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That Dreaded CENTERING!

siloutaggart

THROWING on the wheel is a skill that demands months if not years of practice before you can really feel “centered” 😉.


In addition to hand building, I’ve been throwing on the wheel for decades. It’s one of those areas in ceramics that’s a step aside from hand building (note I said “aside” and not “up”), as you do need to keep practicing over and over again. It rarely comes naturally and demands patience and perseverance to get it right every single time).


Centering is usually the main issue for most people when they start learning how to throw. If your clay isn’t centered before you start pulling out the clay to create the diameter or pulling up the walls of your vessel, you’ll repeatedly achieve wobbly, uncentered work.

Here, in the Blended Monkey Studios, we tailor our workshops to suit your needs.

Whether you just fancy having a go at throwing as a fun experience (and it is great fun!), maybe as a birthday or anniversary treat, perhaps even combined with a half-day woodturning workshop (our award-winning “2 Crafts in 1 Day” experience) - or you have kitted yourself out with a wheel, you’re embarking on the journey to becoming a potter, and you’re stuck on some of the processes (centering, pulling, whatever they may be), drop us a line and we’ll do our best to help.


Bee contacted me, Louise, a few months back as she was having issues with every beginner potter’s nemesis – the dreaded CENTERING. And it can feel a bit demoralising when you’re wanting to progress but time and time again you’re ending up with wobbly pots with slanted tops.

One half-day throwing session later, and we’ve adjusted Bee’s stance at the wheel, made sure she stays anchored throughout, and I’ve given Bee a few different ways she can approach centering. And it was lovely to receive her positive email this morning with photos of her latest, beautifully centered pieces! Well done Bee – I’m so pleased you found your experience rewarding!

 

A note on wobbly pots - there’s no WRONG pot! Every time you grapple with that piece of clay on the wheel, you’re getting more and more experience, and you’re learning what not to do as well as what you should be doing. It’s all part of the journey, so don’t get stressed by it and try to enjoy each step. Once you’ve got the knack, you’ll start to feel how relaxing and soothing throwing can be.


Louise at the potter's wheel throwing a pot.
Me, Louise, at the wheel
A student at the pottery wheel learning to throw
Bee, a student, getting to grips with centering

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