You are good dude! I love your instuctions, it has made me to see where I am screwing up. I struggled through my first two classes and tonight I do my third. I now have a better understanding of what I am doing. I felt so clutsy but tonight I will be using what I have learned from you. More tomorrow if you are interested.
hi, i used modelling clay when i first started on the potters wheel, and they don't turn into shapes such as the "cylinder". now i was wondering; in the video, what do you make the balls out of? do you use ceramic? because i am new to pottery and i need some background information. :) thanks.
hi tim. regards from switzerland! thanks a whole bunch for your lessons/videos - due to them i was able to improve my throwing-skills e-x-t-r-e-m-e-l-y. you rock!!! any chance you're going to give a workship in europe? let me know!
wow.. even though i go to school and learn all these things you taught me somethings i didn't know, thanks now i know that i've been doing somethings wrong for the past 2 years..
Your vidio is one of the easiest to understand and the audio and video are both perfect. I'm a ceramics teacher and am self taught. I'm going to show the students interested in throwing your video and I am going to practice it as well. Thank you
I just wanted to thank you for your amazing videos! I tried using your technique today and actually had a break through! No more mess (I used to take four pounds of clay and spread most of it evenly all over and end up with a one pound pot - so no more of that!!!), clay gets centered and no more uneven edges! I was SO-O-O pleased! I don't think that any of the teachers I had taught me as much as your videos.
Well Nancy it nice to have you aboard. I have seen you before when you visited a pottery I think in seagrove? WOW you make a lot of videos. and if you want to pay me donations can me made to paypal.
All: I learned something quite by accident when throwing in this very fashion. I pulled until the clay simply crashed from being so think it collapsed. Later, w/ this wet clay I added it by pinching pieces of reg clay & wet-mush clay then wedged together to make the best consistency plastic clay. It threw SOOOO WELLL! I can't explain it so don't ask me to try but I will say it does make a difference (for me anyhow) when I mix collapsed clay w/new to dry clay wedged together.
Maybe it's just my hands but for the life of me, I can't use just my crampy finger; hwr, I can use the very tiny tip of an elephant ear sponge, cramp my finger over that, then I can pull the clay up on the outside. It's weird. If I try using just the crampy finger w/o the elephant ear tip of sponge it goes all wonky then collapses. Congrats to those who can use the crampy finger all by itself. I just can't do it. but, to each their own.
i think it's all about compression. the better you can compress the clay as your lift up, the less likely it'll go off center or buckle.
at the moment, i'm using not just my finger, i wrap my index finger over the tip of my thumb, and the thumb helps keep the clay from tearing in my situation. still working on perfecting the method, hope i helped!
and, i ruined so many cylinders trying to learn, so just try changing methods every time and hopefully you can get it :] good luck.
hey tim. well, i can use the crampy finger method for smaller clay, about 5 lbs. or less. but, i'm having trouble with clay that's over 6 pounds.
to describe it, the clay just isn't flowing upwards, and the cylinder gets knocked off center. got any pointers i can utilize before the school year ends?
the meaty part of the hand and pull up twice with a collar-in after each pull.
it's just when i pull up with the crampy finger after that, i seem to always knock the cylinder off center, and at that point, it's too much work to re-center it. maybe i'm grabbing too much clay at one time or something?
tmachris91: That's sort of what happens whenever I attempt at the crampy finger. It's why I attempted to use the tiny tip end of an elephant ear sponge. I sort of use one finger out, w/the index sort of curled in then I press against (or just below) the inner fingers as I pull up the clay from the inside. I've had such height using this method. I guess I should call it TimSee's Crampy Finger Alternate Method or something b/c it started w/ his crampy finger directions. Thx Tim; can't say it enuff
Hey Tim, I finally get to see your videos on youtube!! I got highspeed at my house! Nice videos, you are an expert. You make it look so easy... and it's NOT. lol...
you may not be wet enough, you could be applying too much pressure compared to wheel speed. you need to make sure your left hand is also squeezing and not all of the force is coming from the right hand. I hope this helps.
im currently a freshmen in high school started ceramics this year i took the wheel in very much intrest i love it now im ahead of everyone by atleast 10 bowls im takeing advanced next year i love makeing lowprofiles and japaness teabowls my goal is to take ceramics all 4 years of highschool and beat my ceramics tearcher at throwing bigger bowls and vases do u have any advise for anything message me back or jus talk here please
in the end, you'll probably be able to throw bigger clay than your teacher, but comparing elegance and craftsmanship, you'll still be far behind.
I personally think that it's a bad goal to "surpass" someone, I think it's better to use ceramics as a tool for yourself, because if you're trying to beat someone, you're not really expressing yourself like you should be. idk if i'm making sense, but yeah.
I think that overall, i'm trying to say that you should take ceramics for yourself.
how do you raise clay with the cramped finger technique?
i can raise clay with a sponge, but when i try with my finger, the clay gets caught and tears. is there a certain method to prevent tearing? i don't think i'm being too aggressive with it, because i've seen you and youdanxxx lift up a large amount of clay in a single raise.
you are not using enough of your finger. if you use the section that starts at your first knuckle and goes to the second knuckle parallel to the surface of the clay you should be ok. make sure you keep it wet.
tim, i been throwing for 3 1/2 yrs and i think that last part of info about throwing till you break it is in a inspiring and i want to experiment a little bit very nice video keep them coming
I'm in a class at school and its going very well. I've taken a few of your techniques and tried to make orignal ideas out of them and it worked out very well also. So thank you for teaching me.
I will be doing a workshop in Parsippany NJ feb 7th, after that Is the Smithsonian craft show in April. There will be other and I hope to add videos for them head of the event so people can attend or participate.
Thank you very much! now I know how to centre the clay and I did it nicely. Not after half year ceramic class but your video. Thank you once again!
daibilljee 1 month ago in playlist ceramic tech
i'm jealous with 7:46. i always practice do it but fail. ok. no problem. i will always practice it. :)
WoTheGoodGuy 2 months ago
You could be Tom Green's ceramicist brother
MUSlCFAVORITES 7 months ago
great first class example! I am going to watch all of your videos because I am making my own home ceramic studio.
michirhythm 10 months ago
The only thing worse than slimy balls is dry balls.
N37BU6 1 year ago 2
You are good dude! I love your instuctions, it has made me to see where I am screwing up. I struggled through my first two classes and tonight I do my third. I now have a better understanding of what I am doing. I felt so clutsy but tonight I will be using what I have learned from you. More tomorrow if you are interested.
grace0677 1 year ago
hi, i used modelling clay when i first started on the potters wheel, and they don't turn into shapes such as the "cylinder". now i was wondering; in the video, what do you make the balls out of? do you use ceramic? because i am new to pottery and i need some background information. :) thanks.
AKfun2009 1 year ago
@AKfun2009 This is wet kiln fired clay. Not sure at all how modeling clay would work.
timseepots 1 year ago
@timseepots thanks a lot!
AKfun2009 1 year ago
ROFL SLIMY BALLS
OreoIsYumm 1 year ago 5
@OreoIsYumm that's what i thought. lol
Unforgiver13 3 months ago
nice works..
jmg1957 1 year ago
That was interesting.Never seen a lesson in this subject before.
Great job.
McSteamhammer 1 year ago
hi tim. regards from switzerland! thanks a whole bunch for your lessons/videos - due to them i was able to improve my throwing-skills e-x-t-r-e-m-e-l-y. you rock!!! any chance you're going to give a workship in europe? let me know!
agretha 1 year ago
@agretha When your ready to fly me to Switzerland I'll be ready to do a work shop. I am glad I could help.
timseepots 1 year ago
@timseepots
haha...well, im going to take this bet. i will keep my eyes open and let you know if there will be something that may be interesting to you ;)
agretha 1 year ago
wow.. even though i go to school and learn all these things you taught me somethings i didn't know, thanks now i know that i've been doing somethings wrong for the past 2 years..
Cubonelv5 1 year ago
Your vidio is one of the easiest to understand and the audio and video are both perfect. I'm a ceramics teacher and am self taught. I'm going to show the students interested in throwing your video and I am going to practice it as well. Thank you
hitmeuponthelowdown 2 years ago
I just wanted to thank you for your amazing videos! I tried using your technique today and actually had a break through! No more mess (I used to take four pounds of clay and spread most of it evenly all over and end up with a one pound pot - so no more of that!!!), clay gets centered and no more uneven edges! I was SO-O-O pleased! I don't think that any of the teachers I had taught me as much as your videos.
So thank you very much!
avollerner 2 years ago
Man you are really good at this :)
TheStructuredChaos 2 years ago
So that's what I was doing wrong! Excellent lesson. Thanks so much for doing this for me when I am not even paying you!
NancyToday 2 years ago
Well Nancy it nice to have you aboard. I have seen you before when you visited a pottery I think in seagrove? WOW you make a lot of videos. and if you want to pay me donations can me made to paypal.
timseepots 2 years ago
Was it the one in Cornwall Bridge, Connecticut? The one with the huge long chimney kiln? That was fascinating!
NancyToday 2 years ago
How to I paypal donate to you?
NancyToday 2 years ago
this has taught me a lot!! thanks, i am going to throwing again tomorrow =/
Twilight427321 2 years ago
Just wanted to say thanks for all your videos, they are great and teaching me alot!
PoseidonLV 2 years ago
All: I learned something quite by accident when throwing in this very fashion. I pulled until the clay simply crashed from being so think it collapsed. Later, w/ this wet clay I added it by pinching pieces of reg clay & wet-mush clay then wedged together to make the best consistency plastic clay. It threw SOOOO WELLL! I can't explain it so don't ask me to try but I will say it does make a difference (for me anyhow) when I mix collapsed clay w/new to dry clay wedged together.
PaisleyPlace 2 years ago
well, i can throw 12 lbs. of clay with the crampy finger method now :D
thanks for all your help tim!
tmachris91 2 years ago
Yeah! I will be waiting for the check in the mail. =D
timseepots 2 years ago
i would send a check.. but i don't own checks :D
tmachris91 2 years ago
Maybe it's just my hands but for the life of me, I can't use just my crampy finger; hwr, I can use the very tiny tip of an elephant ear sponge, cramp my finger over that, then I can pull the clay up on the outside. It's weird. If I try using just the crampy finger w/o the elephant ear tip of sponge it goes all wonky then collapses. Congrats to those who can use the crampy finger all by itself. I just can't do it. but, to each their own.
PaisleyPlace 2 years ago
i think it's all about compression. the better you can compress the clay as your lift up, the less likely it'll go off center or buckle.
at the moment, i'm using not just my finger, i wrap my index finger over the tip of my thumb, and the thumb helps keep the clay from tearing in my situation. still working on perfecting the method, hope i helped!
and, i ruined so many cylinders trying to learn, so just try changing methods every time and hopefully you can get it :] good luck.
tmachris91 2 years ago
hey tim. well, i can use the crampy finger method for smaller clay, about 5 lbs. or less. but, i'm having trouble with clay that's over 6 pounds.
to describe it, the clay just isn't flowing upwards, and the cylinder gets knocked off center. got any pointers i can utilize before the school year ends?
tmachris91 2 years ago
check the videos with larger pots in them I do not start with the crampy finger right off
timseepots 2 years ago
oh yeah, i noticed.
the meaty part of the hand and pull up twice with a collar-in after each pull.
it's just when i pull up with the crampy finger after that, i seem to always knock the cylinder off center, and at that point, it's too much work to re-center it. maybe i'm grabbing too much clay at one time or something?
tmachris91 2 years ago
tmachris91: That's sort of what happens whenever I attempt at the crampy finger. It's why I attempted to use the tiny tip end of an elephant ear sponge. I sort of use one finger out, w/the index sort of curled in then I press against (or just below) the inner fingers as I pull up the clay from the inside. I've had such height using this method. I guess I should call it TimSee's Crampy Finger Alternate Method or something b/c it started w/ his crampy finger directions. Thx Tim; can't say it enuff
PaisleyPlace 2 years ago
Hey Tim, I finally get to see your videos on youtube!! I got highspeed at my house! Nice videos, you are an expert. You make it look so easy... and it's NOT. lol...
JamieH777 2 years ago
you may not be wet enough, you could be applying too much pressure compared to wheel speed. you need to make sure your left hand is also squeezing and not all of the force is coming from the right hand. I hope this helps.
timseepots 2 years ago
im currently a freshmen in high school started ceramics this year i took the wheel in very much intrest i love it now im ahead of everyone by atleast 10 bowls im takeing advanced next year i love makeing lowprofiles and japaness teabowls my goal is to take ceramics all 4 years of highschool and beat my ceramics tearcher at throwing bigger bowls and vases do u have any advise for anything message me back or jus talk here please
xxfatalbirtxx 2 years ago
in the end, you'll probably be able to throw bigger clay than your teacher, but comparing elegance and craftsmanship, you'll still be far behind.
I personally think that it's a bad goal to "surpass" someone, I think it's better to use ceramics as a tool for yourself, because if you're trying to beat someone, you're not really expressing yourself like you should be. idk if i'm making sense, but yeah.
I think that overall, i'm trying to say that you should take ceramics for yourself.
tmachris91 2 years ago
and also do u teach collage or high school?
xxfatalbirtxx 2 years ago
why did the clay turn colors?
xxfatalbirtxx 2 years ago
I filmed the wedging at a different time of the day and wasn't working with that clay then.
timseepots 2 years ago
-raises hand-
how do you raise clay with the cramped finger technique?
i can raise clay with a sponge, but when i try with my finger, the clay gets caught and tears. is there a certain method to prevent tearing? i don't think i'm being too aggressive with it, because i've seen you and youdanxxx lift up a large amount of clay in a single raise.
tmachris91 2 years ago
you are not using enough of your finger. if you use the section that starts at your first knuckle and goes to the second knuckle parallel to the surface of the clay you should be ok. make sure you keep it wet.
timseepots 2 years ago
alright, thanks.. so middle segment of the finger.. i'll try that the next time i get to the wheel.
tmachris91 2 years ago
that was very helpful:)
Alyzabeth01 3 years ago
you are the gandhi of ceramics!
Fender9117 3 years ago
oh come on i might be alright but far from Ghandi
timseepots 3 years ago
dito-you are a fantastic teacher. You present your lessons clearly and easily understood.
I've always said that clay is only dirt till it is finished. Seems to help with the learning curve un some. ;-)
PudgyPottery 3 years ago
tim, i been throwing for 3 1/2 yrs and i think that last part of info about throwing till you break it is in a inspiring and i want to experiment a little bit very nice video keep them coming
thanks a lot
ratmfan105 3 years ago
I'm in a class at school and its going very well. I've taken a few of your techniques and tried to make orignal ideas out of them and it worked out very well also. So thank you for teaching me.
Gogeaton 3 years ago
"...Getting hit by an instructor when you do something wrong will greatly increase your propensity to learn."
'Purphekt' line! LOL!
Great to see you back and doing more videos. Do you have any upcoming public events? (Pottery Olympics, soup bowls for the needy, etc).
TinkTheHustler 3 years ago
I will be doing a workshop in Parsippany NJ feb 7th, after that Is the Smithsonian craft show in April. There will be other and I hope to add videos for them head of the event so people can attend or participate.
timseepots 3 years ago
An excellent lesson.
YouTubers are lucky to have you.
andrewwiddis 3 years ago
I have to strongly agree with the frowny smiley zone, I don't like it.haha
WiserStealth 3 years ago
Nothing worse than slimy balls.
credenza1 3 years ago
No there are much worse thing but we shall not discuss them here.
timseepots 3 years ago
Wonderful video. Thanks for the lesson.
Sorka42 3 years ago
I learned more by watching your video than when I took ceramics and pottery 1 in high school
musicmadness1 3 years ago
Well I hope you are still throwing and have a chance to try some new things out.
timseepots 3 years ago