Pottery - How to Center Clay on the Wheel

[waichita]

I've been to my 4th pottery class today and I really can't get the clay to center. My teacher has a different method that requires centering the full lump of clay, which I find very difficult. I will try this technique. Thank you so much for sharing!

[EvolutionStoneware]

@waichita I really hope this helps you out! Good luck, and let me know how it goes.

[SillyKinkajoo]

Help! I'm in a ceramics class, and I can get the clay into a centered pillar, but whenever I press down it turns into a lopsided, off-center mess. Do you have any tidbits of wisdom you can pass along?

[EvolutionStoneware]

@SillyKinkajoo There are several different approaches to opening the clay. I like to rest the palms of both of my hands on either side of the centered clay, find the middle, and press in with both of my thumbs. I find this more stable than using one finger. Keeping your hands resting on the outside helps to stay centered. And make sure you keep the clay wet in the hole as you push in. If your thumbs are sticking, it will get out off center. Check out my other videos to see how I open.

[kornluv3r1]

If you watch this video long enough, you'll realize she's throwing clay :P

[iabLee91]

Great video!!! Thank you so MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[EvolutionStoneware]

@iabLee91 I'm glad it was hepful!

[NonDoormat]

Thanks! I've been looking for a video to help me centre for a while now. Yours is the best!

[EvolutionStoneware]

@NonDoormat Oh, wow, that's great to hear! Thanks for letting me know. Best of luck with your throwing.

[meggiemoo1999]

does it feel funny when the wheel is going around :)

[tishihara1994]

hardest thing in the world.

[shanetoons]

Can you make a video on throwing an easy bowl and decorating it so it doesn't look blank? Please respond so I know to keep looking back.. Thanks :)

[EvolutionStoneware]

@shanetoons I'm slammed right now with orders and getting ready for holiday shows, but I'll try to make you a bowl video before Thanksgiving. I think if you subscribe to my channel with that subscribe button you'll get an email update when I post new videos. That might be an easy way to keep track. As far as decoration to not look plain, are you most concerned about the inside or outside of the bowl? Or both?

[shanetoons]

@EvolutionStoneware Oh, I have the whole rest of the school year so take your time :) All I have to do is decorate the outside. And I just subscribed.

[EvolutionStoneware]

@shanetoons Okay, I'll get something put together for you. :)

[EvolutionStoneware]

@shanetoons I'm finally getting this video done. I hope it's not too late for you. The bowl is thrown and trimmed. Tomorrow I'll decorate it, and I'll get the video up as soon as I can.

[TheRappin12]

how much was that 1

[EvolutionStoneware]

@TheRappin12 It was 3 pounds of white stoneware clay.

[TheAbstractview]

I've been watching videos on how to center clay for the last hour this by far is the most helpful thank you.

[EvolutionStoneware]

@TheAbstractview Thank you so much! I'm really glad you found it helpful :)

[TheTypoGoddess]

You have NO idea how much this helps me. I'm in an intermediate/advanced class in my high school because I have a lot of experience handbuilding. However, I can't center. At all. Hopefully this will help me tomorrow in class. Thank you!

[EvolutionStoneware]

@TheTypoGoddess I hope it's going better for you now! Thanks for dropping me a note. :)

[nose4real]

Can you center 20 pounds of clay??? If you can could you post a video?

[EvolutionStoneware]

@nose4real I'll add this to my list of ideas for future videos. I'd center a little more than half of it like I do in this video, then I'd smack the rest of the clay on top. I'd pat the new clay to center it as much as possible, then cone and compress the whole thing as before.

[sadiejimenezr]

Are you a righty or lefty

[EvolutionStoneware]

@sadiejimenezr I'm a righty. While I'm pretty handy with my left side too, but I'm not totally ambidextrous.

[dewinter42]

I was having an abysmal time centering until I tried the method explained here-- SUCCESS! Thank you so much for taking the time to make a video for us beginners!

[EvolutionStoneware]

@dewinter42 I'm so glad this helped! Learning to center can be terribly frustrating.

[GimmeYourCookies]

Which kind of clay did you use?

[EvolutionStoneware]

@GimmeYourCookies I use a ^6 white stoneware called Little Loafer from Highwater Clay. It's very smooth with no grog.

[rslane32]

Wow that is great. I would love to see you throw that bottle too.

[earthfaemama]

What did you put your wheel on to raise it up for standing?  Great video!

[EvolutionStoneware]

@earthfaemama I stacked up some cinder blocks on their sides (2 high) and sat the wheel on top of them. It's been very sturdy for a few years now. I hope you like it if you decide to raise your wheel. :)

[TheChuggtom88]

Thank you so much this was really helpful!