Here’s the centering tips I remember from last week:

If you have trouble with clay drying out too much as you’re wedging, wet the surface slightly with a sponge and then wait for it to dry, then wedge.

Make a teardrop shape from your lump of clay and jam the point on the center of the wheel. It doesn’t have to be thrown. Whack it into the center and whack it down firmly in place.

Press down the edge of the lump all around, making a “ruffly skirt” sealed to the wheel. Wet a finger and press between the lump and the edge of the skirt, rotating the wheel to seal.

After this point, never touch clay unless wheel is in motion.

Wheel should turn in the direction dominant hand points.

No need to wedge elbows any particular place, but keep hands as still as possible on clay as wheel rotates to make it even more centered. Patience is key. “Let the wheel do the work.”

Coning is important, it forces air bubbles into the center so they go away as you open up.

Use a finger to make a groove at the bottom of the lump. Pinkies go here; alternate pulling the clay upward and pressing it together until you make a tall cone.

Point of cone goes in palm of dominant hand, whose fingers go down the side of the cone. Supporting hand palm touches clay and fingers support dominant hand fingers.

Dominant hand pulls cone down gently and wheel pulls the clay in to center. “Let the wheel do the work.” There’s a little subtlety of positioning to this I find it hard to describe verbally.

Now you can make things!

Oooooooooooooof gif

I’ve been doing pottery for years, but as a sculptor and handbuilder. Throwing on the wheel is a lot tougher than it looks, and I’ve never been good at it.

A class spot finally opened up at my studio and yesterday was my first class with my awesome new teacher. She has started me with the very basics and has been sharing cheat code after cheat code. As a result, yesterday I threw FOUR bowls! This is an unprecedented success 😁

I think I can actually get the hang of this!

#pottery #clay #ceramics #art #wrensnest #neverstoplearning #grownostr

Watching a movie about 2 girls stuck on a giant tower on a tiny platform.

I don’t know why I torture myself like this 😱

nostr caption - what do u see here

but it gets worse... "Lil Pump"

Where are the specs? There site doesn't have them

From boiling the oceans to destroying the rainforests. I hope you Bitcoiners are pleased with yourselves.

Nit just your notes.. like everyone's 🥲👀

Nit just your notes.. like everyone's 🥲👀