How to Center a Hunk of Clay
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ก.ค. 2014
- This video shows the basics of (western) centering- with a counter clockwise rotation of the wheel, and the left hand on the side, and the right hand locked on top. Remember to keep hands connected in some way when centering!
This video is for my students in Ceramics I, II, and III (Wheel Throwing) at William Mason High School, in Mason, Ohio as well as anyone in the general public that just wants to learn a bit more about working with clay! If you want more specific information on the rest of the beginning stages of dropping, opening, and pulling it up, check out some of my other videos! I also have specific videos on throwing various forms!
I am a high school ceramics teacher and potter. I have been working in clay for over 30 years, and I have been teaching for over 28 years, the past 20 have been specifically teaching high school ceramics. I love what I do! I have my own studio in my home basement, where I work on my personal pottery for my Etsy site; www.etsy.com/shop/KaransPotsA...
I started my TH-cam channel a few years ago, to make videos to help my students if they are absent and miss a demo, or if they would like to explore more advanced techniques independently. I have been amazed to reach such a wider audience than my own students!
For a list of my FAVORITE TOOLS, check out this link to a Googledoc with lots of my favorites on Amazon using my associate links! docs.google.com/document/d/1X...
Please subscribe to my channel if you would like to receive channel updates, or would like to learn more about clay and studio processes!
Please stop by my Etsy shop www.etsy.com/shop/KaransPotsA... to see my personal work!
I agree with john darmiento. Clearly the simplest and most straightforward approach to centering I've seen on TH-cam.
Thank you! 😊
@KarensPotsAndGlass - Thanks 4 this! I learned much from you, incl centering! ONE NOTE: Tell people PLEASE CONE. I learned the hard way about S-Cracks! Coning while centering should probably be considered "Required" but if I recall right you mention it as optional in here. I was centering and not coning (using this vid to learn from) and thanks to you can finally center! But I then found some of my bowls kept getting these big cracks in the bottom. Some research, a book, and then a great PDF paper on the topic of S-Cracks later, set me straight! In a nutshell... You need to cone to prevent big cracks from forming in the bottom as coning aligns the platelets in a circular pattern and ensures an even shrinkage. Many potters have ideas to stop these cracks based on no science, but as an excellent expert written article points out.... It is a scientific problem with a scientific solution. That's where I learned the term "S-Crack" and why coning really is important and much needed part of centering.... Once I made coning a mandatory part of the process instead of skipping it, still using your techniques to do this... I have not had a huge crack to this day! THANKS FOR EVERYTHING!
I struggle with centering, but from watching your lesson I can see were I need to work on hand position with the clay. Thanks so for sharing it really helps a new wheeler!!!
You are quite welcome!!! Just remember also lock those elbows!! I didn't mention it in this video, but often, I will go up behind someone struggling to center, and I literally push on their left elbow to help lock and support it- and they are stunned that it helps them so much getting it centered! Good luck- shoot me any questions you may have! :)
Thanks for this going for a lesson tomorrow
this is by far the best centering video and I love the sound of the wheel
Ha! Thanks, John! I'm glad the wheel sound doesn't bother you! :-) I've had a few people express differently! ;-)
instablaster
Thank you for this lesson! I'm brand new to this and struggle so much with centering. I finally got it after watching this excellent video. I find your hand placements much easier and more intuitive for me. With much gratitude!
very very helpful...every once in awhile I need a refresher course
I'm learning at home, and this video helped so much! Thank you.
You are the best at explaining centering!!! Thank YOU
Thank you! Enjoyed your ETSY shop items . beautiful work.
Love your videos, they’re so helpful!
this is a great video on pottery centering, you could realy teach those bozos at my local art center a thing or to. many thanks!!
Impressive video!
Lol!!!!! Thanks!!!
I suck at centering. hopefully this video will help!
+Elisabeth Werre
I hope it helps you too, Elisabeth!!! :-) Just remember those principles... keep your elbows down and locked, keep your hands locked together, and your left hand (If you are right-handed) will do most of the pressure! Lastly, both hands should be applying pressure toward the end of centering... never completely remove one of the hands near the end. When you push harder with one hand, you still have to keep pressure with the other to force the clay into center! Good luck! Shoot me any questions you may encounter! :-) Karan
Hi there, I am one of the art teachers at Princeton High School and I teach all the Ceramics classes here. I have been watching your videos since I started here this year and they are just wonderful. I have also showed them in my classes! They are such a great teaching tool, especially when there is a student absent and they missed a demo while they were gone! I love your attention to details and how you explain the techniques and processes. I plan on trying to teach my Ceramics I classes how to wheel throw and would like to show this video. Many of them will struggle, how do you balance class time between 5 students working on the wheel and 20 others working in class? I only have 5 wheels so I plan on having them work at least once a week on it.
I also like how you make your students create patty's to put beneath their projects so they don't stick to the kiln shelves. I only have Earthenware clay and I would like to do this also. Does this work the same with Earthenware? Should they only make patty's if they have dipped their pieces in glaze?
Any help is appreciated! Thanks!
Hi Tara! :-)
I actually taught at Princeton my first year- back in 1991! :-) Since then, I have been at Mason- 8 years in elementary, the rest at the high school in ceramics! :-)
I'm so glad you find the videos helpful! I began making them specifically to help the kids that were absent, but have found them to be super helpful to present materials when I have to be out as well- or even just to fit in a demo in a rushed class bell! (50 minutes sure goes quickly, doesn't it?!)
When I do wheel throwing in my beginning levels, I usually have them working on another project too, as the kids not on the wheel will need to keep going on the handbuilding project. I try to float between the kids on the wheels, and the kids out at the tables. Now, just to let you know... I don't actually have the kids in level one actually turn in a wheel project. I have them TRY the wheel, then they fill out a reflection I made in response to their experience. (Also, half the reflection involves finding and sketching 6 wheel thrown pieces from magazines, internet, etc. and responding to questions about those as well) By removing the requirement for my first levels to actually produce a graded piece, it removes a great deal of stress! I allow them to keep something if they want... and encourage them to come in for after school open studio hours if they would like as well.
If you only use earthenware clay, then I would have them make patties out of the earthenware too. The patties will help if you have any pesky runny glazes - dipped, brushed, or poured it doesn't matter- and keep them off your shelves. So frustrating when that happens! I spent hours grinding glaze from shelves before I discovered the patty idea! Oh, and if the patties are clean, I reuse them too! Just make sure they are thoroughly dry BEFORE the kiln reaches 212 degrees- or that water vapor turns to steam- and they will blow up!
If I missed any of your questions, just let me know! :-) Karan
Thank you SOOO much Karan! Really helps out a lot! I like your idea of not turning in a wheel thrown project if they don't want to but reflecting upon their experience while learning how to do it. I teach both Ceramics I and II but I want students to turn in a wheel thrown project for Ceramics II. Do you teach students in your Ceramics II how to do plates? I feel like that might be too hard for them but then I don't want to underestimate their skills either. I definitely plan on doing the patty idea. I have conferences tonight so I'm busy putting kiln wash on my shelves now! :)
Tara Hasselbeck I'm at conferences tonight too! Ha! I am organizing my glazes between conferences! ;-) I show both levels how to do all the forms, and then in level 2, they have the option of 6 projects from which to choose one to turn in... 6" cylinder, cup with handle, bowl, plate, vase, or two matching forms with good craft and design- of any size... (even minis). I have lots of kids do plates... with my trick of cutting of the uncentered edge, it becomes the second easiest form next to the bowl I think!
would it be "incorrect" or less effective to use your right hand more primarily, while still having the wheel moving counter clock wise? For instance, when making the "puck," you use your left on the outside and your right as a fist on top? Could this be switched?
Good question! It's not to say you can't do it... however, force and physics is more on your side when the counter-clockwise spinning clay you are attempting to center is spinning in toward the heel of your left hand... thus giving you a bit quicker control. If you are trying to center more with the right hand, when it is spinning out of and away from your right hand, it is a slower process. I don't know if I explained that well... but locking the left hand and arm as the clay comes toward you is much easier than doing it on the side where it is spinning away. BUT- many potters develop their own ways that work for them that may be quite different!!! :-)
I live near Mason Ohio. I would love to take lessons from you. Do you offer lessons?
I don't - sorry- I am just too busy as a full time teacher! I do recommend several options around though... like Queen City Clay in Cincinnati, Cornelle Studio Supply in Dayton, The Fitton Center in Hamilton, Whistlestop clay in Loveland, MFAC in Middletown! Lots of classes available at most of these locations!
you may also want to change the intro music because it's the same as sml's intro....
Lol- well, I didn't know that! That is just one of the free songs which are provided to TH-cam creators!
anyones teacher assigned this too
Is this video to teach beginner's ? You show us once (to fast) then the other two time's are so fast we can't see what your doing with your hand's. You can cone, but we the beginner can't, so it would be better if you could showed us three or four time's slowly, so we can see what your hand's are doing and also tell us what kind of pressure we should use. Thank you xx
HI Lynsey- check out my new wheel series I am making this summer- it may be more helpful!
Centering video: th-cam.com/video/tt_h1QEfg68/w-d-xo.html
Playlist: th-cam.com/play/PLj0pNzEmvM_qbxpokQPWmnsAHarrSKSgS.html