips to provide stability. The wheel also should be a little shorter because you need to lean over it a little when pulling and pushing the clay at the beginning to stick it to the wheel and get rid of potential air bubbles. I would love to see you continue to try this and I would like to know how you intend to fire the clay because I don't think an oven can get hot enough for that.
To centre the clay, completely clean and dry the centre of the wheel before slamming the clay down in the centre. (Yours was still a bit to wet and messy). You have to firmly place your arms against the frame and don’t let them move, that way you brace your body more. Show the clay who is boss. Add some water, brace you arms so that the clay can’t rock about and keep your pressure even. Bringing the neck up for the vase is hard and takes a lot of practice and technic. The image you used looked like they had used the coiling technic, because you could see where they’d blended the coils. Good luck, you’ll get there.xx
You need to get a wire to remove the pottery. Also the sponge can help to smooth the pottery out and such. Using your thumbs to press evenly to make an indent( hole) and cradle the pottery like a baby with your hands to give support so it doesn’t thin out to much or become unbalanced and fall off. Also the peddle should have various speeds , don’t be afraid to go slow. Play with it and have fun most important!
you also need to pull the clay up, then press it down several times to get the air out of the clay. you add water when your hands become to dry. don't forget to clean up the excess water on the wheel also, you need to support the outside and the inside at the same time.
Chloe, have you tried crocheting? I have recently learnt how but I can only do basic squares at the moment. Seeing as you're trying this you might want to do a video on other things too. Just a suggestion, no pressure. Hope all is well for you and your doggos.
Would love to see another attempt at this using the great tips others have put here! I’ve been so curious to try a pottery wheel but haven’t had the opportunity yet … living vicariously through this video knowing I’d be just as frustrated 😉
Chloe... you're too hard on yourself for trying this the first time. Especially since you're using a wheel. Using the wheel is very hard and takes practice. And YES, you can reuse clay. Also, you actually need a tool to cut the finished piece from the wheel, that way you won't disturb what you've done :)
I absolutely loved watching you on the pottery wheel, you are so entertaining and despite not creating a vase you score 10/10 for entertainment and effort. I haven’t laughed so much in ages🤣 You need to do a part 2 and like the other person commented, try the wheel the opposite way as your left handed x love you xxx
Hey Chloe! I've actually made the long neck pot you wanted to make... So, try this Try keeping both the hands equally steady, or apply even pressure from both hands. You wanna make something like a cylinder and use the side of your hand to push the top half in word. Also, try using a thin thread to remove the pot by kind of slicing it from the wheel! And you can re-knead once used clay and remodel it into a pot😆 Btw, Love your videos ❤
Its also a bit easier with a few set of tool like a wire cutter, a pointy metal stick for cutting the edges when they get uneven and a wooden scrapper will make your scraping the turn table easier and you save the paper towels for yourself. If you have a smaller seat it could help with your posture and you can use your legs for holding your elbows in place, while you center the clay. Also the first time is difficult for almost everyone, don't get discouraged by this experience keep trying and you'll get it eventually.
I know there are already so many tips here but I thought I would add one thing: I know it's uncomfortable to bend over the wheel, but it's necessary. Your face should be above the bottom half of the wheel. The other thing I noticed was you probably weren't using your core. If you engage your core and legs while throwing you have so much more strength and force. Throw the weight of your body at the clay, really lean into it. When I first did this I felt dumb but it really helps!
I did a pottery class and the tips they gave me were to keep your arms on the container (the one the wheel is in) for stability and to have it on almost full speed!
I think we are always expecting to be able to do things right off the bat. Love how you don’t give up. There are some great tips in the comments. Someone I would recommend JonThePotter.
I think you're doing better than many beginners would do . The bowls could be used for feeding your dog. I don't think he'd care if it's a little wonky. 😁👋💖
You did so good for your first time. And the fact that you had a pottery wheel with a weird pedal placement makes that even more so. Also a lot of people don't get clean even tops just from their hands. They use a wire to slice off the upper bit to make an even top.
You have to work the air bubbles out of the clay first make it into a large ball throw! it against the middle and then use your "strength" and water to keep your hands completely centered and still you can't poke a hole in it until the ball is completely centered and your hands don't move around at all
I am very interested in your ceramic journey. Throwing used to make me so frustrated, but with time and dedication it is now one of my favourite things, if you want to get there, you'll get there. I would love to see you make something and paint it with underglaze, I think that would be super fun. Also make sure to really jam your elbows into your thighs to center and use enough water. Happy making :)
If you have old clay you can reuse it ;) just squelch it into a some what thick rope, then into a rainbow shape then leave on the side for ten minutes. Now you can reuse it! Also try using 1 pound of clay per piece it’s easier to handle
Just a little tip: when you cut the previous creation out of the wheel there should be a thin layer of clay left and leaving it actually helps the next chunk of clay stick to the wheel.
I love that the comments are vert helpful, would love to see a part 2 taking the tips into consideration!
Tips:
- Literally throw the clay agains the wheel to make it stick. The momentum really adds to the grab.
- Throwing isn't so using lots of force with your hands as it is keeping your elbows stable. Pushing your elbows into your legs or sides will keep your hands far more steady. The only time I really press is when my hands basically hug the clay to help make it even and centered. Evening coning is more so guiding the clay rather than forcing it.
- Dip the heck out of your hands into the water. If your hands don't glide, nothing will come out great.
- It's harder to go slow than it is fast, as far as the spinning goes. Mistakes happen all the time in throwing, but they look like it was meant to happen because the mistake spins all the way through and you just work with it. When it goes slow, your mistake sticks to that one section since you stop entirely.
- Always get the wire for cutting. Whether that's to take it off the wheel or to even out the top, it's essential. That being said, it's best to even out with a sort of molding knife while it is spinning.
Overall, I haven't done tons of spinning, I'm by no means a pro. But back in my first year of high school... (9 years ago?) my teacher managed to get all of us to make a decent bowl in a day. There really is a difference watching someone physically. You can see everything way better and they can help you with pressure. So, for your first try without being able to ask questions, you did pretty good!
Exactly! This comment has done an excellent job of laying out tips to deal with the most common beginner problems.👍Also, if there is a pottery store nearby, it really is invaluable to just be able to talk to someone experienced!
This is what I was told when I first tried the wheel. It is not easy, and is a skill you have to practice like any other.
Are you left handed? You might have the wheel spinning in the wrong direction, it's surprising how much of a difference this makes. Which ever is your dominant hand you want the wheel spinning towards it and use that hand to push in and rest it on the bowl of the wheel. This gives you stability. To centre the clay, make that arm as stiff as possible as you gently push inwards and cup the clay with your other hand. You also need full speed for centering, the speed definitely helps, but you might get sprayed with water. Go slower when shaping.
The reason you're ending up with blobs on top is you are squeezing too hard or pushing the heel of your hand in underneath. Also make sure your hands don't get too dry, the clay will stick to them. Throwing isn't easy, especially without a teacher, you didn't do too bad for your first attempt :)
Wow, I bet that IS why she was having such difficulty! Good analysis! 👍🏻
It doesn't matter which hand is dominant - you can learn to work in any direction. In East Asia they work with the wheel going clockwise regardless of which hand is dominant... People pick up throwing at different rates and some people can make a reasonable bowl first time. This lady has the disadvantage of using one of those cheap wheels which a kid can stop with their hands; it's very hard to learn on these wheels.
I know for a fact she is left handed
@@edelgyn2699 It's possible to learn most things, but when you're just beginning, you get better results when you rely on your dominant hand...
All of my pots leaned … my teacher was lady handed so I imitated her but was kicking with my right foot … made everything lean 😂😂
OK I did this for three years in high school here are some tips that help me.
1: start off with more clay then you think you’ll need for the project. You will lose about 30 to 40% in between your fingers when you’re new. Also don’t add more clay to the wheel after you started. That can form air pockets in between the original clay and what you add later.
2: in your non-dominant hand you can keep a small strip of sponge it will help lessen the amount of goop all over your hands.
3: don’t skip pulling the clay up and down. Helps eliminate air pockets. Air pockets will explode when you fire the pottery.
4: Leave the pottery walls of your pottery thicker than you think you want them to be. Around 50%-100% thicker. After you let it air dry for a bit and it firms up you could go in with the tools and slowly shave off the excess clay. Then with the moist sponge you could erase all the shaving marks. This keeps the walls from of your pottery from collapsing.
5: save all your clay scraps this includes all the goopy water and stuff you washed off your hands into a water bowl. If you let it sit overnight you could drain the water the clay settles to the bottom.
Don’t know if this will help.
I would enjoy a part 2 pottery video. I was considering learning to do this but see already I would start with a hands on class to see how it went before investing in all the supplies. Thank you for sharing this!
This reminds me of when I took a ceramics class in high school. Chloe did a great job for her first time!
Okay I haven't made ceramics since middle school but I also tend to retain info like an encyclopedia so:
1. Knead your clay before you use it; the same way you'd knead bread dough. This helps get rid of any large air pockets, and will also warm the clay to your body temp, therefore making it easier to use and manipulate.
2. SPONGE. Use this to clean your wheel in between pieces, clean your hands during, and add *way more* water while you're making your piece. We used to keep small gallon-pails next to the wheel because you need a lot of water in the spinning process.
2a. You want the clay to be slippery, it needs to stay wet. If it's too dry, the friction between your hands and the clay will pull the clay off the wheel, and when you're trying to form it, it will cause the clay to catch and basically collapse. You don't want any puddles, but you want the clay to slide through your hands easily.
3. It's not the best position health-wise, but you *want* to be hunched over the wheel because you need your whole body to make anything, basically. Elbows pressed into your hips/sides will keep your arms and hands steady.
4. Just *S L A M* the clay down as close to center as you can. Force is your friend. You can center it better after you get it stuck to the wheel.
5. Any clay you mess up or don't use, just keep it in the bag so it doesn't dry out. You can use it over and over again. Any clay in your water bucket will also settle to the bottom and can be used as slip* or left to dry _a little bit_ and added to your scraps.
*Slip is basically what you're getting on your hands. It's super wet, goopy clay that is usually used to "glue" two pieces together, or to add decoration to a piece.
Ah Chloe I feel you!! I started pottery a while ago and it is still something I’m getting familiar with but I definitely recommend going to a potters club because they have so many tips that aren’t in every video. You did absolutely incredible!!
With getting it to stick I literally throw the pottery on to the wheel because the gravity helps, and also you want to get the air bubbles out of the clay at first (how it breaks apart when your molding it) and don’t be afraid to use a lot of water!
I highly recommend Earth Nation Ceramics' beginner playlist. It goes in a lot of detail but it's super helpful!
Some basics that will help:
1. Your lap needs to be level with the wheel and both legs at 90° (i recommend using a brick for the foot that isn't using the pedal to even your legs) Also you need to be sitting right up against the wheel to have more control and stability.
2. Stabilizing your arms/elbows on your legs helps control your movements, hence why #1 is important to have your legs even.
3. Wedge your clay before putting on the wheel. This gets air pockets out. (Tutorial video in playlist i mentioned earlier)
4. Smack the clay on to the wheel hard and then press down to get it really stuck. You want a clean dry wheel for this.
5. Start with fist sized amount of clay and the first thing you should learn to throw is a cylinder as its the base of almost all forms. And starting with fist sized you help manage how much you can control at first.
6. You are using too much water. Water makes the clay soft which will cause it to flop and tear more easily. You only want to use enough water so your hands don't stick.
7. To keep things even try focusing your work zone in one area on the wheel. Such as 5 o'clock if you're right handed and 7 if you're left. (If you're left you need to flip the direction your wheel spins. You need to work with the direction the wheel spins or you're fighting against it)
8. If you're touching the clay, the wheel needs to be moving otherwise the clay becomes uneven. Also the wheel needs to spin faster then your hands are moving. Because if you move your hands before the wheel completes a rotation, then whatever you did becomes uneven.
9. To add on to the last point remove your hands very slowly before slowing or stopping the wheel. Not doing this makes the clay un-center and cause unevenness.
10. You need to focus on one step at a time or it just makes the following step so much harder. So for now just practice centering clay. Then making a hole. Then clawing open. Then pulling. After pulling is just finishing steps like cleaning up the lip, base, and adding any shape or design.
I hope these tips helped!
Choleee! Please do a part 2!! I was reading all the comments and there's a ton of good advice! I love it. I recommend watching AmandaRachLees pottery vlog from last week and then give it another go! I love your videos so much! I want to see your hard work paying off! I'm sure I'd be on your level my first try too! Have you ever tried a little meditation? I think connecting with your breath could really help you with this. Anyway, I'd like to see you try again! Please
I wanna see a colab where a pottery artists walks you through it. Learning is also entertaining 😃
100% would love to see a part 2- I’ve always wanted to try this and would be excited to find out how it works sans training
Kneading the clay first will get it in a workable mode. Sometimes right off the block it's too stiff to manipulate. Keep practicing you'll get the pot of your dreams 😁
I really want to see Chloe grow and start a journey of pottery making to the point where she can effectively mold clay someday.
As someone who has done pottery for years... this is painful to watch. BUT... I love you. 1. Kneed the clay to get air out of it... 2. Center the clay. Smack it down in the middle.. as you spin the wheel about medium fast push the clay slowly with both your palms toward the center until it stops wobbling or else everything will always pull and be wonkey...
Would you recommend taking a class for those who wish to learn? Or is it just as easy at home learning by trial and error. Especially since clay can be used over and over
At least a couple of classes to get you going. Saves endless frustration. So much of it is tactile, very hard to get it right by just watching.
Classes are fun and helpful, but if you're just trying to have fun just go for it. There are lots of steps to "do it right" but I mean... its super cathartic to just be hands on and play with it.
also it helps to have the clay relatively even (like a nice lil round ball) before you smack it in the middle, less work to do when you centre it
I feel this. I haven't done any pottery in years, but I was still shouting advice at the little Chloe on my phone screen.
I’d love a second video! And a pot painting video too?? Watching you learn new skills and seeing you be realistic and honest about the struggles of each one is so interesting
Chloe getting mad at things and questioning her decisions is a whole mood..😅
I tried ceramics but I didn't do throwing. I do have a few tips though. 1- Yes, it is that messy. You will end up with clay everywhere. It drys out your hands really quickly so keep lotion nearby. 2- You can't just add more clay. You need to incorporate the clay together using a ram head method or shell method. 3- If you do end up firing it, make sure there's a hole if it's hollow in the middle. 4- A good thing about ceramics is you can reuse the material a lot. 5- Elbow your legs to create a triangle anchor. Then you can add more control and pressure instead of your arms being up in the air.
I would love to see a part 2! I love pottery videos but so rarely see people starting with little to no experience which is far more relatable and giving me an idea of a realistic first start as I hope to try pottery out myself some day it is nice to see as I feel I am learning along with you. Plus I want to see how much you improve and finally make that vase you want!
I took a throwing class last year at my university. It took an entire week just to learn to center properly. Once you get past the frustration stage of throwing and it just clicks, it's super fun and relaxing. Also, ALWAYS WEDGE YOUR CLAY!
I’m in a ceramics class at my university right now.. you’re supposed to dampen the wheel with the sponge.. form the clay into a ball and throw it down in the center. 🙂
watch The Great British Pottery Throwdown, then you can see what hard work pottery can be, even if your good at it. Cantering is important. Clay is reusable. Good luck
Thanks for the suggestion! I’ll look into it!
I was going to say that! I learned so much from watching The Great Pottery Throwdown 😊😊
Make some that are wobbly/wonky on purpose! Perfect for hanging bracelets or necklaces over the edge decoratively. You've got this Chloe! Keep going! ❤️
My mom's a professional potter and I've been surrounded by clay and Pottery wheels my whole life but can imagine I would be the exact same as you Chloe when it comes to doing it on my own!! It takes lots of time, patience and practice to do wheel thrown Pottery! Would love to see a part 2!
You want the surface of your wheel to be at or a little below knee height. Pin your elbow against the inside of your leg, just up from your knee, and use your leg strength to keep your arm as still as possible. The first goal should always be centering the clay on the wheel. if it's not centered, then it will be very difficult to do anything else. Also, you're using too much water. you want just enough that the friction doesn't hurt your skin and you get slightly slippery clay, but not muddy.
Wait, two hours? You already improved so much in two hours!! Don't give yourself such a hard time. I see so many good tips and tricks in the comments, clearly, we all want to see you try again!
When the top bit of your pot gets lacey and uneven you can just cut it off to look more even! Just turn the wheel on to a comfortable speed, and use a potters needle or a regular butter knife to cut the top part off while supporting the rim on the inside. Once you've cut it all the way around just lift it off with the tool or your hand. If it falls in or on the pot, just stop the wheel and carefully pick it out :)
If you don't recreate the Ghost scene with ya dog in this video, I will feel great shame.
If this doesn't happen my life will no longer have meaning. It just....won't. Like, it needs to happen.
Yes would love to see this as a series! Don’t be mad at yourself, it’s your first time and it’s incredibly hard, these potters make it look easy, but think how long it must’ve taken them to learn. I love your wonky bowls, paint them and use them with pride 😄🙂🦋💕
I'd love to see a part 2! I have absolutely no idea how to throw pottery, I've only ever worked with greenware, which is essentially pre-fired ceramics. And even that, the shop I got stuff from closed before I even learned to drive, and I'm 31 now so that was years and years ago. Honestly, I can't imagine this being easy, I know we're all our own worst critic but please don't be too hard on yourself. Learning something like this is probably not something you can manage in a reasonable time to appease the algorithm gods.
Tip that I learned in college and in high school in ceramics classes is that the clay mirrors how you feel if your in a good mood it will turn out better if your mad the clay will feel it too also knead it like you would pizza dough and shape it into a cone shape then slap it in the middle of the wheel also use a good amount of water.
Edit: chole, I’m in school to be a high school art teacher in ceramics. If you need any tips I’m here to help. Also have a towel on your lap for wiping your hands as needed and an apron. Because clay is every hard to get out of clothes when it drys and only use that towel when your using clay. It’s much easier to learn the wheel when you learn to do other stuff with the clay first like a coil pot and learning how to knead. Slab projects etc.
Good luck
Aw, don't be too hard on yourself. At least you're trying, and you are making progress. You're a beginner. I'm sure everyone who starts starts off this way. Just take your time and be patient with yourself. You've got this!
I would love to see the honey pot idea come to life! I feel like that could be so cool and so your aesthetic
Please don’t give up.. throughout this video i can see that you made so much progress in such little time
I would definitely love to see a part 2 of this. I'm sure you will eventually get it with practice and with some advice and I'm so down to watch you learn how to do it slowly even if it takes like 10 episodes!!
A few days ago, I watched a video by a someone with a channel named "Natasha Elle" in Singapore, where she went and had an in-person lesson at a ceramics school from an expert, and Ms. Elle had a lot of the same difficulty you had in this. The hands-on guidance seemed to make a difference though, to help her to feel how to keep the clay steady. The teacher showed Ms. Elle how to remove the piece at the end, using some sort of wire to cut it off the wheel.
I have a feeling this is one of those things where experience will be your best teacher. If you enjoyed making them, just keep at it.
I took a ceramics class in high school. I not only had the teacher and an advanced student friend helping when I was using the wheel. My little pot is way too thick but I still have it and the color it was fired with was awesome. Joni (my friend) gave me one of her projects and I have it in my kitchen. My first plate was beautiful and perfect but someone took it from the wrong drying rack for firing and it blew up. My second plate wasn't nearly as nice so it takes lots of practice.
Don't be afraid to use water. You absolutely can reuse clay if it isn't dry. Slam your clay down on the wheel to adhere it, even harder then you did. Keep trying and go with very simple shapes at first until you get the hang of it.
PLEASE do a part two!!! I was legit laughing so hard I was crying 😂. BTW considering that it was your first time properly trying pottery I think you actually did pretty well.
Part 2 is a must
Clay is one of the most difficult art mediums to work with. I am a ceramics artist and I don't usually throw my pieces -using a wheel - because the clay needs a lot of prep and keeping it centered is difficult for me. Instead, I hand build my pieces. Roll the clay out evenly and then proceed with building. A lot less stress involved. You did pretty good for a first try though. 🙂
Kneed the clay like a dough, it eliminates air bubbles and gets a good consistency going. On a wheel you have better control using your thumbs rather than your index finger. Also I believe the first vase is actually made without a wheel, the neck looks like it was coiled and the bottom looks like a pinch pot to me. Id like to see you try and hand sculpt the vase in another video
when the clay comes up when you didn't expect it, it might be because your hands aren't wet enough (tip if you feel the clay rubbing against your hands and it hurts, you need to wet your hands.)
Edit: also you should invest in a clay cutter which is a metal string thing with 2 handles on each end and you can use it to cut off your pieces easier (make sure the cutter is flat against the wheel when you do so or else your pot will probably get a hole in the bottom.)
Thank you for showing that even amazing artists like you sometimes fail. I’ll keep trying since you do
When you ball the clay back up slam it on a table or counter top to get rid of air pockets, it will crack in the kiln if there are air pockets inside.
Watching this was a tiny bit painful but it's reminding me of when I took ceramics in high school and how much I liked it. I wish I had room for a wheel. Maybe someday :) Kneading the clay before putting it on the wheel might help you manipulate and center it easier!
Its nice to see you uploading this even after not being satisfied with the results, id love to see more of this and see you learn ( even is it may be slower then you would like)
It is just incredible how professionals make this look so easy, but for your first try you did a great job ❤️
To get it to stick you gotta really smack that sucker down then smush down the sides around the base to give it kind of a skirt. Also you gotta wash the clay sludge off your hands in the bucket because you don't want it to stick to the clay. Helps to have the pedal on the floor so you can anchor your elbows into your thighs so you can get stability. Also don't add clay onto previous used clay because it'll break off and get air bubbles. Also you want to make the tower with the clay then go into a can shape a couple times to make sure it's centered, then while in the can shape, use your thumbs to make the hole. It takes a lot of trial and error before you can properly get going. I had a lot of struggles in my pottery classes when I first started out. I've had pieces fly at students next to me an such. But I eventually got it and ended up helping a lot of the class out. I love pottery, it's so much fun. But it's also extremely uncomfortable because you have to sit hunched over.
I love watching you learn as you film; it inspires me to try things I've never done before.
kneeding the claybefore throwing it really helped me when I first started off! Would love to see a part two!
This might be my favorite video on all of UA-cam because it is the most accurate thing I’ve ever seen 😆 this is exactly what it was like trying the wheel for the first time! And I mean it’s fun, I like playing around with the wheel but I’ve never made a successful piece on it lol. I stick to hand building my clay pieces :)
Tip: you have to first make the clay into a ball then slap it onto the wheel. Then you have to keep your hands on either side (3 and 9 if you think of it like a clock) and bang it while the wheel is going, this is without water. Then you have to rly make sure the clay is centered because it’s not only the ball of clay being centered on the wheel but also the clay itself, this will effect the rest of your bowl. You have to go slow and steady when opening the hole, and when you open up the hole put one hand on the other and pull straight back. Then to
make the bowl taller you have to throw it which means you put one hand on the outside and one on the inside put pressure and pull up. Also don’t be stingy with the water it helps a lot. Whenever you’re putting pressure make sure that it’s even pressure throughout. Overall you did pretty good I think centering and making sure to bang on the clay (which is also called coning) is the most important for you!
Use one hand to shape it and the other to hold a wet sponge to the outside of your pot/vase. It'll help you not to make it so asymmetrical and wonky. I took a pottery class and that was how they had us shape it once you get past the initial lump stage.
Firstly you gotta knead the clay before throwing it so u won't have to apply that much strength and neither there would be so much clay on your hands
Secondly, u gotta put water at the base before throwing the clay so as to keep it still, later you can abosorb the water at the bottom using the sponge. It would be much easier than just smoothing out the clay at the bottom.
You were frustrated, I was thoroughly entertained 🤣 Thanks, Chloe.
From what I learned in my pottery classes
. My class had these removable wheel thing where we would put some clay in the metal and put the circle wheel thing ( don’t know the name lol ) on top and use that to throw the clay on
. You have the throw the clay in the wheel with force so it sticks
. When you are centering the clay don’t worry about making a full on cone jus as long as it goes up then you should be ok
. If muscle is an issue when you are centering jab your allows into your side and use your body weight to push yourself into the clay
. When making the bowl start with only putting one finger in then slowly stretch out to where you want it and then go to the side either with the sponge inside or outside with little water inside the sponge to pull upwards
Side notes
. Try not to use to much water
. Don’t let your hands get cover in clay
. Try to balance the weight/ muscle. Presser Using uneven if that will cause holes and unevenness
. Make sure the bowls thickness does not go under 1/8 of an inch ( I could be mistake but I think it’s 1/8 )
And make sure to leave about half an inch on the bottom for easy removal
Part twoooo please! It was very fun to watch!!
I think you did a wonderful job! First time? Great! You MUST CENTER the clay on the wheel. I have used the side of the catcher for leverage to get one arm firm and steady. You have your legs so place your elbow inside your knee keeping one hand steady and wedge the clay into the center of the wheel. I saw a lot of other good advice. All clay is re-useable just wedge it back together! Please keep going and keep trying! You are truly inspirational and such a lovely human. Thank you for sharing your art journey with us.
Top tip: to begin with use the wheel slowly and make sure you use your second hand to support the hand you are using
You can also lean your elbows/ forearms on the outside ledge to help steady your hands👍
I’m in ceramic school right now and we just started making bowls your doing great pottery is a lot harder than people expect takes a lot of practice. At the beginning you literally gain new muscles because we don’t use them in day to day life.
A part two sounds excellent!
I do love that you share your learning curve
Chloe, watch the Great Pottery Throw Down on HBO max! It’s super fascinating to see the history behind British pottery and all of the different techniques they use.
You should use a wire to cut the clay creation from the base. There should be a base of clay left behind that will help keep your next ball of clay on the wheel. Also, centure it, i usually give it a good throw down on to the wheel. Spend time rising and lowering your clay before starting to shape it, this ensures the air is expelled from the clay. Yes you get covered in clay till you become more familiar with it. Your wheel must be stable and level as possible, (A spirit level can help to do this,) or you will always throw wonky pots. Plus being left handed on a wheel spinning right handed can cause issues. If its possible you need to reverse the wheel, so your dominant hand controls the hand pressure on the clay. Its a complex process, one that isnt learnt in a day, it takes years, and loads of practice. Good Luck, i would love a second video.. ❤️ From over the pond! 🇬🇧
Would love to see a part 2! So many people leaving great tips that will definitely help. Have fun with it lol
A little tip from me to you but my pottery teacher always told us the clay should be shiny at all time meaning you need to use more water. When ever the clay goes matte that mean you need more water. Anyway love your vids their super entertaining ❤️
I watch pottery videos on Instagram, UA-cam and Twitch as it relaxes me. But this is a whole different mood. 🤣
oh…oh..oh wow…I can already sense the chaotic energy in this video and I haven’t even watched it yet-
The wheel needs to spin in a different direction depending on if you are left handed or right handed. You also need to keep your elbows against your hips to provide stability. The wheel also should be a little shorter because you need to lean over it a little when pulling and pushing the clay at the beginning to stick it to the wheel and get rid of potential air bubbles. I would love to see you continue to try this and I would like to know how you intend to fire the clay because I don't think an oven can get hot enough for that.
To centre the clay, completely clean and dry the centre of the wheel before slamming the clay down in the centre. (Yours was still a bit to wet and messy). You have to firmly place your arms against the frame and don’t let them move, that way you brace your body more. Show the clay who is boss. Add some water, brace you arms so that the clay can’t rock about and keep your pressure even.
Bringing the neck up for the vase is hard and takes a lot of practice and technic. The image you used looked like they had used the coiling technic, because you could see where they’d blended the coils. Good luck, you’ll get there.xx
when u try to remove it you can use fishing line at the bottom and slice right through it :)
Ceramics Concentration major here! Biggest tip I was ever given? Always start out slow when beginning wheel throwing. And yes, a LOT of arm strength.
i am not much in pottery...but this was sooo fun to watch....I DEFINATLY WANT TO SEE PART TWO !!!!
You need to get a wire to remove the pottery. Also the sponge can help to smooth the pottery out and such. Using your thumbs to press evenly to make an indent( hole) and cradle the pottery like a baby with your hands to give support so it doesn’t thin out to much or become unbalanced and fall off. Also the peddle should have various speeds , don’t be afraid to go slow. Play with it and have fun most important!
you also need to pull the
clay up, then press it down
several times to get the air
out of the clay. you add water
when your hands become to
dry. don't forget to clean up
the excess water on the wheel
also, you need to support the
outside and the inside at the
same time.
Yes, please. Do a second part! Hope u can make your vase!!! 🥰
Chloe, have you tried crocheting? I have recently learnt how but I can only do basic squares at the moment. Seeing as you're trying this you might want to do a video on other things too. Just a suggestion, no pressure. Hope all is well for you and your doggos.
Would love to see another attempt at this using the great tips others have put here! I’ve been so curious to try a pottery wheel but haven’t had the opportunity yet … living vicariously through this video knowing I’d be just as frustrated 😉
Chloe... you're too hard on yourself for trying this the first time. Especially since you're using a wheel. Using the wheel is very hard and takes practice. And YES, you can reuse clay. Also, you actually need a tool to cut the finished piece from the wheel, that way you won't disturb what you've done :)
I absolutely loved watching you on the pottery wheel, you are so entertaining and despite not creating a vase you score 10/10 for entertainment and effort. I haven’t laughed so much in ages🤣
You need to do a part 2 and like the other person commented, try the wheel the opposite way as your left handed x love you xxx
Entertainment at it’s finest! That was so fun to watch, please do a part two! Pottery looks fun and I want to try it now!
Yes go Chloe! You can do it! We believe in you! ✨✨
Hey Chloe!
I've actually made the long neck pot you wanted to make... So, try this
Try keeping both the hands equally steady, or apply even pressure from both hands.
You wanna make something like a cylinder and use the side of your hand to push the top half in word.
Also, try using a thin thread to remove the pot by kind of slicing it from the wheel!
And you can re-knead once used clay and remodel it into a pot😆
Btw, Love your videos ❤
Keep trying Chloe, I really enjoyed this video and would love to see another one!
i loved claywork in school! Now I want to know, how you do with a wool spinning wheel
Its also a bit easier with a few set of tool like a wire cutter, a pointy metal stick for cutting the edges when they get uneven and a wooden scrapper will make your scraping the turn table easier and you save the paper towels for yourself. If you have a smaller seat it could help with your posture and you can use your legs for holding your elbows in place, while you center the clay. Also the first time is difficult for almost everyone, don't get discouraged by this experience keep trying and you'll get it eventually.
Also always have a bucket of water and an apron for helping with the mess.
I know there are already so many tips here but I thought I would add one thing: I know it's uncomfortable to bend over the wheel, but it's necessary. Your face should be above the bottom half of the wheel. The other thing I noticed was you probably weren't using your core. If you engage your core and legs while throwing you have so much more strength and force. Throw the weight of your body at the clay, really lean into it. When I first did this I felt dumb but it really helps!
BC I took a pottery class at my local university. It was lots of fun. The wheel is extremely difficult! You've done great for your first time.😊
I did a pottery class and the tips they gave me were to keep your arms on the container (the one the wheel is in) for stability and to have it on almost full speed!
I think we are always expecting to be able to do things right off the bat. Love how you don’t give up. There are some great tips in the comments. Someone I would recommend JonThePotter.
I think you're doing better than many beginners would do . The bowls could be used for feeding your dog. I don't think he'd care if it's a little wonky. 😁👋💖
You did so good for your first time. And the fact that you had a pottery wheel with a weird pedal placement makes that even more so. Also a lot of people don't get clean even tops just from their hands. They use a wire to slice off the upper bit to make an even top.
You got way further than I would have. You’ve got tenacity! Love to see another go.
If you want to reuse the wet clay leave it for a few days to dry out a bit then it will be less sticky and flimsy 😊 and would love to see a pt 2 😄
You have to work the air bubbles out of the clay first make it into a large ball throw! it against the middle and then use your "strength" and water to keep your hands completely centered and still you can't poke a hole in it until the ball is completely centered and your hands don't move around at all
I am very interested in your ceramic journey. Throwing used to make me so frustrated, but with time and dedication it is now one of my favourite things, if you want to get there, you'll get there. I would love to see you make something and paint it with underglaze, I think that would be super fun. Also make sure to really jam your elbows into your thighs to center and use enough water. Happy making :)
It would be amazing to see a part two
If you have old clay you can reuse it ;) just squelch it into a some what thick rope, then into a rainbow shape then leave on the side for ten minutes. Now you can reuse it!
Also try using 1 pound of clay per piece it’s easier to handle
The fact that jazza's and Chloe's video this week are sculpting related 🥰