Wheel Throwing Series, Step 3: Dropping the Middle and Opening the Centered Clay!

This is part of the new wheel series I am working on this summer! I am remaking my wheel videos on my new SKUTT wheel!!! Here is a link to my wheel- available from most good pottery suppliers. https://skutt.com/products-page/potters-wheels/classic/ The video is focused on the dropping of the middle of the centered hockey puck, and how to open the interior while throwing. I show how to RECENTER the wall, and if you would like more detailed information on that, check out this slightly older video which also has a pdf graphic for your studio wall! https://youtu.be/PI0ki0P_1xI If you did not previously master centering, you will want to watch my former video on centering here! One trick I show in this presentation is using the left thumb as a jig. By holding the left thumb, and controlling the thumb with the right hand, I find my students have greater success getting their dropped middles centered. I tell my students they all need to find the way that works best for them. I encourage them to hold the outside of the wall with their left hand as they pull open the wall with their right hand. This helps keep the wall stable and of even thickness. Just remember, you must always have pressure from all sides, top, side, (bottom=bat) and if opened, the interior when you are trying to center. If you remove pressure from any one of those areas, the off centered clay will move to the place of least resistance, and will stay off centered. I show how to create a “channel” through which the opened wall must pass, and with correct hand pressure, this can recenter the wall which is off. My new series will offer new videos with tips and tricks to successfully wheel throw pieces- from beginner to intermediate to advanced. I will be offering a good deal of EXPLANATION within the videos to help people understand the mechanics of why things work the way they do! I often tell my students they learn more from their mistakes than from their successes in throwing. In these videos in my series, I will try to distill my best tips I have learned from my successes and failures, and my students' struggles as well. Two things have led me to becoming the potter I am today. Countless hours of making pots, (and explaining how to make pots), and understanding and learning from my failures when pots didn’t work out! These are the things I want to share with you- to help YOU become a better potter! Subscribe to my channel to get the latest updates on this video series, AND, subscribe to my NEW wheel throwing playlist too! https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLj0pNzEmvM_qbxpokQPWmnsAHarrSKSgS Wheel Series: Step 1; WEDGING Clay in Preparation for Throwing (Bonus Tip on Preventing "S" Cracks) https://youtu.be/oBG9UvKd0dc Wheel Series: Wheel and Tool Preparation for Throwing https://youtu.be/AAd74qpKnPE Wheel Series Step 2; CENTERING the clay on the Potter’s Wheel https://youtu.be/tt_h1QEfg68 Wheel Series Step 3: Dropping the Middle and Opening https://youtu.be/HgzUa4aC4R8 Wheel Series Step 4: Two Ways to Pull and Thin a Wall. https://youtu.be/b1SyWSe7qCc Check out your local pottery suppliers- I love my favorite local supplier- Cornell Studio Supply in Dayton… give them a call, they’re super helpful! (And tell them I sent you!) https://cornellstudiosupply.com/ For the great tools, materials, and suppliers I recommend check out this link to a live searchable (control F) Googledoc I continually update with lots of my favorite tools on Amazon using my associate links! https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XbYPQjjJnHrQG5xyWGMHZkEcZj5N8VnUAbFZdJRrRmU/edit?usp=sharing I am a public high school ceramics teacher at William Mason High School in Mason, Ohio. (Mason is currently the largest high school in Ohio!) As a potter, I have been working in clay for over 33+ years, and I have been teaching for over 30 years, the past 22 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; https://www.etsy.com/shop/KaransPotsAndGlass I started my Youtube 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. Please subscribe to my channel if you would like to receive channel updates, or would like to learn more about clay and studio processes! I am in a partnership with Skutt - as they sent me the new wheel to use for the videos! I am not receiving any compensation from them beyond the wheel.