I took a wheel throwing class this semester at university and I think what helped me the most was watching videos and getting tips like this but also just to do it over and over and over again. This is really one of those things that just takes time to get it perfect and to get that muscle memory :)
Watched your video earlier today, then went straight to my clay studio to try it out, and now came back like a King of Centering. I'm 4 months into wheel throwing and have been constantly struggling with centering. My teacher told us to use our strong hands(left hand) but I just didn't have much luck with this method. I can easily center to 90% at this point and just go with it, but 100% perfect centering was like an extremely rare occasion. I've watched many centering videos, Reddit posts and teacher demos, but nobody made a point of how important it is to PUSH TOWARD THE VERY CENTER OF THE CLAY! It is the principle of centering, it's physics! I was so enlightened after watching your video, thank you so much. I can finally center perfectly for EVERY SINGLE TIME. I feel so blessed. Thank you thank you
I have to tell you that your explanation of the non-dominant hand and arm placement (geometry) made the light go on. About 50 years ago (yes, I'm old) I was throwing regularly on my Shimpo wheel that I was very fond of. Fast forward 50 years...testing the waters again with a cheap Chinese wheel and nothing will center. Then there you were. I watched the video twice and went out and threw some mugs. nice thin walls, no wobbles...YOU ROCK
I am taking pottery throwing a class currently and was getting very frustrated because I felt I was doing everything wrong. After watching this video, it became clear to me that it's because my current teacher isn't, well... teaching. The class started with, "First we're going to center the clay, then you make a well, then pull." with little to no instruction on how to do these things. After watching this video, I was able to center after trying for like 1-2 minutes! So, huge thank you to you! Well definitely check out your online class. 😃
I spent an hour this morning trying to center a pound of clay and ended up with a bucket of mud. I've done it before (twice) but today it was not happening. I was planning on finding videos on centering this afternoon and this video just popped up in my announcements (and I wasn't a subscriber!) I feel like I understand what I was doing wrong and am ready to try again. I'm also completely convinced that my phone is not just ease dropping it is now also reading my mind.
This video has made me feel much less afraid about trying to learn to throw. I live in the middle of nowhere but my mom and sister threw pottery on the wheel. My sister tried to teach me but she didn't quite get what i was not understanding and thought I was simply not strong enough to keep it centered. But she didn't explain about keeping a straight line from your elbow through your palm to the center of the clay. I am going to try throwing again (just as soon as my 9 year old clay is slaked and reprocessed). I also found a place with a kiln thanks to you although it is a several hour drive away
Thanks Mia, hand positions are so important and you explained them so clearly. This will help me be more consistent when I centre. Saving for repeated viewing. 🎉
I watched this video, because i like your practice, your projects and i love your love of clay. When your not sure if its going to come ok and it does beautifully like your house, your tea set, your plates. your overwhelming joy is just brilliant.. right, back to this video, i do pottery in Adult Education classes and have done so for several years, and most times, some are better than others, i can centre clay, but after watching this video, i went into class the following day and Bingo, everytime within seconds of putting the clay on the wheel it centered, and i mean everytime. it was like having a 'lightbulb moment, it happened. Thankyou, i am now your number one fan. i told everyone about your video in class. i could not stop talking about it. wow
Thank you!! I tried this technique last night at open studio and it was a complete game changer. No more struggle, no more losing gobs of clay trying to center, no more feeling like I had to strong arm it. It was amazing. I’ve watched lost of videos, but your explanation of had and arm placement made it click. Was I perfect at it? Nope. But it was 100 times easier and took a fraction of the time. 🙌🏻
I don't know what you think about this but what about no quick releases or jerky motions when doing any part of pottery, ? Just a thought love your videos,!!! Thanks
Thank you so much for this video! I have longed to really understand the centering process and all you usually get is cone up and push down and repeat until centered. I did not even truly understand the goal of centering until your video! I had a vague idea of distributing the clay around the exact center of the wheel. I finally feel like I can master this and know if it is centered and what to adjust if it is not. Thanks so much!❤❤❤
Omg finally someone who explains it perfectly ❤ I tried pottery on the wheel the very first time yesterday and failed miserably. I wish i watched this video first before trying xD
This is a fantastic technical centering that I have not found anywhere else. Thank you so much for explaining the angles and how this works. Just a quarter or a half an inch can make a difference and your consultation has been fantastic. Thank you so much!
Supporting the elbows when centering is super helpful. My issue is in building up/pushing the walls. Always seemed like the vessel walls would get off-center or uneven when I'd try shaping it. Part of my issue is I tend toward thin walls :/
Making thin walls is tricky! Supporting your arms when pulling/shaping is crucial too. I always rest my forearms on the splashpan, or tuck my elbows into my ribcage. Maybe that helps you too?
I am going to try your method because nothing else is working for me......I am determined to be able to center and will keep on trying! Thank you for a simple and logical explanation....much appreciated!
I learned centring in my very first class. But pulling is the hardest for me so far my walls near the bottom are still thick when I work with 1 kg or more clay. The trick for a newbie to center a clay is don't use the fingers of your dominant hand and also put the same force from both hands
This is truly so soothing to watch, sit down and relax and watching what kind of magic you can create :) I have been a fan of ceramics myself and was thinking about giving it a shot from time to time, but will see :) thank you for sharing these videos with us and keep up the lovely work. All the best to you.
Hello, after seeing so many videos (am youtube-learning😊), I saw this one video of yours and it's so clear and simple really. Thank you so much, just what I needed. Love your other videos too 👍
Un grand merci pour cette vidéo très explicite et parfaitement filmée car j ai RÉUSSI d un coup le centrage !!!! Merci encore j adore votre chaîne ! J attend juste la suite pour monter le cylindre 🤣🤣😘😘😘😘 from Corsica
I've learned centerning a bit differently, but most of the time it doesn't work for me. I will definitely try your way next time. Would like a similar explanation for how to keep it centered when you make the walls. Perhaps that is in your link.
New to your channel. Do you have any videos on how to run a pottery kiln? I'd love to see a video of that, especially if you can show us a manual kiln start up as well as electric. If possible 😁
Hi! I love your videos. Do you have (or will make) videos or tutorials about pottery made by hand and not on a wheel? I dont have access to a pottery wheel since they are so expensive so I cant recreate most videos, sadly.
Hi Mia, do you still have the online pottery class yoùre talking about in the video? I might be interested. The link in the description does'nt link to it anymore I think.
I mostly right handed but i can do alot if things left handed and my inclination is to work left handed on the wheel....is that impeding my progress you think? I can center right off...but if i oscillate i get more and more off center. 😮
If I were you, I'd at least try the other way around! There are definitely folks who throw 'wrong handed', but it really depends on how you feel most comfortable.
I'm watching your video right now and wanted to tell you... I've often wiggled clay to center. Sometimes I've tap centered. Well, maybe slam centered. Depends upon my frustration level.
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
I took a wheel throwing class this semester at university and I think what helped me the most was watching videos and getting tips like this but also just to do it over and over and over again. This is really one of those things that just takes time to get it perfect and to get that muscle memory :)
yess exactly! 🙌
I got tired of creating buckets full of mud with nothing to show.
Watched your video earlier today, then went straight to my clay studio to try it out, and now came back like a King of Centering.
I'm 4 months into wheel throwing and have been constantly struggling with centering. My teacher told us to use our strong hands(left hand) but I just didn't have much luck with this method. I can easily center to 90% at this point and just go with it, but 100% perfect centering was like an extremely rare occasion. I've watched many centering videos, Reddit posts and teacher demos, but nobody made a point of how important it is to PUSH TOWARD THE VERY CENTER OF THE CLAY! It is the principle of centering, it's physics! I was so enlightened after watching your video, thank you so much. I can finally center perfectly for EVERY SINGLE TIME. I feel so blessed. Thank you thank you
I have to tell you that your explanation of the non-dominant hand and arm placement (geometry) made the light go on. About 50 years ago (yes, I'm old) I was throwing regularly on my Shimpo wheel that I was very fond of. Fast forward 50 years...testing the waters again with a cheap Chinese wheel and nothing will center. Then there you were. I watched the video twice and went out and threw some mugs. nice thin walls, no wobbles...YOU ROCK
I am taking pottery throwing a class currently and was getting very frustrated because I felt I was doing everything wrong. After watching this video, it became clear to me that it's because my current teacher isn't, well... teaching. The class started with, "First we're going to center the clay, then you make a well, then pull." with little to no instruction on how to do these things. After watching this video, I was able to center after trying for like 1-2 minutes! So, huge thank you to you! Well definitely check out your online class. 😃
I spent an hour this morning trying to center a pound of clay and ended up with a bucket of mud. I've done it before (twice) but today it was not happening. I was planning on finding videos on centering this afternoon and this video just popped up in my announcements (and I wasn't a subscriber!) I feel like I understand what I was doing wrong and am ready to try again. I'm also completely convinced that my phone is not just ease dropping it is now also reading my mind.
haha that is so spooky! I hope these techniques are helpful for you. It can be so frusterating, I know! Let me know how it goes 🤞
This video has made me feel much less afraid about trying to learn to throw. I live in the middle of nowhere but my mom and sister threw pottery on the wheel. My sister tried to teach me but she didn't quite get what i was not understanding and thought I was simply not strong enough to keep it centered. But she didn't explain about keeping a straight line from your elbow through your palm to the center of the clay. I am going to try throwing again (just as soon as my 9 year old clay is slaked and reprocessed). I also found a place with a kiln thanks to you although it is a several hour drive away
Thanks Mia, hand positions are so important and you explained them so clearly. This will help me be more consistent when I centre. Saving for repeated viewing. 🎉
Yay! Glad to hear this was helpful for you :) It's the subtle things that make a huge difference.
I watched this video, because i like your practice, your projects and i love your love of clay. When your not sure if its going to come ok and it does beautifully like your house, your tea set, your plates. your overwhelming joy is just brilliant.. right, back to this video, i do pottery in Adult Education classes and have done so for several years, and most times, some are better than others, i can centre clay, but after watching this video, i went into class the following day and Bingo, everytime within seconds of putting the clay on the wheel it centered, and i mean everytime. it was like having a 'lightbulb moment, it happened. Thankyou, i am now your number one fan. i told everyone about your video in class. i could not stop talking about it. wow
This is my first time with clay and a wheel. I watched this video and I'm about to start. So excited and hopefully can make a masterpiece 1st time
Thank you!! I tried this technique last night at open studio and it was a complete game changer. No more struggle, no more losing gobs of clay trying to center, no more feeling like I had to strong arm it. It was amazing. I’ve watched lost of videos, but your explanation of had and arm placement made it click. Was I perfect at it? Nope. But it was 100 times easier and took a fraction of the time. 🙌🏻
I don't know what you think about this but what about no quick releases or jerky motions when doing any part of pottery, ? Just a thought love your videos,!!! Thanks
Thank you so much for this video! I have longed to really understand the centering process and all you usually get is cone up and push down and repeat until centered. I did not even truly understand the goal of centering until your video! I had a vague idea of distributing the clay around the exact center of the wheel. I finally feel like I can master this and know if it is centered and what to adjust if it is not. Thanks so much!❤❤❤
Omg finally someone who explains it perfectly ❤ I tried pottery on the wheel the very first time yesterday and failed miserably. I wish i watched this video first before trying xD
This is a fantastic technical centering that I have not found anywhere else. Thank you so much for explaining the angles and how this works. Just a quarter or a half an inch can make a difference and your consultation has been fantastic. Thank you so much!
I've been struggling with centering for so long but this video is amazing! I immediatly improved the first time trying again :) thank you so much!
Supporting the elbows when centering is super helpful. My issue is in building up/pushing the walls. Always seemed like the vessel walls would get off-center or uneven when I'd try shaping it. Part of my issue is I tend toward thin walls :/
Making thin walls is tricky! Supporting your arms when pulling/shaping is crucial too. I always rest my forearms on the splashpan, or tuck my elbows into my ribcage. Maybe that helps you too?
Im starting with pottery and you are such a great teacher! greetings from Barcelona!
I am going to try your method because nothing else is working for me......I am determined to be able to center and will keep on trying! Thank you for a simple and logical explanation....much appreciated!
You can do it! Let me know how it goes for you :)
Stay tuned....😅
I learned centring in my very first class. But pulling is the hardest for me so far my walls near the bottom are still thick when I work with 1 kg or more clay.
The trick for a newbie to center a clay is don't use the fingers of your dominant hand and also put the same force from both hands
This is super helpful, my throwing teacher taught us a different way that did not work for me. :(
This is truly so soothing to watch, sit down and relax and watching what kind of magic you can create :) I have been a fan of ceramics myself and was thinking about giving it a shot from time to time, but will see :) thank you for sharing these videos with us and keep up the lovely work. All the best to you.
Hello, after seeing so many videos (am youtube-learning😊), I saw this one video of yours and it's so clear and simple really. Thank you so much, just what I needed. Love your other videos too 👍
Thanks so much for posting this video, it helped me so much as I've been struggling with centering as a wheel newbie 😊
New here and great format. Great speed, love the text wording and sound.
Love your videos! Could you make a video about humidity in the studio? Seems like a real problem in Germany 😅
Un grand merci pour cette vidéo très explicite et parfaitement filmée car j ai RÉUSSI d un coup le centrage !!!! Merci encore j adore votre chaîne ! J attend juste la suite pour monter le cylindre 🤣🤣😘😘😘😘 from Corsica
I love your videos. Where is your online pottery class?
Im left handed and Im teaching my self both ways of throwing and so far throwing has been a mix of both and it works for me.
Interesting! I've heard of left-handed folks who had a right-handed teacher who learned right handed. Whatever works!
Thank you this was so helpful!
I've learned centerning a bit differently, but most of the time it doesn't work for me. I will definitely try your way next time. Would like a similar explanation for how to keep it centered when you make the walls. Perhaps that is in your link.
yep I cover that in my class :)
Hurray, I got it right! 😀
yuhu!
New to your channel. Do you have any videos on how to run a pottery kiln?
I'd love to see a video of that, especially if you can show us a manual kiln start up as well as electric. If possible 😁
Appreciate this!
Hi! I love your videos. Do you have (or will make) videos or tutorials about pottery made by hand and not on a wheel? I dont have access to a pottery wheel since they are so expensive so I cant recreate most videos, sadly.
Next video .... wild clay hunting,processing and pottery
Hi Mia, do you still have the online pottery class yoùre talking about in the video? I might be interested. The link in the description does'nt link to it anymore I think.
I mostly right handed but i can do alot if things left handed and my inclination is to work left handed on the wheel....is that impeding my progress you think? I can center right off...but if i oscillate i get more and more off center. 😮
If I were you, I'd at least try the other way around! There are definitely folks who throw 'wrong handed', but it really depends on how you feel most comfortable.
I'm watching your video right now and wanted to tell you... I've often wiggled clay to center. Sometimes I've tap centered. Well, maybe slam centered. Depends upon my frustration level.
Jesus loves you❤️